Nexgard--Bad or Good-thoughts?

[HeavenlyCreation]

Hello,
A while back we detoxed our mastiff from Nexgard from certain reactions. He was on it for 2 years, since a puppy. The first time he took it as a pup his rear legs were paralyzed for a half hour and and had labored breathing, but vet said it was normal and he will get used to it.
We listened to the vet and he did get used to it, though he started with bumps on his skin-cant remember if it started before or after and so for years we have been dealing with skin issues. They would come and go each month. I deduced it down to Nexgard.
We detoxed him and the bumps are still there. Changed his diet to fresh food from kibble. (I believe the Nexgard has gave him an auto-immune disease and nothing will ever fix him)
Now the Dermatologist wants him to go on Bravecto or Nexgard. Part of me says no way, but another part says if he's already broken, then why not make sure he doesn't get fleas and have an adverse reaction to their bites-which is a possibility for his recent round of bumps.

So I am curious what your thoughts are on the product, as I have already seen the Facebook group against Nexgard, though it should be a lot more people on it. I have done all the research and it is a neurotoxin with reported deaths and Merial (manufacturer), has a seedy history of making fake medical journals and posting fake studies to promote their products, not to mention they are the only ones that have paid to do a study on the drug so there is a skeptical aspect to them and their practices.

Any thoughts?

 

[DennasMom]

I tend to rotate flea meds and not stick with one kind... we don't have to give it year round at our house, but do have to be on something when Denna goes in to a boarding facility. We also want to have some protection when out camping in the dry trees of Eastern WA and places out of the state that have higher bug populations.

We're on Bravecto now, for the first time, and did not have any adverse reactions that I could tell.

One problem with either of the tablets - the bugs must BITE the dog to ingest the poison. This seems to defeat the purpose if you have a bug issue in the yard (i.e. constantly re-populating via wild critters) and your dog is allergic to the bites.... I would opt to also use an essential oil based bug repellent to reduce the number of bites even when on the tablet, if that were the case.

We've used lots of different versions of the spot-on oil treatments in the past, also with no adverse effects... but again, not constantly... only, say 3-6 months of the year, at most.

If you think you now have an auto-immune issue with your pup, I'd opt for using some of the "all natural" spot-ons if you can. At least for a while to see if you can get the skin to clear up. Or, if you're able to risk it, go 'naked' (no protection) during the winter months when the risk should be lower... see if your pup's skin and immunity condition improves then, and then go with something other than Nexgard in the spring before things start jumping again.

I'd also be adding in a multi-strain probiotic to help the immune system re-populate with good bugs. And add in some fish or krill oil for omega-3's, and coconut oil also (both are great at combating dry/itchy skin issues).

I think if my vet has told me "he'll get used to it" after being paralyzed from a drug they gave him.... I'd get a new vet! That sounds very, very risky to me.

When you say you're now feeding "fresh" food - is it home prepared, so you know exactly what's in it? (we feed home-prepared raw, ourselves). If not, that might be a good route to go, too.

And, I do believe you can 'fix' an auto-immune condition, especially if it was induced by the Nexgard. Here's some tips for people that I think translate well for animals: https://draxe.com/4-steps-to-heal-leaky-gut-and-autoimmune-disease/

 

[Hector]

I'm going to say not to use nexgard because of how it reacts to your dog. Use the bravecto. You just have to trial and error and find the one that works best. Nexgard works for us, but I don't give it to them monthly. Last year my old female was infested and we didn't know because she wouldn't itch or anything. I gave the nexgard to all three dogs for 2 months and everything cleared and this year I gave 1 dose to the dogs before the weather started to warm and have not had any flea problems so the dogs only got 1 dose this year. Flea drops didn't work for us and the flea collar (seresto) caused severe skin irritation on Hector's neck and caused another dog to become very ill.

 

[HeavenlyCreation]

Thanks for the thoughts.

We feed homemade food from Dr. Pitcairn's natural health for dogs book. I want to feed raw but there is a family member that has MS so they are worried about the germs going that route, regardless of my assurance that a proper cleaning before and after is just fine, so I am made to cook the meat (rabbit, turkey, beef, liver, salmon) first and add in the (cranberries, blueberries, peas, Chick peas, carrots). Lincoln LOVES the food., of course what animal wouldn't lol

He gets Nutrivet Probiotics, Fermented Cod liver oil, Omega 3 oil, Chelated zinc, Biotin, Vit E

He had two infections, one staph and the other A. Baummanni which is resistant and did a round of bionics for staph then a round of bionics for the resistant but was never completely gone and the vet wouldn't give another round which I wanted and think he needs.
We have been using natural oil flea spray and while he had no flea dirt, or eggs on him the vet thinks its a flea problem. I have never seen the poor fella scratch himself once or act like he's distressed from a flea.

I should mention I am just the care taker and the owners are ultimately in charge. (UGGGH!)

I have done extensive research on nexgard but either most don't realize the adverse effects and report it or there are only a small percentage of dogs affected (Merial says 4%)
I am skeptical, naturally. I am a bit concerned about Bravest because it is the same active ingredient (fluralaner), but only has to be more potent since it lasts longer than nexgard.

I managed to talk them out of doing a round of the neurotoxin for now but they want to see how Zymox shampoo does instead of putting a mixture on his sores.

His lab tests a few months ago was in the normal range though whats normal for a regular dog may not be normal for a Giant breed. The Dermatologist wants to wait 3 weeks and if he doesn't get better than he will do a biopsy.

Sorry, didnt mean to turn this thread into a diagnostic one, lol. Was just trying to see if there are more affected from fluralaner than reported cause there are some horror stories. The issue is that most dogs have an underlying condition/disease, one they will get in old age and die from but a Neurotoxin will bring that disease to the surface and shorten the lifespan.

 

[lexinrose]

Why not give him a break for a while and just use a flea collar during the times you need it. Give his body a break for a year see how he does.

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