So my 3 year old Australian Labradoodle previously was on Zoetis Simparica Trio for flea/tick prevention, and it seemed to work well. But money has gotten tight, so I'm switching him to the classic heartworm pill deworming pill flea/tick prevention.

I tried to find something non-topical at a reasonable price, but there was nothing. I ended up getting Hartz Ultraguard Pro Triple Action (a topical treatment).

My dog is brushed daily and is mat-free. However, his fur is still extremely thick and long so I don't know if the treatment got all the way down to his skin. I put it on about a week ago and he still reeks of the chemical smell. Overall, I'm not a fan.

I live in the desert and my dog is rarely around other animals. What do you use for flea/tick prevention? Is it even necessary when living far from ticks and not interacting with other animals?