Can You Give a Pet Trifexis and Nexgard Together?
Keeping your pet safe from fleas, ticks, heartworms, and other parasites is extremely important, so you may be wondering if it’s okay to combine different treatments. Specifically, can you give your pet both Trifexis and Nexgard at the same time?
In most cases, it’s okay for your pet to be on Trifexis and Nexgard at once, but you should never administer both on the same day. Wait at least 24 hours between treating with one medication and treating with the other. It’s also best to consult your veterinarian before combining any medications.
Read on to find out more about giving your pet trifexis and Nexgard together, how to administer both medications safely, a comparison of both meds, and whether or not you can combine them with flea and tick collars.
Is It Ever Safe to Combine Doses of Trifexis and Nexgard?
So we’ve already established that, if your pet is taking both Trifexis and Nexgard, you should administer the doses on different days. But are there any exceptions to this rule?
The short answer is no. You should never combine doses of Trifexis and Nexgard unless your vet specifically orders you to do so.
The reason for this is that Trifexis and Nexgard both contain active ingredients for killing fleas. There is little information whether the specific active ingredients may cause interactions or overdoses, but in general, it isn’t a good idea to combine the same type of treatment (in this case, oral) for the same pest.
That said, Trifexis and Nexgard have slightly different functions. Trifexis is used to kill and prevent flea, heartworm, hookworm, whipworm, roundworm, and lice infestations, while Nexgard is used against fleas and ticks.
There’s a good chance you want your dog to be safe from all of those pests. With that in mind, it’s generally safe to use both medications as long as you space the doses out by at least a full day.
Still, you should always check with your vet before using Trifexis and Nexgard together. Your vet will have a better understanding of the specific uses and contraindications of both meds, as well as any reactions they might cause in your pet.
How to Administer Trifexis and Nexgard Safely
So you’ve checked with your vet and been given the go-ahead to treat your pet with both Trifexis and Nexgard. How do you give both medications in a safe manner?
It doesn’t matter which medication you give first, as long as you give them at least 24 hours apart.
Let’s take a more detailed look at how to give each medication safely.
How to Give Trifexis
Trifexis comes in beef-flavored chewable tablets and should be given monthly. It is recommended for dogs and puppies that weigh at least 5 and are at least 8 weeks old. To administer Trifexis:
Determine the appropriate dose. For dogs and puppies weighing 5-10 pounds, that’s one tablet. For larger dogs, follow the dosing instructions on the packaging or give whatever dose your vet prescribed.
Give Trifexis with food. Some dogs may eat the tablet by itself as a treat, while others may do best if it’s mixed in with their regular food. If you give it as a treat, make sure your dog eats regular food right after the Trifexis tablet.
Watch for side effects. If your dog has never taken Trifexis before, keep an eye on him for about an hour. Side effects are relatively rare but may include vomiting, diarrhea, and lethargy. If any of these side effects present themselves, call your vet immediately.
Repeat monthly. Since the medication is only for one month at a time, it must be given repeatedly to provide continuous protection. Write down on the calendar a specific day to administer Trifexis each month.
It’s important to never miss a dose of Trifexis, as it must be given every month to remain effective.
How to Give Nexgard
Nexgard is also a beef-flavored chewable that is administered monthly. It can be used for dogs and puppies weighing at least 4 pounds and at least 8 weeks old. To administer Nexgard:
Determine the appropriate dose. As with Trifexis, the right dose will depend on your dog's weight. The minimum dosage is 11.3 mg of the active ingredient, but may be much more for larger dogs. Discuss the appropriate dosage with your vet ahead of time.
Give the chewable either with or without food. Nexgard does not need to be taken with food, so your dog can gobble it up like a treat if he prefers. On the other hand, if your dog will only take it mixed with other food, that’s fine as well. Either way, make sure your dog takes the whole dose.
Watch for side effects. Nexgard may also cause some side effects on rare occasions. These side effects may include vomiting, diarrhea, lethargy, skin irritation, and temporary loss of appetite. As with Trifexis, call your vet if your dog experiences these adverse reactions.
Repeat monthly. As with Trifexis, you’ll need to repeat Nexgard every 30 days. It may be helpful to put it on the calendar each month so you don’t accidentally miss a dose or give it too close to Trifexis.
Since you shouldn’t be giving both at the same time, the calendar approach is the best way to ensure you space out the two doses of Nexgard and Trifexis at intervals decently far apart from each other.
Can I Use Nexgard or Trifexis with a Flea and Tick Collar?
As a pet owner, you probably know that there are several different kinds of flea, tick, and parasite treatments. Nexgard and Trifexis are both oral medications that come in the form of tasty chewable treats or tablets. Other common types of treatments include topical drops and medicated collars.
Which brings us to the main question of this section: can you use Nexgard or Trifexis with flea and tick collars? And, more broadly speaking, can you combine oral medications with other med types?
In a general sense, the answer to both questions is yes.
Most of the time, it is safe to combine internal and external treatments because they don’t work in the same way. That said, it’s always good to check with your vet before combining treatments of any kind.
Both Trifexis and Nexgard can be safely used in conjunction with a flea and tick collar. In fact, some collars, such as those made by Preventic and Seresto, are even recommended for use with Trifexis since Trifexis doesn’t protect against ticks.
Nexgard is made specifically for dealing with fleas and ticks, so it may be a waste of money to pair it with a flea collar for the same thing. Of course, if your pet has a particularly bad infestation or seems inclined to pick up fleas and ticks easily, then using Nexgard together with a collar may provide a greater level of protection.
That said, if you are already using Trifexis and Nexgard together, then the combined effect should prevent fleas, ticks, lice, heartworms, and other parasites. There may not be any need for a flea and tick collar in such cases.
On the other hand, if you’re wanting to take your dog off one of the oral medications and use a collar instead, that is also a good option. As mentioned, Trifexis in particular works well when paired with a collar.
Again, always speak to your veterinarian before making any changes or combining your pet’s treatments.
Final Thoughts
If your pet has an infestation of fleas, ticks, or parasites, or if you’re trying to prevent an infestation, you may think that combining multiple treatments is the best option. In particular, combining Trifexis and Nexgard will protect your pet from extra pests than either treatment could do on its own, but you should never administer both meds at the same time.
Combining treatments, in general, is not a good idea, but it may be safely done with certain types of treatments if you know what you’re doing. Always remember to consult your veterinarian before combining any treatments or medications.