Yes - a wide variety of parasites can infect dogs, affecting their health and wellbeing. So it is important to make sure they are protected.

Parasites can cause a number of diseases in dogs, and in some cases, even death. Important parasites to protect your dog against include fleas, ticks and worms (such as roundworms and lungworm).

Your dog is protected from fleas, ticks, mites, lungworm and roundworms with NexGard Spectra^®, some of the most common threats to your dog in the UK. That’s right…all that protection for your dog from just one tasty chew.

The answer is, unfortunately, yes. For example, roundworms can infect humans and cause major health concerns – they have been associated with epilepsy, asthma and reduced learning ability in children.^1-4 They can also cause blindness. 

Your dog can pick up ticks in their home or outdoor environment. For example, from other household pets or from gardens and parks. Fleas and roundworms can also be picked up these ways. Your dog can pick up lungworm by accidentally swallowing slugs and snails – or even their trails!⁶

This can be a concern: especially when you consider every single female flea can lay up to 50 eggs a day.⁷ Multiply that by the fleas on your dog and that’s thousands of eggs in a month – with most of these falling off your pet and contaminating your home and carpets!⁸ Thankfully, the good news is that flea infestations can be effectively managed by treating your home and dog. Your vet can provide more information on this.

Puppies by their very nature love to sniff, slurp, lick, and gobble up everything in their paths including dirt, rubbish, and (unfortunately) poo. These behaviours put them at risk of picking up worms. Also, through exploring their new environment, puppies can pick up fleas, ticks and worms lurking in homes, gardens and parks.

Unfortunately, yes. Your dog might pick up lungworm accidentally by even just drinking contaminated water.⁶ Preventing disease caused by this parasite is important since lungworm is becoming increasingly common.^9-12

Lungworm may be more common than you imagine: its numbers are on the rise^9-12 and it is considered endemic within several countries in Europe, including the UK, Ireland, France and Spain. It is always best to check with your vet for more detailed information about your region.

The signs of worm infections in dogs will vary according to the type of worm and it is worth pointing out that each worm can affect dogs differently. For example, roundworms in puppies can cause problems with growth and can even be fatal in the most severe of cases.⁷ Lungworm can also cause breathing difficulties. If you have any questions about worms or notice any in your dog’s poo, you should contact your vet.

Since many parasites can be a threat to your dog all year round, continuous cover throughout the year is the best approach. Only monthly worming can prevent deadly lungworm disease and stop dogs shedding roundworm eggs into their environment. Some people find it easier to remember to treat their dog monthly than less frequently, for example seasonally. You might find setting a reminder to give your dog their next chew helpful.

Absolutely! Because NexGard Spectra^® is a chew, you can stroke and cuddle your dog straight away, as normal, and swimming, bathing and shampooing won’t reduce its effectiveness either.

Yes, Nexgard Spectra^® can be used in pregnant, breeding and lactating bitches.

Please note that use in breeding male dogs is still a decision for the prescribing vet according to a benefit-risk assessment.