NexGard Chewables for Dogs 60.1-121 lbs (25.1-50 kg)

Description

NexGard Chewables for Dogs 60.1–121 lbs (25.1–50 kg) contains 136 mg afoxolaner per beef-flavored soft chewable, the highest single-unit afoxolaner dose in the NexGard range, manufactured by Boehringer Ingelheim Animal Health to deliver the labeled minimum of 1.14 mg/lb (2.5 mg/kg) across this large-breed weight band. One chewable administered orally each month kills adult fleas beginning at 4 hours post-dose and controls six tick species through 30 days of systemic afoxolaner activity.

For dogs exceeding 121 lbs (50 kg), the FDA-approved label directs administration of an appropriate combination of chewables from the available weight-band variants to achieve the 2.5 mg/kg minimum afoxolaner dosage; consult a veterinarian to determine the correct tablet combination before dosing.

Recommended for

Dogs and puppies weighing 60.1 to 121 lbs (25.1 to 50 kg), from 8 weeks of age.

Indication/Coverage

For dogs suffering from, or at risk from, flea and tick infestations, NexGard Chewables 60.1–121 lbs carries the following FDA-approved indications:

• Flea treatment (Ctenocephalides felis, adults): Afoxolaner enters systemic circulation and kills adult fleas before viable egg deposition can occur; Boehringer Ingelheim field data document 98.0% flea elimination at Day 30 and 99.9% at Day 90 against established household infestations.
• Flea infestation prevention (Ctenocephalides felis): Sustained plasma concentrations of afoxolaner across the full 30-day interval eliminate adult fleas prior to oviposition, preventing environmental flea population re-establishment between doses.
• Treatment and control of Ixodes scapularis (black-legged tick, adults): Controlled laboratory studies record greater than 94% efficacy at 48 hours post-infestation sustained over 30 days.
• Treatment and control of Dermacentor variabilis (American dog tick, adults): Greater than 97% efficacy confirmed at 48 hours post-infestation for 30 days.
• Treatment and control of Amblyomma americanum (lone star tick, adults): Greater than 97% efficacy at 72 hours post-infestation through Day 30.
• Treatment and control of Amblyomma maculatum (Gulf Coast tick, adults): 97% efficacy at 72 hours post-infestation maintained through Day 31.
• Treatment and control of Rhipicephalus sanguineus (brown dog tick, adults): Greater than 93% efficacy at 48 hours post-infestation over a 30-day study period.
• Treatment and control of Haemaphysalis longicornis (longhorned tick, adults): Greater than or equal to 98.5% efficacy at 72 hours post-infestation.
• Prevention of Borrelia burgdorferi infection: FDA-approved label indication for this weight range, confirmed in two controlled laboratory studies measuring Lyme disease prevention 28 days post-treatment; protection is contingent on elimination of Ixodes scapularis vector ticks before pathogen transmission.

Key Benefits

The clinical attributes listed below derive directly from the FDA-approved product label and Boehringer Ingelheim study data applicable to the 60.1–121 lb dosing variant:

• Large-breed eligible from 8 weeks: Puppies of large and giant breeds reaching 60.1 lbs from 8 weeks of age qualify for this chewable, providing isoxazoline-class flea and tick control during the high-growth juvenile phase when body weight escalates rapidly.
• Six tick species per dose: A single monthly 136 mg chewable addresses Ixodes scapularis, Dermacentor variabilis, Amblyomma americanum, Amblyomma maculatum, Rhipicephalus sanguineus, and Haemaphysalis longicornis, covering every tick species of primary veterinary significance across U.S. geographic zones.
• Flea kill initiated at 4 hours: Afoxolaner begins eliminating adult fleas at 4 hours post-administration and achieves greater than 99% kill by 8 hours in laboratory conditions, substantially reducing the adult flea burden on treated large-breed dogs within the first day of dosing.
• 30-day continuous efficacy: The 136 mg dose maintains parasiticidal plasma concentrations across the complete monthly interval, with laboratory and field studies confirming sustained tick-kill efficacy through Day 30 and Day 31 depending on species.
• Environmental flea cycle disrupted: Fleas on afoxolaner-treated dogs lose the capacity to produce viable eggs at post-infestation evaluations following the first dose, cutting off the reproductive pipeline that drives household flea reinfestation.
• Oral administration suited to large-breed coat types: Many dogs in the 60–121 lb category carry heavy double coats or thick undercoats where topical spot-on placement on bare skin is unreliable; oral administration eliminates coat-dependent application variables entirely.
• FDA-labeled Lyme disease prevention: The Borrelia burgdorferi prevention claim on the NexGard label is a regulated FDA indication, not a general marketing assertion, and applies at the standard monthly dosing interval for dogs in this weight band.
• Combination dosing above 121 lbs: For dogs exceeding 121 lbs, the label specifies administering an appropriate combination of chewables; this is the only NexGard variant for which combination dosing is explicitly addressed on the FDA-approved label.

Caution

Hazards to Humans

NexGard is not intended for human consumption. Keep out of reach of children and away from food preparation areas. Should accidental ingestion by a person occur, contact a physician immediately. Wash hands thoroughly after handling the chewable.

Hazards to Domestic Animals

NexGard is for oral administration to dogs only; do not use in cats or other species. This variant is labeled for dogs and puppies weighing 60.1 to 121 lbs (25.1 to 50 kg) from 8 weeks of age; dogs below 60.1 lbs on the dosing day require a lower weight-band variant. Prior to administration in debilitated, geriatric, pregnant, or lactating dogs, consult a veterinarian, as safety in these populations has not been fully established. Afoxolaner is an isoxazoline-class compound; use with caution in any dog carrying a prior history of seizures or neurological disorders, as isoxazoline-class drugs have been associated with seizures, tremors, and ataxia even in dogs without a pre-existing seizure history.

Possible Side Effects:

Monitor your dog after each monthly administration, with heightened vigilance following the first dose in large-breed and giant-breed animals. The adverse reactions below are drawn from Boehringer Ingelheim’s 90-day US field study of 415 afoxolaner-treated dogs and from post-approval reporting filed with FDA/CVM.

• Vomiting: The most frequently reported adverse reaction in the field study, occurring in 4.1% of afoxolaner-treated dogs; incidence generally declined across subsequent monthly doses. Administer a full replacement chewable if vomiting occurs within 2 hours of the original dose.
• Diarrhea (with or without blood): Recorded in 3.1% of dogs in the afoxolaner treatment group across the 90-day observation period.
• Dry or flaky skin: Noted in 3.1% of treated dogs; no dose-dependent relationship was identified in the study data.
• Lethargy: Reported in 1.7% of afoxolaner-treated dogs during the field study.
• Anorexia: Documented in 1.2% of treated dogs; two of five affected animals exhibited reduced appetite only with the first dose and tolerated subsequent administrations without recurrence.
• Seizures: Identified through post-approval adverse drug experience reporting to FDA/CVM. In the US field study, two dogs with documented prior seizure histories experienced seizure events on the day of first dosing; this risk is associated with the isoxazoline class broadly and is not dose-size specific.
• Additional post-approval reactions (in decreasing order of reporting frequency): Pruritus, hyperactivity or restlessness, panting, erythema, ataxia, dermatitis including rash and papules, allergic reactions including hives and swelling, and tremors.