My dog ate flea and tick medication – what should I do?

Updated 2026-09-30 · 1 sources

Based on: Pet Poison Helpline

Call a vet today

Call your vet today for advice – don't wait until signs appear. Flea and tick medications are toxic to dogs.

What to do now

What to do right now

Call your vet or nearest emergency vet.
Note what, how much and when was eaten.
Bring the packaging.
Keep your dog calm.
Remove what is left.

Don't

Do not make your dog vomit unless a vet tells you to.
Do not give any human medicine.

Why it can be dangerous

Common flea and tick medications are topical drugs applied to the skin over the neck or back.^[1] They may contain pyrethrins or pyrethroids; pyrethrins are derived from the Chrysanthemum flower or plant, while pyrethroids are synthetic derivatives.^[1]

Signs to watch for

Vomiting
Drooling
Seizures
Weakness
Agitation
Difficulty breathing

Where it is found

On the skin over the neck or back

If your pet is struggling to breathe, has collapsed, is having a seizure or can't stand up: go to the nearest vet now.

Not sure how serious it is?

OkPaw asks a few quick questions about your pet and tells you in 30 seconds whether it can wait. Free on Google Play for Android.

OkPaw is on Android now – an iPhone version is on its way.

Common questions

How much is dangerous?

Call your vet for advice about how much was eaten.

Which signs should I watch for?

Watch for the signs listed above and call your vet if you are concerned.

How soon should I act?

Call your vet today for advice – don't wait until signs appear.

Sources

Pet Poison Helpline

How this page was made: written with the help of AI from the sources below, then checked claim by claim against those sources. Urgency levels follow OkPaw’s fixed safety rules. It is guidance, not a diagnosis. How we write our pages

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