When should I start flea and tick medication for my pet?

Start flea and tick meds in March, not May. Monthly preventatives are the best defense, and starting late is the most common mistake—by the time you see fleas or ticks, they’re already in your house and yard. Prescription oral or topical meds from your vet work best; over-the-counter stuff is weaker and often useless against ticks in some regions. Don’t skip winter either—in warmer climates, ticks never really go away, so year-round prevention is cheaper than treating an infestation.