Outdoor recreation is a wonderful opportunity for a dog to have a good time, but the mood can be spoiled by an attack by ticks, fleas, and other blood-sucking parasites. Every owner wants to protect their pet from potential dangers using proven remedies. Frontline Nexgard, a chewable tick and flea tablet, recently hit the market. Unlike traditional external protection (collars and sprays), the tablets target the parasite without contact. But many dog owners wonder: how effective and safe is this product for pets?
Content
Description of Frontline Nexgard chewable tablets
There are a large number of veterinary medications for animals designed specifically to repel and kill blood-sucking parasites, particularly fleas and ticks. Frontline Nexgard meat-flavored chewable tablets are considered a new addition to the veterinary market.
Frontline Nexgard tablets are a non-contact remedy for blood-sucking parasites.
Advantages
Features of Frontline Nexgard tablets:
- meaty taste: the dog perceives the drug as a tasty treat and eats it with appetite;
- the action begins in 30 minutes, and the pet’s protection lasts for 4 weeks;
- After taking the medicine, bathing the animal is allowed;
- does not come into contact with human skin when in contact with a dog, unlike preparations applied to the skin and fur of an animal;
- the principle of action is that after a bite, the parasite receives a lethal dose of poison and dies, without having time to transmit dangerous infectious diseases to the dog;
- Suitable for different breeds of dogs, puppies from 8 weeks of age, and under the supervision of a veterinarian - even for pregnant and lactating bitches;
- Suitable for dogs with sensitive skin that experience irritation when using collars or sprays, as it does not come into contact with the animal's body surface.
After using the drug, you can find parasites in the animal’s fur, either dead or still alive (if they have not yet bitten the dog).
Release form and composition of the drug
Frontline Nexgard is manufactured in France by Merial. The package contains three brown tablets, which are either rectangular or oval. The medication is available in four dosages, designed for dogs of different weights:
- 0.5 g - for dogs weighing 2-4 kg;
- 1.25 g - for dogs weighing 4-10 kg;
- 3 g - for dogs weighing 10–25 kg;
- 6 g - for dogs weighing 25-50 kg.
The required dosage of Frontline Nexgard tablets depends on the dog's weight.
The main active ingredient is afoxolaner, which is particularly effective against fleas and ticks. The formula also contains:
- corn starch - 25%;
- soy protein flour - 20%;
- additive with the aroma and taste of stewed beef - 20%;
- povidone K30 – 2.7%;
- macrogol 400 – 7.1%;
- macrogol 4000 – 6.3%;
- macrogol 15 hydroxystearate - 3.1%;
- glycerol - 10%;
- medium triglyceride - 3.1%;
- potassium sorbate - 0.3%.
The product is effective against two types of fleas (dog and cat) and ticks. It also prevents the parasites from laying eggs and reproducing. Its rapid action protects dogs from tick-borne diseases such as babesiosis and Lyme disease.
The medication has undergone laboratory and natural testing, which revealed its safety and the absence of active substance accumulation in dogs' bodies with continued use.
Instructions for use
Frontline Nexgard chewable tablets can be fed to your dog either separately (the beef flavor doesn't deter dogs) or mixed with their food. It's important to ensure the entire tablet is swallowed and no pieces or crumbs are lost, so it's best to give it in a bowl and supervise consumption. Full effectiveness is guaranteed only if the entire dose is consumed.
It is better not to give the Frontline Nexgard tablet to your dog by hand, but to put it in a bowl for consumption.
Table: Frontline Nexgard tablet dosage according to dog weight
| Dog weight (kg) | Tablet weight (g) | Dose of active substance (mg/tablet) |
| 2–4 | 0.5 | 11.3 |
| 4.1–10 | 1.25 | 28.3 |
| 10.1–25 | 3 | 68 |
| 25.1–50 | 6 | 136 |
For large animals weighing over 50 kg, the dosage is calculated individually, based on a ratio of 2.5 mg of afoxolaner (active ingredient) per kilogram of the dog's weight.
Do not break the tablet. The medication is effective for one month; after this period, re-administer it to your dog if necessary.
Violating the instructions for using the drug is unacceptable, as this may reduce its effectiveness or lead to an overdose, which may result in apathy, decreased appetite, and peeling skin in the pet.
A person should also take personal safety precautions when working with this medicine:
- Do not smoke, drink, or eat while administering the medication;
- wash your hands with soap after handling the tablet;
- Avoid direct skin contact with it if you are sensitive to any of the components of the drug;
- If you experience any allergic symptoms or accidentally ingest the drug, you should immediately consult a doctor, taking the instructions for the tablets with you.
