Did you hear about NexGard from your veterinarian during your pet’s routine check-up appointment? The conversation with your vet is often quick, and the technical details tend to get compressed into “It’s for Fleas and Ticks.” That’s accurate as far as parasite type is concerned. But there’s more worth knowing, especially around what NexGard covers, how dosing actually works, and what to watch for once your dog starts taking it. To help you better understand what your veterinarian recommended, let’s take a closer look at NexGard for Dogs.
What are NexGard Chewables for Dogs?
NexGard is a once-monthly chew for dogs that provides flea and tick protection. With afoxolaner as an active ingredient, it is delivered in a beef-flavored soft chew format. NexGard is formulated in four different weight-specific sizes, so dosing can be matched to a dog’s current weight.
What Do NexGard Chewables Cover?
NexGard kills adult fleas and is indicated for the treatment and prevention of flea infestations. It also treats and controls black-legged ticks, American dog ticks, Lone Star ticks, Gulf Coast ticks, brown dog ticks, and longhorned ticks. NexGard is indicated for the prevention of Lyme infection as a direct result of killing black-legged ticks.
How Does NexGard Work?
NexGard contains afoxolaner. Once administered, the active ingredient is absorbed into the bloodstream. When fleas and ticks ingest blood containing afoxolaner, the active ingredient causes hyperexcitation and kills the parasite.
How Effective Are NexGard Chews?
In well-controlled laboratory studies conducted by the manufacturer, NexGard started killing fleas within 4 hours of the initial administration and was more than 99% effective at 8 hours. It also showed 100% effectiveness against adult fleas 24 hours after infestation for 35 days.
The study data demonstrate that NexGard kills fleas before they can lay eggs, thus helping prevent further flea infestations. This is one reason consistent NexGard flea protection can be important for dogs living in environments where flea exposure is common.
In manufacturer studies, dogs with signs of flea allergy dermatitis (FAD) showed improvement in erythema, alopecia, papules, scales, crusts, and excoriation following treatment as a direct result of eliminating fleas.
NexGard has also demonstrated high effectiveness against several types of ticks within 48 to 72 hours post-infestation.
Laboratory studies also found that NexGard was effective at preventing Lyme infections after dogs were infested with black-legged ticks 28 days after treatment.
Overall, the study data show that NexGard provides ongoing protection against fleas and several tick species when given as directed.
How to Give NexGard Chews?
NexGard Chewables Dosage and Administration
- NexGard Chew is to be given orally once a month (every 30 days).
- Remove only one chew at a time from the foil-backed blister card.
- NexGard chews can be administered with or without food.
- Care should be taken to ensure that the dog consumes the complete dose.
- The treated dog should be observed for a few minutes to ensure that part of the dose is not lost or refused.
- If it is suspected that any of the dose has been lost or if vomiting occurs within two hours of administration, redose with another full dose.
- If a dose is missed, administer NexGard and resume a monthly dosing schedule.
Dosage Schedule
NexGard is available in four sizes of beef-flavored soft chewables for weight-appropriate dosage, and in color-coded packages for easy identification.
It is important to note that giving a dose sized for a different weight range than what your dog actually weighs is not something to adjust on your own; that’s a conversation for your veterinarian, particularly as a puppy grows between doses.
Which Dogs Can Take NexGard Chews?
NexGard Chews are safe for dogs and puppies as young as 8 weeks of age and weighing 4 pounds or more.
Safety: Use NexGard Chews with caution in dogs with a history of seizures or neurologic disorders. The safe use of NexGard chews in pregnant, breeding, or lactating dogs has not been evaluated.
Final Thoughts
NexGard is widely used in veterinary practices and is popular among pet parents because it kills fleas fast, helps prevent future flea infestations, and protects against six labeled tick species for a full month. NexGard protects your dog consistently when administered as directed. This blog covers most of the practical questions, such as dosing, coverage, effectiveness, and safety considerations. But your veterinarian is still the right person to confirm if it’s the right fit for your dog specifically. If your dog fits the profile and your vet’s on board, the rest is just remembering to give NexGard once a month.
Frequently Asked Questions
1. Can NexGard chews be crushed?
Yes. You can break up NexGard chews into smaller pieces and feed them to your dog in a small amount of food. However, make sure you give your dog the whole chew within one sitting to ensure effectiveness.
2. How long does it take for NexGard chews to work?
The active ingredient in NexGard chews, afoxolaner, is absorbed into the system within 6 hours. NexGard label mentions that it is >99% effective on pre-existing flea infestations, killing them within 8 hours. Newly acquired fleas are killed within 24 hours. Ticks will die within 48-72 hours.
3. How do I know if NexGard chews are working?
You can tell NexGard chews are working by looking for dead fleas and ticks.
4. What are the NexGard alternatives for dogs?
Common alternatives to NexGard include other oral flea and tick preventatives, such as Simparica and Bravecto, and other topical treatments such as Advantage Multi and K9 Advantix. The right option depends on your dog’s age, weight, lifestyle, parasite exposure, health condition, and whether your dog also needs protection against heartworm or intestinal parasites. Your veterinarian can help you choose the right one for your dog.
