NexGard® Overview – Chewable Flea and Tick Preventative for Dogs

It's that time of year, so let's talk about fleas and ticks. Most of us ‘Dog Owners’ are fairly familiar with the most popular topical flea and tick preventatives for dogs, such as FRONTLINE® Plus and K9 Advantix® II. Both of these products do an excellent job in controlling fleas and ticks on dogs, and each has their own pros and cons. I will discuss both of these products and their effectiveness in more detail in the future. For now, I want to focus on one of the newest ‘Chewable’ flea and tick preventatives on the market for dogs, NexGard®. For several years, dog owners have been requesting drug companies to formulate an effective and safe, chewable, flea and tick product. Thank you Merial, the trusted maker of FRONTLINE®, for bringing us NexGard. However, unlike the FRONTLINE group, NexGard is solely formulated for dogs. I want to make that point very clear that NexGard may NOT be given to cats. NexGard is a soft, beef flavored chew that is, of course, FDA approved. Dogs really do enjoy the taste, and most will take the chew as a treat, without having to hide it in cheese or peanut butter, although a little peanut butter or cheese will never hurt. After your dog eats the chew, you will find a 100% kill rate of any adult fleas that are on your dog within 24 hours, and it will continue to kill adult fleas before they can lay eggs, for a full 30 days, hence treating and preventing flea infestations. Not only is NexGard effective in controlling fleas, which are the leading cause of heartworm disease, it also kills several species of tick, including the Black-legged deer tick, which is the carrier of Lyme disease. NexGard may be given at any time of year to any healthy dog or puppy 8 weeks or older and weighing at least 4 lbs. Although several areas of the world experience a freeze during their winter months, it is my recommendation to use a flea and tick preventative, regardless of the brand, year round, as fleas and ticks can survive in most indoor environments all year. Trust me on this, all veterinarians, at least in the states, see flea related issues such as flea bite dermatitis and tapeworm year round. Most dog owners do not associate an internal parasite, such as tapeworm, with an external parasite, like fleas. News Flash, dogs acquire tapeworms by eating a flea. Therefore, if your dog has tapeworms, there has been at least one flea on them in the past that they decided looked like a nice snack and ate it. Don’t fret, tapeworms are very easily treated in dogs, but we will talk more about that later. Just like any over the counter or prescription medication, NexGard may cause some side effects such as vomiting, lack of appetite, diarrhea, lethargy, and dry or flaky skin. If your dog has a history of seizures, is pregnant or lactating or has any major medical issues, please consult with your veterinarian before using any flea and tick preventative. You will hear me say this many times, but it is very important. Before giving anything to your dog make sure you always weigh the benefit against the risk. I would much rather deal with a few fleas and a tick here and there, then induce seizures in my epileptic dog. I hope this sheds a little light on the benefits and effectiveness of a chewable flea and tick preventative.