Is nexgard safe for dogs?

Dog owners can be a finicky bunch, especially when it comes to the safety of their furry friends. This is particularly true when considering whether or not to use preventative measures like flea and tick medication. One such product that has recently come under scrutiny in the doggie community is Nexgard. So what’s all the fuss about? In this article, we’ll get down to brass tacks on Nexgard and help you decide if it’s right for your four-legged friend.

What Exactly IS Nexgard?

Before diving into whether or not Nexgard is safe, let’s first explore what the heck it actually is! Simply put, Nexguard (spelled with TWO g’s – we’re fancy like that) is a chewable tablet given monthly to dogs as a way of preventing fleas and ticks from taking up residence on their precious bods. Unlike some other flea-preventing options out there (we’re looking at you stinky shampoos), oral medication like Nextguard doesn’t leave any residue behind and won’t interfere with bath time rub-a-dubs.

The Trick: How It Works

Here are three things going on inside little doggo when they chow down an edible Nextguard menace-fighter:

1) Afoxolaner – say THAT five times fast- one of its active ingredients
2) Enters in dog’s bloodstream
3) Kills off fleas + ticks by paralyzing them so they can’t keep holdin’ onto puppers coat

It sounds pretty straight forward; however, some canine enthusiasts experience concern surrounding using chemical agents both internally AND externally on their pups.

But Let’s Get Down To Brass Tacks Here…IS IT SAFE?

Now getting ourselves good n’ educated ’bout what our fluffy friend will encounter…is eating it safe? The answer is yes! The FDA has approved the use of Nexgard and it has been studied extensively. In fact, a study conducted in 2013 found that only 0.1% (that’s right – POINT ONE PERCENT) of dogs experienced serious side effects after taking Nexgard.

Paranoia…Or A Real Concern?

Despite these findings, some dog owners remain wary about using products like Nextguard on their pups. This stems from potential internal/intestinal bleeding issues as well as harm to liver/kidney areas in pooches who might already have issues going on there all thanks to this medication.

While any medication does come with inherent risks, at the end of the day you need ot weigh out what fleas & ticks may do to Fido against rare instances where results could be less than purrfect. In addition, consulting an expert/factual online resources should always be utilized before bringing any new medicine into your family dynamic!

Risks & Benefits

Before you make the decision to use or not use Nexgard on your puppers butt-sniffer…you should know about both the possible benefits and risks involved.

Risks

Although serious reactions are infrequent based off reports so far…they’re still worth knowing beforehand:

  • Vomiting
  • Diarrhea
  • Lethargy
  • Skin Irritation/Itchiness

Those sound scary but understand they can usually pop up among GI reactions attics through allergen/mealtimes/reactions for other things other than just Nexguard aloneie: Dogs taking antibiotics alongside it might experience digestive upset more since bugs from helpful gut bacteria will get killed along symptoms returning after stuff comes back so forcefully creating diarrhea + stomach distress – double trouble sense triggered automatically now too by worms && mange medications we’ve also observed in pets unfortunate situations leading up close cases of pancreatitis arisen by chance combination pattern or even plain ol ‘prescription fatigue. Ultimately, be mindful of giving more than your pup can handle sensitively!

Benefits

The benefits (ya know what we’re talking about; great results!) are pretty straight forward:

  • Are tasty tablet form so no poking doggies mouth or chasing down fleas and ticks
  • Prevents fleas & ticks from taking over pups coat/skin in a way that’s somewhat permanent throughout the month.
  • You don’t have to worry about trickling chemical residue leaking onto posh-looking living room furniture while chillin’ on couch with Fido – because it’s all internal!

So, now that you have an idea of both the positive and negative side effects…let’s move into whether Nexgard is for you!

Making The Decision

Determining whether Nexguard is safe for YOUR dog really comes down to two important factors. These include:

1) Breed/Size/Health: Depending on what breed & size of pupper you have will depend how strong (or weak) their system may or may not be when digesting medication such as Nextguard. In addition, if there are any underlying health problems already present this could impact administering future drugs that align w/nexguard safety guidelines.

2) History: Knowing your best friend’s history like never before (like did he once snarf down an entire plateful chicken nuggets? Because hello potential account heading stomach misery/vomiting episode among studies led by experts!) allows vets/petowners time weigh out risk likelihood based off past behaviours indicating compatibility/resistance/stubborness/non-compliance reactions during our pets ingestion routines.

When looking at these two aspects it becomes clear why consulting professionals regarding treatment options might prove beneficial as they’ll possess useful familiarity/recommendations tailored to individual furry case-by-case scenarios — whereas random online stranger offering advice might fall short considerable amount just by chance alone…

At the end of the day – whether you choose Nexgard or not will come down to a personal decision based on the unique needs and health of your furry friend. While there are risks involved, they are minimal in comparison to the benefits of an easy-to-use monthly flea and tick preventative.

Are you pro-Nexgard? Anti? Have any brilliant puppy puns we missed out on in this piece? Hit us up! We’re always happy to hear from our fellow dog enthusiasts.

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