Description
NexGard COMBO For Cats 5.5-16.5 lbs (2.5-7.5 kg) is a monthly topical parasiticide from Boehringer Ingelheim that unites three active ingredients, 10.8 mg esafoxolaner, 3.6 mg eprinomectin, and 74.7 praziquantel, in a 0.9 mL single-dose applicator. Each application provides concurrent protection against fleas, ticks, heartworm disease, roundworms, hookworms, and tapeworms. For cats exceeding 16.5 lbs, dosing table specifies combinations of applicators to reach the minimum labeled dose per kilogram.
Recommended for
Cats and kittens weighing 5.6 lbs to 16.5 lbs (2.5 kg to 7.5 kg) from 8 weeks of age.
Indication/Coverage
For cats suffering from, or at risk from, mixed parasitic infections:
- Flea treatment and prevention: Eradicates adult fleas (Ctenocephalides felis) and suppresses new infestations for a full month per dose; achieves flea kill before eggs can be deposited into the environment.
- Tick treatment and control: Delivers ≥95.1% efficacy against Ixodes scapularis (black-legged tick) at 48 hours post-infestation and ≥95.6% efficacy against Amblyomma americanum (lone star tick) at 72 hours post-infestation, sustained for one month.
- Heartworm disease prevention: Eprinomectin halts Dirofilaria immitis larval development before maturation into adult heartworms; requires consistent monthly dosing, with a minimum of three consecutive doses following the cat’s last mosquito exposure.
- Roundworm treatment and control: Resolves fourth stage larval and adult Toxocara cati infections; ongoing monthly application prevents reestablishment of roundworm burdens throughout the year.
- Hookworm treatment and control: Effective against fourth stage larval and adult Ancylostoma tubaeforme and adult Ancylostoma braziliense in one dose.
- Tapeworm treatment: Praziquantel eliminates adult Dipylidium caninum per application; monthly dosing addresses reinfection from continued flea-transmitted tapeworm exposure.
Key Benefits
The characteristics below are drawn directly from the FDA-approved label and Boehringer Ingelheim’s controlled study results for the 0.9 mL applicator:
- Mid-range weight calibration: The 0.9 mL applicator delivers 10.8 mg esafoxolaner, 3.6 mg eprinomectin, and 74.7 mg praziquantel, dosed precisely for cats between 5.6 lbs and 16.5 lbs, covering the body weight bracket occupied by the majority of adult domestic cats.
- Single-dose multi-parasite action: One monthly topical deposit replaces what would otherwise require separate flea, tick, heartworm preventive, and intestinal deworming products administered individually.
- Isoxazoline-driven flea elimination: Esafoxolaner inhibits GABA-gated chloride channels in the flea nervous system, inducing prolonged hyperexcitation and death; laboratory data confirm over 92% of adult fleas destroyed within 24 hours of first application.
- Sustained reproductive disruption in fleas: Egg production control of 99.8% to 100% was recorded at 24 hours post-reinfestation and maintained across the entire monthly dosing period, preventing environmental flea egg accumulation.
- Complete heartworm block in controlled trials: Three consecutive monthly treatments beginning one month before larval inoculation yielded 100% prevention of Dirofilaria immitis development in laboratory studies.
- Topical route for oral-resistant cats: Cats that refuse chewable medication or exhibit distress during oral administration receive equivalent systemic parasite coverage through transdermal absorption at the base of the skull, with no requirement for ingestion.
- Roundworm clearance documented at 98.9-100%: Controlled laboratory studies using the dose-limiting species Toxocara cati recorded near-complete to complete elimination of adult roundworm infections.
Caution
Hazards to Humans
NexGard COMBO is exclusively for animal use. The solution acts as a mild to moderate eye irritant. Avoid contact with the skin and eyes during handling; if the product enters the eyes, flush immediately and thoroughly with water. Wash hands with soap and water directly after each application. Store all applicators where children cannot see or access them. Do not allow the product to contaminate food preparation areas or drinking water.
Hazards to Domestic Animals
This formulation is for topical external use on cats only and is not intended for oral administration; cats that ingest the product through licking display excessive hypersalivation due to the excipient profile. The 0.9 mL applicator is designated for cats from 5.6 lbs to 16.5 lbs (2.5 kg to 7.5 kg), at a minimum age of 8 weeks. Esafoxolaner, the isoxazoline-class component, carries an FDA-mandated label warning for neurologic adverse reactions, including tremors, ataxia, and seizures, which have occurred in cats with and without prior neurologic history. Use with caution in cats with known seizure disorders. The safety profile in breeding, pregnant, or lactating cats has not been fully established through controlled studies.
Possible Side Effects
Closely observe your cat for the initial 24 to 48 hours after each NexGard COMBO dose, particularly noting any shifts in appetite, energy level, or skin condition at the treated area.
The following adverse reactions were identified during Boehringer Ingelheim’s 90-day field safety study conducted across 201 households, in which 244 cats received NexGard COMBO:
- Dermal reactions: Hair change at the application site was reported in 3.69% of treated cats, skin peeling in 1.23%, redness at the deposit site in 0.82%, hair loss in 0.82%, and dermal thickening in 0.82%. These localized findings were generally self-resolving.
- Gastrointestinal signs: Vomiting occurred most frequently at 6.56%, with anorexia reported in 2.87% and diarrhea in 1.23% of treated cats.
- Systemic signs: Lethargy was observed in 2.46%, hyperthermia in 1.23%, and hypersalivation in 1.23%. Hypersalivation was predominantly associated with cats that groomed the wet application area before it had dried fully.
- Isoxazoline class advisory: All isoxazoline-class products, including NexGard COMBO, carry FDA-required labeling regarding the potential for neurologic adverse events (tremors, ataxia, seizures) in cats regardless of prior neurologic status.








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