Dogs and cats in Charlotte should get flea and tick prevention every month, all year, because ticks can be out on mild winter days and fleas keep breeding indoors through winter. The Companion Animal Parasite Council recommends year-round flea and tick control for dogs and cats. Petfolk SouthPark is a veterinary clinic in Charlotte, North Carolina, where our vet in SouthPark helps you choose a chew, topical or collar that fits your pet and household.
Call (980) 580-8079 or book online.
Which ticks and fleas live around Charlotte?
Several tick species live around Charlotte, and the most common in local surveillance are the Gulf Coast tick and the American dog tick, with lone star and Asian longhorned ticks also found (UNC Charlotte tick surveillance, started April 2025).
Tick-borne disease in local dogs. In Mecklenburg County in 2025, about 1 in 100 dogs tested were positive for ehrlichiosis (1.04%) and about 1 in 100 for Lyme disease exposure (1.16%), per the Companion Animal Parasite Council (CAPC ehrlichiosis map, CAPC Lyme map).
Fleas. Fleas that get into the house keep breeding no matter the weather, so a mild Charlotte winter is no reason to stop.
Are fleas and ticks a summer problem in Charlotte?
Summer is busier, but not the only season. Across Petfolk's Charlotte-area clinics, sick visits that mention fleas or ticks roughly doubled in summer: about 1.9% of sick visits from June to September versus 1% from December to February (October 2025 to September 2026). The winter figure isn't zero, which is why year-round dosing is the standard.
What prevention do SouthPark pets go home with?
At Petfolk SouthPark, from October 2025 to September 2026:
More than 4 in 10 kitten wellness visits (42%) sent flea and parasite prevention home.
88% of cat parasite-prevention purchases were Revolution Plus, a monthly topical for cats that covers fleas, ticks, ear mites, some intestinal worms and heartworm.
For dogs, most prevention dispensed at Petfolk SouthPark is a monthly chew that also covers heartworm; the heartworm prevention page has the details.
How do chews, topicals and collars compare?
At Petfolk SouthPark, the flea and tick options fall into four groups.
Prescription chewable. A flavored tablet lasting one or three months, by product. Covers fleas and several tick species; some also cover heartworm and intestinal worms. Good for dogs who swim or get bathed often. Some chews in the isoxazoline drug class carry an FDA label caution for pets with a history of seizures.
Topical spot-on. Liquid on the skin between the shoulder blades, usually monthly. Good for pets who won't take pills and for many cats. Needs a day or so before bathing or swimming.
Prescription collar. Lasts several months. Must fit snugly to work; check the skin under it and remove it if chewed.
Shampoos and sprays. Work for days, not weeks. A quick knockdown during an outbreak, not prevention on their own.
Two rules matter more than any list:
Never use a dog product on a cat. Some dog flea and tick products contain permethrin, which can poison cats, even through close contact with a freshly treated dog.
Dose by current weight. A puppy who has grown since the last box needs the next size up.
How does the vet choose a product for my pet?
The Petfolk SouthPark doctor asks a few questions that narrow the list fast.
Where does your dog walk? Leashed walks on the Little Sugar Creek Greenway or wooded trails mean more tick contact than a fenced yard.
Does your pet swim or get bathed often? That favors a chew over a topical.
Is there a cat in the house? That rules out some dog topicals.
Any history of seizures or skin sensitivity? That steers which drug class is safest.
Is heartworm prevention already covered? A combined product can mean one dose instead of two.
What should I do about ticks I still find?
No product makes a tick fall off on contact; most kill the tick after it bites, before it can pass on most infections. Check your dog after every greenway walk, between the toes, in the ears, under the collar and around the tail. Remove ticks with fine-tipped tweezers, gripping close to the skin and pulling straight out, and keep the tick in a sealed bag. If your dog has had several bites, a blood test can check for exposure to tick-borne disease; the blood work page explains it. Fleas also spread tapeworms, covered on the deworming page. More from the Companion Animal Parasite Council.
What if my pet reacts to a flea or tick product?
If your pet trembles, drools, wobbles or has a seizure after a flea or tick product, wash a topical off with dish soap and water and go to a 24-hour emergency hospital. Bring the package. Petfolk SouthPark is open 8 AM to 6 PM, seven days a week, with no overnight care.
Petfolk Veterinary & Urgent Care - SouthPark is at 4914 Old Sardis Rd, Unit C5, Charlotte, NC 28211. Call (980) 580-8079 or book online.
Book a visit at Petfolk Veterinary & Urgent Care - SouthPark, or see all veterinary services in SouthPark.
Flea and tick questions for Charlotte pet parents
Find us on Old Sardis Road