It is important to know that fleas and ticks are not only a nuisance, they also transmit potentially serious diseases to animals and humans. Unfortunately, these pests are a problem all year round. Many products have been developed to combat them and have varied in terms of safety and effectiveness. Over time, products have been developed that are safer and do a better job of killing pests with fewer side effects.
Chewable tablets Nexgard are indicated for the treatment and prevention of flea infestations and ticks in dogs, and can be used as a method of controlling flea allergy dermatitis (FAD). The tablets contain an ingredient called Afoxolaner, which works by over-stimulating the flea's nervous system and killing them before they have a chance to lay eggs.
Nexgard tablets are available as tablets spotted red to reddish brown, circular in shape (small dog) or rectangular in shape.
What is Nexgard tablet, collars for dogs?
Nexgard was introduced in 2014 as was Bravecto. Nexgard tablets for dogs produced by the MERIAL Company help prevent flea infestations by rapidly killing adult fleas before they even have a chance to lay eggs. It is recommended by veterinarians to help prevent infections that cause Lyme disease in dogs. It can also help kill infected blacklegged ticks before Lyme infection can be transmitted.
Each fast-acting chew provides safe and effective protection, killing fleas and ticks for a full month. Nexgard comes in a beef flavored chewy paste, which makes it easy to administer to your pet. It can be given to puppies as young as 8 weeks old and to dogs weighing at least 2 kg.
Why use Nexgard tablets for dogs?
Choosing Nexgard tablets means opting for key advantages including:
- The vet-recommended flea and tick control method that kills fleas quickly, before they can lay eggs
- The only product approved by veterinarians for the prevention of infections causing Lyme disease. Nexgard kills infected blacklegged ticks before Lyme infections can be transmitted.
- Quickly kills fleas and ticks for a full month
- Each beef flavored chew is easy to give because dogs love the taste.
- Safe for dogs and puppies at least 8 weeks old and weighing 2 kg or plus.
- Can be administered with or without food and remains effective for a full month.
How does Nexgard tablet work?
The active ingredients
Nexgard tablet contains afoxolaner which is absorbed into the bloodstream after ingestion. Afoxolaner alone represents an insecticide and an acaricide belonging to the isoxazoline family. Nexgard completely eliminates fleas within 8 hours and ticks within 48 hours of application.
Afoxolaner acts on ligand-dependent chloride channels, particularly those controlled by the neurotransmitter gamma-aminobutyric acid (GABA), thereby blocking the pre- and postsynaptic transfer of chloride ions across cell membranes. This leads to uncontrolled activity of the central nervous system and the death of insects or mites. The selective toxicity of afoxolaner between insects / mites and mammals can be inferred by the differential sensitivity of insect / mite GABA receptors relative to mammalian receptors. When fleas and ticks ingest blood containing afoxolaner, these parasites become over-excited and die. Afoxolaner is an effective repellant against adult fleas and species such as: Amblyomma americanum, Haemaphysalis longicornis, Dermacentor reticulatus, D. variabilis, Ixodes castor oil, scapularis et Rhipicephalus sanguineus. The product kills fleas before egg production and therefore prevents household contamination.
Fleas and ticks must attach to the host and start feeding to be exposed to the active substance. The product kills fleas before egg production and thus prevents household contamination. It also helps in the treatment of demodicosis (caused by Demodex canis) and in the treatment of sarcoptic mange (caused by Sarcoptes scabiei var.canis).
Treatment for flea infestation in dogs (Ctenocephalides felis and C. canis) is for at least 5 weeks. The tablet can be used as part of a treatment strategy for the control of flea allergic dermatitis (APD). It is also a treatment for tick infestations in dogs (Dermacentor reticulatus, Ixodes ricinus, Ixodes hexagonus, Rhipicephalus sanguineus) which kills them for up to one month.
Method of administration Nexguard tablet
Nexgard tablet is for oral administration. The tablets should not be divided. For dogs over 50 kg of body weight, use an appropriate combination of chewable tablets.
The tablets can be chewed and are palatable to most dogs. If the dog does not accept the tablets directly, do not hesitate to give it to him with food. You will find that giving your dog a flea and tick solution has never been so much fun. Topical solutions are proven to work, but they can be messy and laborious, especially if your dog is uncooperative. Collars, on the other hand, are easy to put on but offer limited effectiveness in preventing pests.
Nexgard tablets give you the best of both worlds. They're completely mess-free (assuming your dog doesn't leave a ton of crumbs behind), but they also offer powerful flea and tick protection. You can protect your puppy for a month at a time by simply giving him one chewable tablet.
