NexGard for Dogs Chewables vs. Parastar Plus for Dogs Comparison

NexGard for Dogs Chewables

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Parastar Plus for Dogs

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Vectra 3D

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Kills Fleas

Repels Fleas

Kills Flea eggs and Larvae

Kills fleas before they can lay eggs

Prevents all flea stages (eggs, pupae, larvae, and adult fleas) from developing.

Kills Ticks

Repels Ticks

Kills and/or Repels Mosquitoes

Prevents Heartworm

Other Parasites Information

Eliminates infestations with chewing lice, aids in the control of sarcoptic mange infestation

Also kills biting and sand flies, live and mites for one month

Waterproof (shampooing once a week can reduce effectiveness)

N/A

Safe for pregnant or nursing Pets

The safe use of NexGard in pregnant, breeding or lactating dogs has not been evaluated.

How long does it take to work

NexGard kills 100% of fleas within 24 hours.

Starts working in 1 hour

Starts to reduce flea feeding in just 5 minutes

Taste

Beef-flavored chewable

Applied to skin

Topical

Active Ingredient(s)

Afoxolaner

Fipronil and Cyphenothrin

Dinotefuran, Pyriproxyfen, Permethrin

RX Required

Dosage

Usage

Video

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Vet Review

Within the past year there has been an exciting development in the battle against fleas and ticks.For years, veterinarians have relied on topical medications for control of fleas and ticks, however many formulations are greasy, as well as some sensitive pets may have an allergic reaction to contact some of them. Many clients also worry about the exposure of humans to topical flea and tick pesticides. That is why the exciting new product from Merial known as Nexgard has been such a welcome addition to our flea and tick treatment and prevention options. By using a the ingredient, afoxolaner, Merial has come out with a new product that most fleas and ticks are certainly susceptible. Dogs also LOVE the soft, beef flavored chewable, even without meals. It has also been shown to be safe at up to 5 times the recommended dose.The only down side to this product is that the parasites must bite the dog to be affected, and in some cases this may take up to many hours for this to occur. However, studies as well as clinical experience with this product show that is it very effective in preventing Lyme, Anaplasmosis, Ehrlichiosis and Rocky Mountain spotted fever. This makes it essential as part of any year round parasite prevention program in our dogs. The only rare side effects I have seen are mild digestive upset. I therefore give this product an overall rating of a 4.5, with an ease of use of a 5 out of 5.

Parastar Plus combines the proven performing main ingredient of fipronil with cyphenothrin, which allows for more rapid killing and treatment of fleas, ticks, certain mites, and lice. This combination allows for this topically applied product to begin killing within an hour. In my experience, most of my clients have reported higher efficacy and better satisfaction for tick control over fleas. It seems to be easier to dispense out of the applicator over competitor products, and especially with lighter colored dogs the product does not seem to stain. However on occasion, I have seen a sensitive darker coated dog have some mild bleaching at the site of application. With some longer haired dogs, I have seen it leave an occasional slightly sticky spot at the site of application as well. Like many of the competitor products, it is touted as waterproof, however, I try and recommend that clients do not bathe dogs for 2 or 3 days before or after application, as some feel that this may affect the efficacy of the product. In my experience, I have found that this product is better at preventing problems rather than controlling already heavy flea infestations, in which case I usually will go to one of the newer oral tablets for flea/tick control that usually kill rapidly within 30 minutes. Another limitation of the product is that you can't use Parastar Plus on less than 4-pound dogs, which is an added benefit of topical prescription products like Revolution. As with any product of this type, occasional itchiness, and/or irritation/agitation from applying the product may be seen, but I find this side effect less common than with competitor products. It is also important for clients to understand that it is critical, especially with heavy flea infestations, to also focus on treating the environment as well. Overall this product has performed better for tick control and prevention than for fleas. I give it an overall rating of a 3, with an ease-of-application rating of 4.5 out of 5.

For clients that prefer an outstanding topical medication that has thus far had an excellent record of efficacy against both fleas and ticks. This product includes 3 very powerful and synergistic flea/tick pesticides that work in slightly different ways, with one preventing development of flea eggs and larvae, while another ingredient quickly kills; killing probably the fastest of any products on the market, starting to act within 5 minutes. Ticks will take somewhat longer, but within 2 days most ticks are killed. The addition of the permethrin ingredient does add the benefit of this product in BOTH repelling and killing ticks, , as well as the additional benefit of killing and repelling mosquitoes, the main vectors of heartworm disease in dogs and cats. As with other topicals, occasionally pets will develop an irritation or sensitivity at the sight of application, with some pets being occasionally restless, agitated, or fidgety. On rare occasions vomiting and/or diarrhea may be seen but this has not been much of a problem in clinical practice, where most pets seem to tolerate the product quite well. While the trio of main ingredients in this product seem to provide additional efficacy and coverage of various stages of the external parasites, including the benefit of repelling them, I am always a bit cautious about combination products like this, which rarely may lead to unknown chronic side effects that we are not yet aware of. With that consideration, this product is still an excellent and effective choice. I give this product an overall rating of 4 out of 5.

Our expert panel consists of licensed veterinarians and the knowledgeable staff of PetMed Express, Inc. d/b/a 1-800-PetMeds. Neither the Company nor any of its employees or consultants make any warranties, expressed or implied, or representations about the accuracy or completeness of the content or the content of any site or external sites. Likewise, no legal liability or responsibility is assumed for the accuracy or completeness of any information, or usefulness of products discussed. While every effort has been made to accurately represent the qualities and characteristics of each product, which for the most part were taken directly from the websites of the manufacturers, we are not responsible for any errors. The information presented is for educational purposes only and is intended to be a supplement to, and not a substitute for, the expertise and professional judgment of your veterinarian. The information is NOT to be used for diagnosis or treatment of your pet. You should always consult your own veterinarian for specific advice concerning the treatment of your pet. The information is not intended to cover all possible uses, directions, precautions, warnings, allergic reactions, drug interactions or adverse effects, nor should it be construed to indicate that use of a particular drug is safe, appropriate or effective for your pet. It is not a substitute for a veterinary exam, and it does not replace the need for services provided by your veterinarian. Note: Any trademarks are the property of their respective companies.