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Sometimes, dog owners are unfocused:
Perhaps it’s because of the reality that we’ve been awake all night because of crying babies that don’t stop or we’ve skipped the morning double shot of mochaccino iced with oat milk. Our canine friends often end up being the victims of accidental incidents.
Unfortunate events could have very serious consequences, for example, giving a two-dose in Apoquel and Heartgard.
In the current case give your dog the wrong dosage of NexGard.
If you’ve ever panicked and said, “I gave my dog the wrong dose of NexGard!” After having regained your composure Be at ease knowing that your fear is totally normal. This is because NexGard offers a huge margin of security in the case of canines. It’s possible that your dog might be suffering from minor symptoms like diarrhea or vomiting but these are usually self-limiting and disappear in an hour or so.
In rare instances, dogs with a history of neurological issues are at a higher danger of having seizures or tremors. So, if you are aware that your dog is suffering from such issues, it’d be best to bring it to the veterinarian immediately.
I Accidentally Gave My Dog Two Doses Of NexGard… Do I Need To Be Concerned?
If you accidentally administered to your pet two, three, or five dosages NexGard it will likely not suffer in the way of negative reactions (subject to the possibility of an exception to be addressed later within this article).
The principal ingredient of NexGard is not toxic structurally to a dog’s body as well as organs, which means it will have a very low risk of causing any internal harm.
In actual fact, it was found in a study conducted by a veterinarian that most dogs that were tested seemed to be fine even after receiving five times the recommended dose in NexGard 6 times in 2 to 4 weeks!
Other, less frequent negative effects associated with NexGard administration be:
- Lethargy
- Itchiness
- Hyperactivity
- Redness on the skin and itchy rashes
- Allergies such as swelling and hives
- Muscle spasms
- Stools that are bloody
There are no contraindications to the medication however the safety of use for pregnant or lactating dogs hasn’t been officially confirmed.
It can be concluded that NexGard is actually an extremely safe medication for the majority of dogs.
In actuality, the riskiest element of the drug in the majority of cases is most likely the packaging especially when it is consumed in the form of a swallow!
However, as with many things, there’s an exception: If you saw the use of the word two sentences later- firstly, it’s a good sign.
It’s also because Afoxolaner (the official term used for the scientific designation of NexGard) has been linked with neurological problems that are negative as it is a member of the isoxazoline class.
The adverse effects of neural alterations may include ataxia (discoordination walking like drunk) as well as muscle tremors and, in particular, seizures.
So, one reason why you’d need to be cautious in the event that you accidentally gave an animal two doses of NexGard is when you are aware that your dog is suffering from an underlying condition or has a previous history of seizures.
In the US study, two dogs who had a previous history of seizures had seizures in the span of one to 19 days following receiving an injection of NexGard. But a third dog who also had a history of seizures did not experience seizures.
Can A Dog Overdose On NexGard?
Although it’s true that an excess dose of NexGard is technically feasible, it’s extremely unlikely to occur.
As we’ve discussed earlier, the range of security of NexGard use in dogs is extremely high – so that even a five-fold recommended dosage didn’t cause any major adverse side effects.
So, if you accidentally give your pet two (or even three) NexGard tablets instead of one, there’s absolutely no reason to worry because it’s unlikely to harm your pet at all!
In the worst case it could cause a brief period of mild diarrhea or vomiting for the next 24 hours, that brings us to our next question:
What Should I Do If I Gave The Wrong Dose Of NexGard To My Dog?
The first thing you’ll need to do is keep an eye on for the following 24 hours if your dog begins to exhibit any of these signs of nausea or vomiting, such as frequent efforts to swallow food, excessive salivation, or lip chewing.
If you observe any of these indications, it could be beneficial to give your pet an antacid from the market to ease its discomfort.
It might also be helpful then to put your pal on a diet consisting of rice and chicken boiled in the coming days.
One route pet owners may choose instinctively if their pet has consumed the wrong dose of medication is to induce vomiting as swiftly as possible.
This is definitely advantageous in many instances where swallowing the medication could cause negative side effects, for instance for drugs like Rimadyl and Gabapentin.
This is because the risk is a small risk of NexGard creating harmful side consequences, it’s best to let the drug take its course in the dog’s system instead of trying to bring them back.
Can I Give NexGard Early?
Doses are typically administered monthly at the exact time, making sure that every dose is effective for at least 30 days. If you’ve not received a dose for your dog, don’t fret! Just start your new dosing plan for the month when you can remember. The dog should be well, but you must make sure you don’t give two doses in order to make up for the loss.
Can I Cut NexGard In Half For My Dog?
The short answer is to never divide the NexGard chewable tablet into two pieces.
This is due to the fact that each NexGard dose includes the complete quantity of medication required to make it effective.
Finding the Right Dosage Size:
To ensure that your dog gets the right treatment, ensure you know the weight of your dog before you purchase NexGard chews.
Doses of NexGard treatment are suitable for dogs that weigh up to 120 pounds.