Treatment schedule
Treatment of flea and tick infestations :
Establish monthly intervals of Nexgard application throughout the flea and/or tick season, depending on local epidemiological situations.
Treatment of demodicosis (caused by Demodex canis) :
Monthly administration of the product until obtaining two negative skin scrapings one month apart. More severe cases may require monthly treatments on an extended basis.
The drug also works in the treatment of sarcoptic mange (caused by Sarcoptes scabiei var. Canis) and requires Monthly Administration of the product for two consecutive months. Additional monthly administration of the product may be required based on clinical evaluation and skin scrapings. Care should be taken to ensure that the dog consumes the full dose and observe the treated animals for a few minutes to ensure that part of the dose is not lost or rejected.
In all cases, seek the advice of your veterinarian before any administration of Nexguard tablet.
Recommended dosage
Nexgard (afoxolaner) is taken orally once a month at a minimum dose of (2,5 mg / kg). Nexgard can be administered with or without food. Care should be taken to ensure that the dog consumes the full dose and observe the treated animals for a few minutes to ensure that part of the dose is not wasted or withheld. If any dose is suspected to have been lost or if vomiting occurs within two hours of administration, start over with another full dose. If a dose is missed, administer Nexgard and resume a monthly dosing schedule. Flea treatment and prevention: Treatment with Nexgard can be started at any time of the year. In areas where fleas are common year round, monthly Nexgard treatment should be continued throughout the year without interruption. To minimize the likelihood of re-infestation with fleas, it is important to treat all animals in a household with an approved flea control product. Treatment with Nexgard can be started at any time of the year.
Dosage table
|
Color on box |
Weight scale |
Strength |
Dose |
|
ORANGE |
2 - 4 kg |
11,3 mg afoxolaner |
Administer orally once a month |
|
BLUE |
4 – 10 kg |
28,3 mg afoxolaner |
Administer orally once a month |
|
VIOLET |
10 - 25 kg |
68 mg afoxolaner |
Administer orally once a month |
|
RED |
25 - 50 kg |
136 mg afoxolaner |
Administer orally once a month |
Duration of action of Nexguard tablet
The exposure time it takes for the flea or tick to die depends on how long it takes for the flea or tick to attach and exchange fluids with the host dog as well as the dose of medication needed to kill the fleas. fleas or a specific species of tick and that of the dog. It includes a plasma concentration of the drug at the time of fixation. Once the feeding begins for the fleas (C.felis), the effect begins within 8 to 24 hours. For ticks, Dermacentor variabilis et Ixodes scapularis > 90% are killed within 48 hours and for Amblyomma americanum > 90% are killed within 72 hours.
Each tablet will protect your dog for at least 30 days. Nexgard has always been shown to work at least that long, but many users report that their dogs remain protected for a good period of time after the initial month has ended.
Interactions with other treatments
In a well-controlled field study, Nexgard was used in combination with other medicines, such as vaccines, anthelmintics, antibiotics (including topicals), steroids, nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs), anesthetics and antihistamines.
To date, no interaction with other products or drugs has been formally established with regard to Nexguard tablet.
Is Nexgard tablet safe?
Nexgard is safe and effective for all breeds of dogs when used according to the directions in its packaging. Nexgard cannot be applied to cats or other animals. It is an anti-flea specially designed to make dogs happy. Do not re-administer Nexgard until the end of the month, as it will continue to work for a full 30 days.
Precautions of Nexguard tablet
Special precautions for use in animals
- In the absence of available data, treatment of puppies less than 8 weeks old and / or dogs less than 2 kg of body weight should be based on a benefit and risk assessment carried out by the responsible veterinarian.
- Nexgard should not be prescribed to any animal suffering from neurological disorders.
- If your pet has ever had a seizure or neurological event, you should not use these drugs.
- If you use any of these products and your pet has a reaction, stop using them.
- The ingredients are not toxic to felines, but you should never give a cat medicine designed for dogs. If you want to protect your cat, you should find a product specifically designed for them.
Precautions to be taken by the person administering Nexgard for dogs
- If any dose is suspected to have been lost or if vomiting occurs within 2 hours of administration, start over with another full dose. In case of forgetting by dose, administer NEXGARD and resume a monthly dosing schedule.
- These products always require a prescription from a veterinarian. It is our vets responsibility to make sure we have a long enough discussion with you, the animal lover, about your four-legged friend's medical history and conditions to determine if these products are safe and suitable for use. . Avoid the double dose.
- If you are unsure whether your dog has received his flea medication, it is best to wait for the next scheduled dose. Luckily, Nexgard often runs longer than the stated window, so your pet should be fine.