Contraindications and side effects
Like any drug, Frontline Nexgard has a number of limitations for use:
- contraindicated for animals prone to allergic reactions;
- should not be used by dogs with kidney and liver diseases, as well as infectious diseases and weakened individuals;
- prohibited for dogs weighing less than 2 kg;
- Not recommended for puppies under 8 weeks of age;
- Pregnant and lactating females should be given the drug only under the supervision of a veterinarian;
- should not be used if the animal has previously had an allergy to drugs containing afoxolaner;
- Contraindicated for dogs with problem skin (open wounds, lichen, suppuration).
Frontline Nexgard is contraindicated for dogs with skin problems (open wounds, ringworm, suppuration)
Although side effects are quite rare, their symptoms may include vomiting, itching, peeling, diarrhea, salivation, loss of appetite, and depression in the animal. The most likely breeds to experience an allergic reaction are collies, bobtails, and shelties.
If itching or flaking occurs, treat the affected area with a topical solution (such as hydrocortisone ointment), give your pet an antihistamine, and consult a veterinarian. Monitor your pet's behavior for two days to identify any symptoms promptly.
Important! Before using this medication for the first time, consult your veterinarian and carefully read the instructions.
Video: How to give your dog a Frontline Nexgard tablet
Reviews from dog breeders
Well, here it is. I bought it. (…) Nexgard was in stock. Bravecto is supposedly also available, but it's not available now. I spent half an hour pestering the saleswoman: reading the instructions, asking questions. But... I didn't learn anything new. It's only been on sale here for a week, there are no reviews. I hesitated, but still bought it. The girl told me, "try it and tell me," and I said with a sour smile, "definitely." I felt like a guinea pig:/ You can buy 1 tablet, not necessarily the whole pack (not surprising at that price). For our 70 kg, I took 136 mg for 25.1-50 kg + 68 mg for 10-25 kg. The cost of 1 tablet was 751 rubles and 685 rubles, respectively. Well, I also have a 7% discount on my card - a little cheaper in the end. It looks like a bouillon cube, the smell is also of broth, not strong, quite pleasant. I gave it with food, that is, I gave the tablets, Dafka quickly gobbled them up (she clearly liked them) and I put a bowl of food on her, just to be sure. swallowed. 1.5 hours passed - everything is fine knock on wood!!!
Review: Frontline Nexgard Chewable Flea and Tick Tablets for Dogs - Excellent Tick Repellent for Dogs Pros: Effectiveness, Ease of Use Cons: Expensive I have two dogs. We spend the summer at our dacha in the Kaluga region. Ticks are plentiful. We remove 5-10 ticks a day from ourselves, and no less from our dogs. My dogs use these tablets from March to October. The most the ticks do is crawl on my dogs. Not a single tick has attached itself to them the entire season! We've even found dead ticks in their fur! Of course, it's the chemicals in our dogs' blood! But this method is better than the death of your pet. When hiking in the woods, I also spray them with an aerosol spray containing a different active ingredient, specifically Bars. Dear owners of our beloved dogs, please note that the tablets are effective for 28 days, not a calendar month. I recommend writing down and strictly following the tablet administration schedule. By the way, there's no point in putting collars on large dogs (over 20 kg) as a preventative measure. The effect of the substance reaches the withers at most, and doesn't reach the tummy or other sensitive areas at all. Good luck to everyone, and take care of your pets. Don't skimp!
Review: Frontline Nexgard Chewable Flea and Tick Tablets for Dogs - Allergy Potential! Pros: - Easy to administer Cons: - Allergy Potential - Expensive. I can't speak to the effectiveness of the product, but I had to take my dog to the 24-hour veterinary clinic two hours after taking the pill. He was whining, running around the apartment like he was scalded, and scratching himself. This continued until the morning, despite the hormone injection. I wouldn't recommend this to anyone. The substance is eliminated for a month (!), so what if the dog has an allergy? I'm glad I didn't buy Bravecto. To be fair, my second dog didn't have any allergies or side effects. I continue to give him the pills because I bought two full packs. How effective are the pills? Over the entire two months, I found one live tick embedded in his fur and one dead one in his fur. It just so happens that there aren't many ticks in our area this summer, so there aren't many statistics. I treat my allergy sufferer with drops, but I haven't removed any ticks from him at all.
Frontline Nexgard tablets are effective both as a treatment for blood-sucking parasites and as a preventative measure against dangerous diseases. However, as with any new medication, it takes time to identify all possible side effects and adverse reactions. It's important to remember that the health of your four-legged friends depends on your competent and attentive approach. Only a veterinarian can help you choose the most effective and safe flea and tick protection that's right for your dog.
