Bite Size Meds
Breaking your pets' medication down into palatable and digestible chunks.

Nexgard Spectra
What is Nexgard spectra?
Nexgard Spectra is a complete parasite treatment for dogs, with the active ingredients afoxolaner and milbemycin oxime.
What does Nexgard spectra do?
It protects against a wide range of parasites, including fleas, ticks, mites, and various intestinal worms. It can also protect against dog eyeworm, heartworm and lungworm IF used monthly. Nexgard Spectra works by targeting the nervous systems of the parasites, leading to their death.
Why has my animal been prescribed Nexgard spectra?
Nexgard Spectra is prescribed to protect your dog from common parasites that can cause serious health issues. These parasites can transmit diseases, cause discomfort, and lead to more severe health problems if not controlled. Some of these parasites can also affect humans (so called “zoonotic diseases”), so treating your pet regularly is important.
If you do not wish to treat your pet every month, then a discussion with your vet is a good idea so you can create a more tailored anti-parasite treatment plan with their guidance.
How quickly does it help my pet?
Nexgard spectra typically kills fleas within 8 hours of administration, and ticks within 48 hours. It also protects against fleas for 5 weeks, and against ticks for 4 weeks after it has been given.
For worms, the drugs usually starts working within 1-2 days, but after 3-4 days it is then out of the dog’s system and has no protective effect thereafter. This is why regular treatment is needed to prevent lungworm, heartworm and eyeworm infestations.
Are there any side-effects I need to worry about?
Side-effects on Nexgard Spectra are uncommon, but the most common ones are vomiting and diarrhoea, a reduction in appetite, and some animals may also seem sleepier/less active than usual. Some dogs can be a bit itchy after taking Nexgard, and very rarely it can cause erythema (redness) and wobbliness & tremors.
Collies, or related breeds should be fine to have Nexgard Spectra, but the recommended dose MUST be observed strictly.
Are there any pets that cannot have Nexgard spectra?
Nexgard spectra should ONLY be given to your pet if it has been prescribed by your veterinary surgeon.
There are some groups of animals for whom Nexgard spectra should either not be given, or it should only be given after discussing it thoroughly with your vet. These include;
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Puppies under 8 weeks of age or weighing less than 1.35kg
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Dogs with an active heartworm infection (they should be treated with something to kill any adult heartworm before Nexgard Spectra is given)