Are you tired of constantly worrying about your furry friend’s health? We understand the challenge of protecting your dog from multiple parasites simultaneously. That’s where Nexgard PLUS comes in – a revolutionary monthly chewable that’s changing the game in canine parasite prevention.
Nexgard PLUS offers comprehensive protection against heartworms, fleas, ticks, and intestinal parasites in a single, beef-flavored tablet. We’ll explore how this all-in-one solution simplifies your dog’s health routine, ensuring year-round protection with just one monthly dose. Whether you’re a new pet parent or a seasoned dog owner, we’ll cover everything you need to know about Nexgard PLUS, from its effectiveness to proper administration and potential side effects.
What Is NexGard Plus for Dogs?
NexGard PLUS is a prescription-only, monthly parasite preventive medication for dogs. It comes in the form of beef-flavored, soft chews that are easy to administer to dogs and puppies as young as 8 weeks old, weighing 4 pounds or more.
Key Ingredients and Benefits
NexGard PLUS contains three active ingredients: afoxolaner, moxidectin, and pyrantel. Afoxolaner, an isoxazoline class member, kills adult fleas and ticks. Moxidectin prevents heartworm disease, while pyrantel treats and controls roundworms and hookworms. The key benefits include:
- Flea and tick protection: Eliminates fleas and four common tick species
- Heartworm disease prevention: Stops heartworms before they mature
- Intestinal parasite control: Treats roundworms and hookworms
- Convenient administration: Once-monthly, beef-flavored chewable
- Broad-spectrum protection: Single product for multiple parasites
How It Works
NexGard PLUS works through its three active ingredients, each targeting exact parasites. Afoxolaner acts on the nervous systems of fleas and ticks, causing paralysis and death. It starts killing fleas within 4 hours and provides month-long protection against new infestations. Moxidectin prevents heartworm disease by eliminating larvae before they develop into adults. It circulates in the bloodstream, killing heartworm larvae as they enter the dog’s system. Pyrantel paralyzes intestinal worms, allowing the dog to expel them naturally. This combination provides comprehensive protection against multiple parasites with a single monthly dose.
Effectiveness Against Common Canine Parasites
NexGard PLUS for dogs offers comprehensive protection against various parasites that commonly affect canines. This all-in-one solution effectively targets fleas, ticks, heartworms, and intestinal worms, providing broad-spectrum parasite control for dogs.
Fleas and Ticks
NexGard PLUS demonstrates high efficacy in controlling and preventing flea and tick infestations. It eliminates adult fleas within 6-8 hours of administration, effectively stopping the flea life cycle by preventing egg-laying. This rapid action reduces the risk of environmental infestation and provides long-lasting protection.
For ticks, NexGard PLUS kills newly acquired ticks within 48 hours and controls pre-existing paralysis tick infestations within 24 hours. It’s effective against multiple tick species, including the brown dog tick, bush tick, and the potentially deadly paralysis tick. The product’s active ingredient, afoxolaner, targets the nervous systems of fleas and ticks, ensuring swift and thorough elimination of these external parasites.
Heartworms
NexGard PLUS is 100% effective in preventing heartworm disease when administered monthly as directed. The product contains an optimized dose of moxidectin (12 micrograms per kilogram), which has proven highly effective against susceptible heartworm isolates from the first dose. This consistent protection is crucial, as heartworm disease can cause permanent damage even before diagnosis. NexGard PLUS aligns with the American Heartworm Society’s recommendation for year-round heartworm prevention. By eliminating heartworm larvae, moxidectin prevents the development of adult heartworms, protecting dogs from this potentially fatal disease. Regular use of NexGard PLUS provides peace of mind for dog owners, knowing their pets are safeguarded against heartworm infestations.
Intestinal Worms
NexGard PLUS effectively treats and controls infections from roundworms and adult hookworms when given routinely on a monthly basis. The product’s active ingredient, pyrantel pamoate, targets these common intestinal parasites by paralyzing them, allowing for their natural expulsion from the dog’s system. This broad-spectrum protection against intestinal worms is crucial for maintaining a dog’s overall health and preventing potential transmission to humans. NexGard PLUS’s efficacy against multiple species of hookworms and roundworms ensures comprehensive protection against these internal parasites. By combining this intestinal worm control with its effectiveness against external parasites and heartworms, NexGard PLUS offers a convenient and thorough parasitic defense for dogs in a single monthly dose.
Administering NexGard Plus
NexGard PLUS chews are administered orally once a month to protect dogs from parasites. This section covers the proper dosage, frequency, storage, and handling of NexGard PLUS.
Proper Dosage and Frequency
NexGard PLUS chews are given orally once every 30 days. The dosage is based on the dog’s weight, with different chew sizes available for various weight ranges. Dogs as young as 8 weeks old and weighing 4 pounds or more can safely receive NexGard PLUS. For optimal protection, administer the first dose within 30 days of the dog’s initial mosquito exposure and continue monthly throughout the year.
When transitioning from another heartworm preventive, give the first NexGard PLUS dose within 30 days of the last dose of the previous medication. If a dose is missed, give a NexGard PLUS chew as soon as possible and resume the monthly schedule. Consult your veterinarian for guidance on missed doses to ensure continuous protection.
Storage and Handling
Store NexGard PLUS chews in their original packaging at room temperature, protected from light and moisture. Remove only one tablet at a time from the foil-backed blister card and return the card to the box to maintain product integrity. Keep the chews in their foil wrapper until ready for administration to preserve freshness and efficacy.
