Whether you have an indoor dog or an outdoor one, a tick or flea infestation can happen at any time; it can result in days of deep-cleaning in your home or frenzied trips to the vet. While you will find plenty of sprays, collars, solutions, and pills to choose from when it comes to year-round pest control, how do you know which one is the best choice for your dog?
One of the most popular oral medication is the NexGard Spectra, which is the European version of the US-based Nexgard. It is important that you choose the right type of medicine for your furry family member; the decision should never be considered light-heartedly, especially when it comes to pesticide-based tick and flea treatments.
In most cases, tick and flea infestation in dogs are caused by their comfortable fur coat and warm skin. Apart from ticks and fleas, Nexgard Spectra is also adept at treating different types of pests.
Fleas and ticks are parasites that can wait, for months at a time, to find a suitable host body to latch on and lay eggs; this cycle keeps then repeating.
Fleas and ticks are drawn to blood and warmth and are commonly seen during the summer/spring seasons. When your dog is having fun outside, especially in wooded areas, shrubs, and tall grass, there is a chance that ticks and fleas will attach themselves to your pet, and quite possibly to you as well.
What is NexGard?
Nexgard Spectra is a monthly parasitic treatment for dogs that is fast becoming popular around the world. Produced by Merial Ltd, which is now a part of the Boehringer Ingelheim group, this medication has been made to kill adult ticks and fleas before they lay eggs. Additionally, the product has been designed by FRONTLINE, who has a long history of creating products to eliminate ticks and fleas, thereby making a lot of dogs (and cats) a lot healthier and happy.
What are some pros of Nexgard Spectra?
NexGard Spectra is a proper treatment procedure that can be used to deal with a wide range of parasites like gastrointestinal worms, ticks, fleas, etc. in dogs. Just a single chewable treat is capable of preventing the harmful effects of heartworm infestation and for treating different parasitic internal infestations as well.
The oral treatment can also control and treat mites and protect your mutt against otodectic mange, sarcoptic mange, and demodectic mange. Apart from rapidly killing fleas, the medication also prevents infestations by tapeworms and fleas. The oral treatment also controls various gastrointestinal nematodes like whipworms, hookworms, and roundworms.
The medication needs to be taken orally and can take at least four weeks to see the results. The active ingredient used in Nexgard Spectra is Afoxolaner, which inhibits the bug’s nervous system. Due to this, almost 99% of the ticks and fleas within eight hours.
Nexgard Spectra is available in chewable form, which is quite palatable and can be hidden in your dog’s daily food, which makes it perfect for dogs that are fussy and refuse to take their medications. You do not have to apply oily ointments on your mutt’s skin.
What are some cons of Nexgard Spectra?
Of course, you need to be fully aware of the side effects of Nexgard Spectra. Since its release, adverse events have been reported in dogs like tremors, allergic reactions (including swelling and hives), dermatitis (including papules and rash), ataxia, erythema, panting, restlessness/hyperactivity, seizures, anorexia, diarrhea (with and without blood), lethargy, pruritus, and vomiting.
However, according to the EMA, all the above side effects have been listed as ‘uncommonly observed’ in clinical trials, which means that about 10 out of 1,000 dogs have suffered the above-mentioned Nexgard Spectra side effects.
Conclusion
When it comes to eliminating ticks and fleas, Nexgard Spectra is considered one of the top options. Of course, while it may have its share of cons, the likeliness your dog suffering from the negative side effects is very low. Nexgard Spectra has proven to be quite efficient in protecting your furry friends from such parasites.
