Roxy's been on Nexgard Spectra for the last 6 months. It's proved very effective against ticks and fleas (she's had none despite going through long grass and undergrowth in a tick endemic area, like most of southern England!). It also protects against lungworm and roundworm. However I've been told there's no availability and she may have to change to something else. I don't like the spot on the back of the neck as that looks messy and will wash off (she loves the water). Nexgard Spectra is a meat flavoured chew which she loves. Does anyone know what's going on and when supplies will resume?
I don't use it, so I don't know, sorry, but with regards to this: Not after the first day or so. It is absorbed into the skin and spreads through the system just like the oral drugs, so doesn't wash off.
I've had the nexguard chew regularly from my vet for the last 2 years, it's part of our monthly plan. I picked my last one up about 3 weeks ago, we are in the midlands, no apparent shortage here. In fact as i've typed this I've had a text reminder from the vet that his dose is due... And call them if I've run out. Will never go back to spot on again. The chew is much better to administer, and I believe more effective on fleas. We don't have ticks here.
Maisy was on this until the vets said it was no longer available. They suggested Nexgard (the ordinary one that does not have the lungworm protection, not Spectra) plus Milbemax for the worm protection, both of them cover everything (ticks, fleas, worms and lungworm) and the Milbemax is included in the price. I think they said it was due to the licence stating the protection against lungworm or something, can't remember but it has been effective so far, and Milbemax is also a chew (2 needed for Maisy's weight of 28kg) so Roxy will like it.
When I was deciding on my schedule, I made up this little spreadsheet with some of the options that I was considering, showing which product covered what. Not all of these things are risks everywhere. I have to make sure mine are covered against heartworm, which I believe isn't an issue in the UK. I ended up with a combination of Drontal every three months, then Advocate and Advantix every four weeks, two weeks apart. That gets me covered for the whole panel.
I didn't include Bravecto or Nexgard because I had already discounted them as possible candidates as they have no repellant properties and the dogs were therefore bringing loads of ticks into the house - ick. Not an issue if you don't live in a tick-infested place
Many thanks for all your replies. It does seem to be some problem with the licence for lungworm protection (i.e. what is included in Nexgard Spectra not ordinary Nexgard). I'm going to try and get the ordinary Nexgard plus Milbemax. I don't have a problem with Roxy bringing ticks into the house and we do live in a tick infested place. I used to get a lot of ticks on my previous dogs so I'm very used to how to deal with them.
