There's a lot of noise out there about home remedies, but a few methods have real evidence behind them.

• Vet-prescribed preventatives: Oral or topical treatments remain the most reliable option by far.
• Regular checks: Running your hands through your pet's coat after walks catches ticks early.
• Yard maintenance: Keeping grass short and clearing leaf piles reduces flea and tick habitat.
• Washing bedding often: Hot water washes help kill flea eggs before they hatch.
• Skip the essential oils: Many popular "natural" remedies are unproven and some are actually toxic to pets.

Year-round prevention tends to work better than starting and stopping seasonally, since fleas and ticks don't fully disappear even in cooler months.