- To prevent children from having access to the veterinary medicinal product, only remove one chewable tablet from the ampoule at a time. Put the blister pack with the remaining chewable tablets back into the carton. Wash your hands after handling the product.
- Do not use in case of hypersensitivity to the active substance or to any of the excipients.
- To prevent children from accessing the product, remove only one chewable tablet from the blister at a time. Return the blister pack with the remaining chewable tablets to the carton.
- Wash hands after handling the product.
- Storage Instructions: Be sure to store Nexgard tablet for dogs in the original packaging at a temperature between 30 ° C (86 F) and 40 ° C (104 F).
Nexguard tablet side effects
An adverse reaction is an event which occurred sufficiently close to the administration of the product for it to be linked to it; it does not necessarily have a cause and effect relationship. Since the release of Nexgard, the adverse events reported in dogs are listed here in descending order of frequency of notification:
- vomiting
- pruritus, lethargy, diarrhea (with and without blood), anorexia, convulsions, hyperactivity / restlessness, panting, erythema, ataxia, dermatitis (including rash, papules), allergic reactions (including hives, swelling) and tremors.
- Mild gastrointestinal effects (vomiting, diarrhea), pruritus, lethargy, anorexia and neurological signs
- Seizures, ataxia and muscle tremors have been reported very rarely. The reactions were self-limiting and of short duration
The substance afoxolaner belongs to the class of isoxazolins. This class has been associated with neurological adverse effects including tremors, ataxia and seizures. Studies have shown that some dogs that had no history of seizures but were given drugs of the isoxazoline class were prone to seizures. Use Nexgard with caution in dogs with a history of seizures or neurological disorders.
Nexgard (afoxolaner) should only be used in dogs. The most frequently reported side effects are vomiting, itching, lethargy, diarrhea and lack of appetite. Furthermore, the application of Nexgard tablet in pregnant or lactating bitches remains to be evaluated. Use with caution in dogs with a history of seizures or neurological disorders. For more information, contact your veterinarian or refer to the full prescribing information.
Effects of bathing or swimming on Nexgard
Because Nexgard is an oral product, swimming or bathing has no effect on its effectiveness. Your dog's coat may get wet immediately after taking Nexgard.
The pros and cons of Nexguard tablet for dogs
Here's a quick recap on Nexgard to guide you in your choice.
The pros
- Extremely effective against fleas and ticks : excellent activity against fleas and ticks throughout the month
- Nexgard kills 100% of fleas in 24 hours. Nexgard contains the ingredient afoxolaner which targets and kills adult fleas before they can lay eggs. Nexgard also kills the Lone Star tick, the blacklegged tick, the American dog tick and the brown dog tick.
- Nexgard (afoxolaner) is safe and effective for use in puppies 8 weeks of age or older, weighing 4 pounds or more.
- Easy to administer. The oral formula is made on purpose because most dogs will eat it. The tablets are chewable and have a pleasant taste. If your dog is reluctant, give him his normal dose in his usual meal.
- Simple monthly intervals. Its duration of effectiveness is one month
- No restrictions on shampooing or swimming. Not affected by bathing or swimming.
- Very low incidence of side effects.
- It includes 5 ranges and each range contains 6 chews. Five weight ranges allow for proper dosage as the puppies grow older. Your dog does not need to change products after 8 weeks
The idiots
- Cannot be given to cats
- Cannot be used in pregnant or lactating bitches (it has not been tested in them)
- Requires veterinarian prescription before purchase
- They are relatively more expensive than flea and tick collars
- Nexgard only kills fleas and ticks. He does not necessarily protect against mosquitoes, heartworms and other parasites. Mosquitoes are also of great concern, as they can potentially transmit deadly heartworms.
- Some discomfort : The medication is extremely effective, but it requires letting the insects bite your dog, so there will be initial discomfort. The way it works is for a parasite to jump on your dog and dig in for a good meal. They then begin to feast on your dog's blood - which, unwittingly, is soaked in toxic insecticide. The parasite is then paralyzed and falls dead.
Although fleas cause incredible pain in the neck, ticks are more concerning in that they can cause diseases such as Lyme or anaplasmosis. These new drugs are considered safe and very effective for the general pet population. As with any tick control product, you should always check your dog daily for ticks. Each individual must ultimately judge whether or not they wish to use a highly effective flea and tick product on their dog, or risk their dog becoming infested with fleas or suffering from a disease transmitted by fleas. ticks.
Before prescribing Nexgard to your dog, your veterinarian will have a thorough discussion with you about his condition including any undocumented neurological episodes or conditions. You will also be able to discuss all the pros and cons of this new canine health solution.
