As for fleas, afloxolaner kills fleas before they are able to lay eggs so that a flea sterilizer is not necessary in the tablet.Īfoxolaner lasts one month and can be used in puppies/dogs 8 weeks of age and older so long as they weigh at least 4 lbs. (see our tick product comparison chart for more details) and afoxolaner will kill all of them. There are four ticks of concern in the U.S.
Nexgard kills fleas and ticks only and has no activity against intestinal worms or heartworm. Nexgard Spectra combines afoxolaner and milbemycin, an anti-worm medicine, so as to provide nearly total parasite protection in one product but this version of Nexgard is not presently available in the U.S.Ī valid patient-doctor relationship is required to obtain a prescription for afoxolaner. Today parasite control has proliferated into dozens of products controlling different combinations of organisms and with many administration options.Īfloxolaner was released by Merial Animal Health in 2014 as a beef-flavored chewable prescription medication called "Nexgard ®." A related product called "Nexgard Spectra ®" is available in Europe. These products represented a revolution in flea control but the revolution did not stop there. For the first time, flea control could be performed once a month in the simple form of a chewable tablet or smear of topical oil. As technology progressed, products became safer and more convenient culminating in a whole “next generation” of products starting with Program ® in 1995, and Advantage ® and Frontline ® not long after. In older times, flea control was a very labor-intensive process involving sprays, dips, foggers, yard treatments, powders and more.