When giving NexGard PLUS to your dog, offer it as a treat by hand or mix it with a small amount of food. Ensure the entire chew is consumed to guarantee full protection. For dogs over 132 lbs, use the appropriate combination of chews as directed by your veterinarian. Always follow the storage and handling instructions provided on the product label to maintain the medication’s effectiveness and safety.
Safety Considerations
NexGard PLUS offers effective parasite protection for dogs, but it’s essential to be aware of potential safety considerations. We’ll explore the potential side effects and drug interactions associated with this medication to help pet owners make informed decisions about their dog’s health.
Potential Side Effects
NexGard PLUS contains afoxolaner, an isoxazoline-class ingredient linked to neurologic adverse reactions in dogs. These reactions include tremors, ataxia, and seizures, which can occur even in dogs without a history of seizures. Other frequently reported side effects are vomiting, diarrhea (with or without blood), lethargy, and itching. Seizures are a important concern, particularly in older dogs. Over 55% of seizures and 60% of deaths associated with isoxazoline flea treatments occurred in dogs over 5 years old. It’s crucial to use NexGard PLUS with caution in dogs with a history of seizures or neurologic disorders. The safe use of this medication in breeding, pregnant, or lactating dogs hasn’t been evaluated.
Drug Interactions
When administering NexGard PLUS, it’s important to consider potential drug interactions. Always inform your veterinarian about any medications, supplements, or treatments your dog is currently receiving. While exact drug interactions with NexGard PLUS aren’t extensively documented, it’s best to avoid concurrent use with other parasiticides unless directed by a veterinarian. Some medications may affect the metabolism of NexGard PLUS’s active ingredients, potentially altering its effectiveness or increasing the risk of side effects. If your dog is on any long-term medications or has underlying health conditions, consult your veterinarian before starting NexGard PLUS to ensure it’s safe and appropriate for your pet’s individual needs.
Veterinary Guidance
Veterinary guidance is crucial for the safe and effective use of NexGard PLUS in dogs. We’ll explore the prescription requirements and the importance of regular check-ups to ensure optimal protection against parasites.
Prescription Requirements
NexGard PLUS is a prescription-only medication, requiring veterinary approval for use. Veterinarians assess each dog’s health status, weight, and risk factors before prescribing the appropriate dosage. This evaluation ensures the medication’s safety and effectiveness for individual dogs. Prescriptions typically cover a exact time frame, often 6-12 months, after which a re-evaluation is necessary. Dogs must undergo heartworm testing before starting NexGard PLUS, as it’s not effective against adult heartworms. In cases of heartworm infection, veterinarians may recommend additional treatments before initiating NexGard PLUS.
Importance of Regular Check-ups
Regular veterinary check-ups are essential for dogs on NexGard PLUS. These visits allow veterinarians to monitor the medication’s effectiveness and assess the dog’s overall health. During check-ups, veterinarians perform physical examinations, review the dog’s parasite prevention history, and may conduct diagnostic tests. Annual heartworm tests are crucial, even for dogs on preventative medication, to ensure continued protection. Check-ups also provide opportunities to discuss any observed side effects or concerns. Veterinarians can adjust dosages or recommend alternative treatments if needed. Regular visits help maintain the dog’s health and ensure the continued efficacy of NexGard PLUS against parasites.
Comparing NexGard Plus to Other Preventatives
NexGard PLUS stands out among parasiticides for its comprehensive protection against a wide range of parasites. Let’s examine how it compares to other preventatives in terms of parasite coverage, efficacy, cost-effectiveness, and ease of use.
Cost-Effectiveness
NexGard PLUS offers a cost-effective solution for comprehensive parasite protection. By combining multiple treatments into one monthly dose, it eliminates the need for separate products. This all-in-one approach can lead to important savings compared to purchasing individual preventatives for fleas, ticks, heartworms, and intestinal parasites. The broad spectrum of coverage provided by NexGard PLUS also reduces potential veterinary costs associated with parasite-related illnesses. Also, its once-monthly administration schedule simplifies pet care routines, potentially saving time and reducing the likelihood of missed doses. While the initial cost may be higher than some single-action preventatives, the long-term value and convenience make NexGard PLUS a cost-effective choice for many dog owners.
Ease of Use
NexGard PLUS excels in ease of use compared to many other preventatives. Its once-monthly dosing schedule simplifies parasite protection, reducing the risk of missed treatments. The soft, beef-flavored chews are designed to be palatable, making administration less stressful for both dogs and owners. In a laboratory study, dogs preferred NexGard PLUS chews over SIMPARICA TRIO chewable tablets, indicating high palatability.
The chews don’t require food for administration, offering flexibility in dosing times. NexGard PLUS’s broad-spectrum protection eliminates the need for multiple products, streamlining the pet care routine. Available in four weight-based sizes, it’s easy to select the appropriate dose. The chews are also designed to be stable at room temperature, eliminating the need for refrigeration. This combination of factors makes NexGard PLUS one of the most user-friendly parasiticides on the market.
Conclusion
Nexgard PLUS stands out as a comprehensive parasitic defense for dogs. We’ve explored its broad-spectrum protection effectiveness and convenience. This all-in-one solution simplifies pet care while providing robust protection against various parasites. Remember it’s prescription-only so consult your vet for personalized advice. With Nexgard PLUS you’re investing in your dog’s health and your peace of mind. It’s a powerful tool in your pet care arsenal offering thorough year-round protection in one easy monthly dose.