If you have a pet, you can relate to how commonly your pet can have a flea or tick problem at one time or another. More than likely, you will have these problems several times during the lifetime of your dog. Our furry companions are easy targets for lots of parasites, thousands of bacteria, and infections. With tons of flea and tick products available in the market, it’s always a big task to choose the best and most suitable one for your dog. In this blog, we have given you detailed information about NexGard, Bravecto Chews, and Simparica Trio for dogs. Let’s get started!
Quick Overview of NexGard, Bravecto Chews, or Simparica Trio
What is NexGard for Dogs?
NexGard for Dogs is a once-a-month oral treatment for dogs. It contains afoxolaner and is designed to help protect your dog from fleas and ticks. NexGard Chewables comes in a beef-flavored chew that can be administered every 30 days for year-round protection. Manufactured by Boehringer Ingelheim, NexGard Chews are safe for dogs and puppies aged 8 weeks and above and weighing 4 pounds or more.
What is Bravecto Chews for Dogs?
Bravecto for Dogs is an effective and long-lasting option for flea and tick protection, ideal if you don’t want to dose every month. The active ingredient fluralaner works against killing fleas and multiple tick species for up to 12 weeks (approx. 3 months). Bravecto is presented in highly palatable flavored chews that dogs easily accept. Manufactured by Merck Animal Health, Bravecto Chews are suitable for use in dogs and puppies aged 6 months or older, weighing 4.4 pounds or greater.
What is Simparica Trio for Dogs?
Simparica Trio for Dogs is a tasty, monthly chew that protects your dog from internal and external parasites. It combines three powerful ingredients, including sarolaner, moxidectin, and pyrantel, that work against fleas, ticks, heartworm disease, and intestinal worms. Manufactured by Zoetis, Simparica Trio is safe for dogs as young as 8 weeks of age and weighing as little as 2.8 pounds.
How Are NexGard, Bravecto Chews, and Simparica Trio Different?
Though all three parasite treatments offer various benefits, here are the unique features that set them apart:
Active Ingredients:
NexGard chews contain afoxolaner, while Bravecto chews are made using fluralaner. Simparica Trio is formulated with the combination of sarolaner, moxidectin, and pyrantel.
Parasite Coverage:
All three parasite treatments are highly effective and cover a variety of parasites.
NexGard Chewables:
- Kills adult fleas before they can lay eggs and prevents flea infestations
- Treats and controls tick infestations caused by black-legged ticks, American dog ticks, lone star ticks, brown dog ticks, and longhorned ticks
- Helps reduce the risk of Lyme disease infections by killing black-legged ticks
- Shows improvement in signs of flea allergy dermatitis (FAD), including erythema, alopecia, papules, scales, crusts, and excoriation as a direct result of eliminating flea infestations
Bravecto Chews:
- Kills adult fleas and treats and prevents flea infestations.
- Treats and controls tick infestations caused by black-legged ticks, American dog ticks, brown dog ticks, Asian longhorned ticks, and lone star ticks
- Shows improvement in signs of flea allergy dermatitis (FAD), including erythema, alopecia, papules, scales, crusts, and excoriation as a direct result of eliminating flea infestations
Simparica Trio:
- Kills adult fleas before they can lay eggs and prevents flea infestations
- Prevents flea tapeworm infections as a direct result of killing fleas
- Treats and controls tick infestations caused by lone star ticks, Gulf Coast ticks, American dog ticks, black-legged ticks, brown dog ticks, and Asian longhorned ticks
- Prevents heartworm disease caused by Dirofilaria immitis
- Treats and controls roundworm and hookworm infections
- Prevents Lyme disease infections by killing black-legged ticks
- May help improve the signs of flea allergy dermatitis (FAD), including erythema, alopecia, papules, scaling, pyodermatitis, and pruritus, as a direct result of eliminating flea infestations
Dosage Frequency:
NexGard and Simparica Trio should be administered monthly. In contrast, Bravecto should be given once every 12 weeks, and every 8 weeks if your dog has a potential risk of Lone Star tick infestations.
Suitability
The minimum age suitability for NexGard and Simparica Trio is the same: at least 8 weeks of age. In comparison, Bravecto is suitable for dogs and puppies from 6 months of age and older.
When it comes to weight, there’s quite a difference among the three products. For NexGard, the minimum weight of the dog should be at least 4 pounds, for Bravecto, it should be at least 4.4 pounds, and for Simparica Trio, it should be at least 2.8 pounds.
Quick Comparison of NexGard, Bravecto Chews, and Simparica Trio
Which is Ideal for Your Dog?
From all of the information shared above, we hope you might have gotten an idea about which parasite preventive to choose for your dog.
- Go for NexGard if you simply want to start your dog’s parasite protection early.
- Choose Bravecto if you want fewer doses and strong flea and tick protection for approximately 3 months.
- Pick Simparica Trio if you want broad, all-in-one parasite protection in a single dose.
Final Thoughts
All three of these products are widely used and trusted for protecting dogs against parasites. You can buy these flea and tick treatments and look for other pet care solutions from BestVetCare at reasonable rates. Before choosing one, always consider your dog’s requirements. If you still have any doubts, it’s always best to talk to your veterinarian, especially if your dog has any underlying health conditions.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I switch between NexGard, Bravecto, and Simparica Trio?
Yes, you can, but it’s always best to check with your vet first. They can guide you on the right timing and avoid any overlap or gap in protection.
Is it okay to give these treatments year-round?
Absolutely. Fleas and ticks can be active even in cooler months and indoors. So, continuous protection is usually recommended to prevent gaps in parasite coverage.
What if my dog misses a dose?
You can take the missed dose as soon as you remember and resume your regular schedule from that day. If there’s a long gap, ask your vet for advice.
Do I still need other parasite treatments with these?
It depends on what you’re using. For example, Simparica Trio covers various parasites, while Bravecto and NexGard for dogs treat only fleas and ticks. If you are using any of them, your dog may need additional protection for infections like intestinal worms and heartworm disease.