NexGard offers a range of medications designed to protect your pets from external and internal parasites, providing year-round coverage regardless of the season or climate. These treatments are specifically formulated for dogs and cats, ensuring adequate protection against common parasitic threats.
Available in different strengths and combinations, NexGard products should always be used as prescribed by your veterinarian. It's crucial to administer the correct formulation based on your pet's species and weight. Using dog medications on cats, or vice versa can lead to serious health issues, including ineffective treatment or potentially harmful overdoses. Always consult your veterinarian to ensure the proper NexGard product is used for your pet's needs.
NexGard For Dogs: Comprehensive Flea And Tick Prevention
NexGard is a prescription oral chewable tablet for dogs specifically designed to treat and prevent infestations of fleas and four common types of ticks:
- The American dog tick
- The black-legged tick
- The lone star tick
- The brown dog tick
NexGard is suitable for dogs and puppies aged eight weeks or older and weighing over four pounds. It offers convenient, effective protection.
In addition to its primary use, NexGard is prescribed off-label for treating conditions such as demodectic mange, sarcoptic mange, and ear mites. Off-label use refers to administering medication for conditions not explicitly listed on the product label, which a practice veterinarian may adopt based on clinical judgment and your dog's specific needs.
If your dog has a history of seizures or neurological disorders, consult your veterinarian before using NexGard, as it should be used with caution in such cases. At the time of this publication, the safety of NexGard in breeding, pregnant, or nursing dogs has not been fully evaluated. Always rely on your veterinarian's advice to ensure that NexGard is your dog's right choice.
NexGard Plus: Advanced Protection Against Parasites For Dogs
NexGard Plus is a prescription chewable tablet designed to provide broad-spectrum protection for dogs. It prevents heartworm disease and treats and infestations of hookworms, roundworms, fleas, and four types of ticks: the American dog tick, black-legged tick, lone star tick, and brown dog tick. This medication is suitable for dogs and puppies at least eight weeks old and weighing over four pounds.
Containing the active ingredient afoxolaner, NexGard Plus is also used off-label by veterinarians to treat conditions such as demodectic mange, sarcoptic mange, and ear mites. Off-label use refers to administering medication for purposes not explicitly mentioned on the product label, a practice commonly applied based on the clinical judgment of your veterinarian.
NexGard Plus should be administered with caution to dogs with a history of seizures or neurological issues. As of this publication, safety studies regarding its use in breeding, pregnant, or nursing dogs are inconclusive. However, the manufacturer has tested NexGard Plus in dogs with the MDR1 mutation and found no increased risk of adverse effects, ensuring it is safe for these dogs.
Consult your veterinarian to determine whether NexGard Plus is the right solution to protect your dog from parasites.
NexGard Combo: Comprehensive Parasite Control For Cats
NexGard Combo is a prescription topical treatment designed to protect cats from various parasites. It effectively prevents heartworm disease and treats and prevents infestations of roundworms, hookworms, tapeworms, fleas, and two types of ticks: black-legged and lone star ticks. This medication is suitable for cats and kittens at least eight weeks old and weighing over 1.8 pounds.
In addition to its primary uses, NexGard Combo is sometimes prescribed off-label by veterinarians for treating ear mites, notoedric mange, and cat lice. Off-label use refers to administering medication for conditions or species not explicitly mentioned on the product label, based on veterinary discretion and your cat's needs.
If your cat has a history of seizures or neurological issues, NexGard Combo should be used with caution. As of this publication, safety studies regarding its use in breeding, pregnant, or nursing cats have not yet been completed. Consult your veterinarian to determine if NexGard Combo is appropriate for protecting your cat from parasites.
How NexGard And NexGard Plus Works In Dogs
NexGard contains the active ingredient afoxolaner, which is part of the isoxazoline flea and ticks preventatives class. Isoxazolines work by overstimulating the nervous system of parasites, leading to paralysis and eventual death, providing adequate protection against fleas and ticks.
NexGard Plus builds on this by combining afoxolaner with two additional antiparasitic ingredients: moxidectin and pyrantel. Moxidectin helps prevent heartworms, hookworms, and roundworms by disrupting the worms' nervous system through an electrolyte overload, causing paralysis and death. Pyrantel further enhances protection by blocking specific worms' nervous system receptors, resulting in their paralysis and death. This combination makes NexGard Plus a comprehensive solution for preventing various terrorist threats.
How NexGard Combo Works In Cats
NexGard Combo is formulated with three key ingredients—esafoxolaner, eprinomectin, and praziquantel—for comprehensive protection against cat parasites.
Esafoxolaner, part of the isoxazoline class of flea and tick preventatives, works by overstimulating the parasite's nervous system, leading to paralysis and death. Eprinomectin targets worms by causing an electrolyte imbalance in their nervous system, resulting in paralysis and elimination.
Praziquantel, the third component, specifically combats tapeworms by damaging their outer skin, causing the worms to die. Once killed, the tapeworms are either digested by the pet's gastrointestinal system or passed through their stool, effectively removing them from the body. This combination makes NexGard Combo a robust cat parasitic prevention and treatment solution.
NexGard Administration Guidelines For Dogs
Administer NexGard according to the instructions on the product label or as directed by your veterinarian. This medication is given orally once a month, year-round, to dogs at least eight weeks old and weighing four pounds or more. NexGard can be administered with or without food. If your dog vomits within two hours of taking the chewable tablet, it is recommended that another full dose be provided to ensure effectiveness.
NexGard Plus Administration Guidelines for Dogs
Administer NexGard Plus as instructed by the product label or your veterinarian. This oral medication is to be given year-round, once a month, to dogs at least eight weeks old and weighing four pounds or more. NexGard Plus can be administered with or without food to ensure continuous protection against parasites.
NexGard Combo Application Guidelines for Cats
Apply NexGard Combo according to the product label or your veterinarian's instructions. To administer, part the fur and apply the medication directly to the exposed skin on the midline of the neck, between the base of the head and the shoulder blades, where your cat cannot reach to lick.
If your cat's weight requires a second dose, apply the additional dose in the same manner and location. This topical treatment is to be used once a month, year-round, to cats that are at least eight weeks old and weigh 1.8 pounds or more.
After application, please avoid contact with the treatment site for at least four hours until fully dry. Ensure that neither your cat nor other pets in the household lick the treated area.
Potential Side Effects Of NexGard And NexGard Plus In Dogs
NexGard and NexGard Plus are generally well tolerated by most dogs. However, some uncommon side effects may occur, including:
- Gastrointestinal issues such as vomiting, diarrhea, or loss of appetite
- Dry or itchy skin
- Lethargy (low energy)
- Allergic reactions, which may present as hives or facial swelling
In rare cases, neurological side effects have been observed with medications in this class. If your dog has a history of seizures or other neurological conditions, inform your veterinarian. Neurological side effects may include:
- Muscle tremors
- Loss of balance or difficulty walking
- Seizures
If any of these symptoms appear, contact your veterinarian immediately.
Potential Side Effects Of NexGard Combo In Cats
If accidentally ingested or applied improperly, NexGard Combo may cause excessive cat drooling. It is generally well tolerated, but some uncommon side effects may include:
- Vomiting
- Hair changes at the application site
- Loss of appetite
- Lethargy (low energy)
As with dogs, neurological side effects have been reported in some cases. If your cat has a history of seizures or other neurological issues, notify your veterinarian. Neurological side effects may include:
- Muscle tremors
- Loss of balance or difficulty walking
- Seizures
If your cat shows any of these symptoms, contact your veterinarian immediately.