If your dog weighs more than 120 pounds, it will require several doses. For example, If you weigh 150 pounds it is possible to give the dog one dose for dogs weighing 120 pounds and another dose for 30-pound dogs.
If your pet is under four pounds or is less than eight weeks old A vet must be first consulted prior to administering. Dogs of this size may require a different treatment to avoid and eliminate adult fleas as well as ticks.
If you’ve bought the wrong size, it might be tempting to use what you have. A lot of pet owners believe that they can reduce larger tablets by half for pets who require less.
If you wish for the medication to work then you must determine the right dimension for the dog you are treating.
Thus should you cut a NexGard tablet in half your pet could get the full or minimal amount of the medicine.
To recap: In order to get the right dose, and the effective amount it is essential that your dog consumes the whole chewable that is appropriate for the size of its mouth. In the wrong way, your dog isn’t secured against ticks and fleas!
Can I Cut Nexgard In Half To Allow Easier Chewing?
If your dog isn’t big enough or has dental problems like gingivitis, or tooth decay, you could reduce this NexGard tablet by half, making it easier for them to chew.
If you decide to do this, ensure that your children take both pieces of food!
It’s common that dogs will eat one portion, only to realize that they don’t like the way it tastes, then decide to reject the second one completely.
It will render the Nexgard tablets ineffective and you should be cautious when you use this method.
If you must divide your NexGard tablet, it could be more convenient to mix it with your pet’s food, so that they can eat the entire thing without being aware!
Can I Crush Up NexGard?
Absolutely, you can crush NexGard chews to feed your pet. Since the tablets don’t have any coatings for enteric, however, they should be useful.
It’s not necessary to crush these chews, however, since their taste is usually attractive to dogs. They’re not too tough, also, however, those with dental issues might experience some difficulty chewing them.
Give your dog the treat as a treat at first. If it doesn’t go well then you might want to think about crushing it for your dog to offer it to him.
How To Crush Up Nexgard For Your Dog:
The process of crushing up medications for your pet can be a bit dangerous. It’s easy to get lost in the pieces that have been crushed and it’s hard to tell if your dog has consumed every bit of the food.
If your dog can’t eat the chewable tablet in the way you intended the crushing of it could be the best option to provide them with the care they require.
Then, you should take first, chew the NexGard chew and place it in the pet’s food dish. Use the metal spoon until it breaks.
Next, grab their preferred dry food (dry food won’t work in this way) and mix it thoroughly along with the crushed Nexgard chew.
You must keep an eye on your pet while they are eating the wet food and crushed mixture of medication to ensure that they eat it all.
Be sure to watch them following the meal, too. If they vomit following a meal or drink for any reason it is necessary to give them a new dose!
Other Tips for Helping Your Dog Take NexGard:
The flavor of the product is incredibly appealing to dogs, and they will treat it like any other kind of treat.
But, certain dogs are pickier than others. If they don’t enjoy the taste of NexGard It can be a challenge to convince them to eat it.
There are several ways to make sure that your dog receives the attention they require!
Cover It Up
Spoon of peanut butter that is creamy
A tablespoon of peanut butter may be among the most effective ways to aid your dog get the medication. Its strong flavor can be enough to cover up anything your dog is likely to look at with a sour face.
It’s not the most healthy dog food however, it can be the perfect treat every now and then, particularly in these situations.
Alternately, wrap the chew in the form of a liverwurst slice or cheese, or different “people food” that your pet enjoys.
Keep Calm:
It’s true… The dog is able to tell your mood!
If you’re planning to give them your monthly oral flea preventative pill, it’s likely that you have a certain manner of speaking that they’ve learned over the years.
If you notice that your dog becomes anxious whenever you’re near to giving them Nexgard it could be the cause.
Treatment for your dog’s fleas can be stressful however, you must do not show that you are. If you act with ease and your dog is relaxed, they are likely to do the same too.
Thus it is important to take care to treat NexGard chewable in a similar way to any other dog food. Make them perform an activity beforehand and then give them lots of praise once they have completed the trick!
Make Sure Your Dog Is Not Full:
When your dog doesn’t seem to be attracted to NexGard chews, they’ll tend to avoid the treats if they’ve recently consumed them.
To stop this from happening the possibility of this happening, it is strongly recommended to feed this NexGard tablet to the dog prior to having a meal. If their appetite is at its peak it will make the chewable much more attractive!
Other Options
Like all medications, NexGard isn’t for every dog.
Some dogs are just too small for the required dose. Some dogs may refuse to take the chews. If this happens it is best to look for an alternative method of treating your pet’s fleas.
There are many alternatives to choose from for topical treatments, like collars that kill fleas, such Frontline as well as Seresto.
If these methods don’t appear to be working Here are eight additional options for preventing ticks and fleas you can test with your pet.
If, for any reason, NexGard or other alternatives do not seem appropriate for your dog, never be afraid to speak with your vet. They’ll be able to guide you to the treatment that is the best one for your furry dog.
