An all-in-one flea, tick, and heartworm pill for dogs is a convenient way to protect your furry friend from multiple parasites at once.
But is a flea and heartworm pill that also protects against ticks right for your dog?
This article will help you answer that important question.
Key Takeaways
- All-in-one parasite preventives like Simparica Trio, NexGard PLUS, and Credelio Quattro offer convenient monthly protection against heartworms, fleas, ticks, and intestinal parasites.
- These combination pills are ideal for dogs at high risk of multiple parasites, but they’re not suitable for all dogs, especially those with neurological issues.
- While these preventives simplify parasite protection and may reduce the risk of missed doses, they don’t cover every parasite and require a veterinary prescription.
- Always consult your veterinarian before starting an all-in-one preventive to ensure it’s appropriate for your dog’s health, lifestyle, and risk factors.
What Is an All-In-One Heartworm, Tick, and Flea Preventive?
Most dogs benefit from year-round protection against multiple parasites.
In the past, pet parents were forced to give their dogs several treatments to provide wide-ranging protection, but now all-in-one flea, tick, and heartworm pills for dogs are readily available. Simparica Trio, NexGard PLUS, and Credelio Quattro are three good examples.
However, while parasite preventives like these are very popular with pet parents, veterinarians don’t recommend them for every dog.
Let’s look at the advantages and disadvantages of an all-in-one flea, tick, and heartworm pill for dogs.
Advantages
Combination flea, tick, and heartworm pills offer some obvious (and some not so obvious) advantages over giving your dog multiple parasite preventives every month.
Advantages include:
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Reduced risk of missed doses. Because these preventives are so easy to give, you’re less likely to miss a dose and leave your dog unprotected against heartworms, fleas, and ticks. And unlike some topical products, the protection can’t be washed off.
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More comprehensive protection. These all-in-one pills don’t protect against just fleas, ticks, and heartworms. They also protect against intestinal parasites such as roundworms and hookworms (and, in the case of Credelio Quattro, tapeworms).
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Expense. While these products look expensive at first glance, purchasing them can be cheaper than buying all the different parasite preventives you’d need to provide a similar level of protection. And they’re almost always more cost-effective than treating dogs for illnesses caused by parasite infestations.
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Less chance of drug interactions. Some types of parasite preventives can be dangerous when combined. By giving an all-in-one pill, you can more safely provide your dog with broad-spectrum parasite prevention.
Disadvantages
Like many other medications, all-in-one heartworm, flea, and tick pills aren’t right for every dog or every situation.
Some disadvantages include:
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Unnecessary ingredients. Your dog might be taking medications they don’t need. For example, if your dog is at low risk for tapeworms, they probably don’t need tapeworm prevention every month. Giving dogs medications they don’t need can also increase the risk of parasites developing resistance.
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Lack of complete protection. While these preventives are marketed as providing comprehensive protection, they don’t kill every type of parasite a dog could be exposed to (whipworms and ear mites, for example). Pet parents still need to follow their veterinarian’s advice about parasite testing and treatment.
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A prescription is needed. All-in-one heartworm, flea, and tick preventives are available only with a veterinarian’s prescription.
Product Options
Now let’s take a closer look at three popular flea, tick, and heartworm pills for dogs.
Simparica Trio Chewable Tablet for Dogs
Simparica Trio combines the active ingredients sarolaner (an isoxazoline), moxidectin, and pyrantel.
Together, these medications prevent heartworm disease, fleas, ticks, roundworms, and hookworms.
The product is available as a monthly chewable tablet, given with or without food, and comes in six different dosages based on a dog’s weight.
NexGard PLUS Chewables for Dogs
NexGard PLUS contains afoxolaner (an isoxazoline), moxidectin, and pyrantel to prevent heartworm disease, fleas, ticks, roundworms, and hookworms.
The beef-flavored chew should be given monthly (with or without food) and is available in five dosages according to a dog’s weight.
Credelio Quattro Chewable Tablets for Dogs
Credelio Quattro is made with lotilaner (an isoxazoline), moxidectin, pyrantel, and praziquantel and protects against heartworm disease, fleas, ticks, roundworms, hookworms, and tapeworms.
This chewable tablet should be given monthly with food, is safe for dogs with meat allergies, and comes in four dosages based on a dog’s weight.
What To Ask Your Vet
Talk to your veterinarian if you’re interested in giving your dog a flea, tick, and heartworm pill for dogs.
They will need to review your dog’s health history, weight, age, and parasite risk factors and perform a physical exam before prescribing a combination preventive.
If your dog has had any neurological symptoms, such as seizures, tremors, or unsteadiness when walking, your veterinarian will probably recommend against any product that contains an isoxazoline drug.
But if your dog is healthy and at significant risk for heartworms, fleas, ticks, and intestinal worms, an all-in-one parasite preventive pill might be just what the doctor ordered.
All-In-One Flea, Tick, and Heartworm Pill for Dogs FAQs
What is the best heartworm and flea pill for dogs?
No single product is best for every dog or in every situation. A dog’s age, size, health, and parasite risk factors all come into play. Ask your vet to find the right parasite preventive for your dog.
Can I give my dog heartworm medicine and flea medicine together?
It depends. Some products are safe to use together, while others could cause problems, particularly if your dog has an underlying health problem. Consult your vet to determine whether it’s safe to give your dog their heartworm medicine and flea medicine together.
Do dogs really need heartworm pills?
Yes, dogs really do need heartworm pills. Heartworm disease has been diagnosed in every state. Treatment is expensive and not always successful, so prevention is essential.
Do heartworm pills help with fleas?
Some parasite preventives can prevent both heartworms and fleas, but others do not. The product label should tell you exactly what the product does, but speak to your veterinarian if you have questions.
Is there a combined flea and worm tablet for dogs?
Simparica Trio, NexGard PLUS, and Credelio Quattro are given orally to prevent heartworms, fleas, ticks, roundworms, and hookworms. Credelio Quattro prevents tapeworms, too. Your veterinarian can tell you whether any of these products would be a good option for your dog.
How often do dogs need heartworm and flea medication?
Most heartworm and flea preventives are meant to be given monthly, but read the label or talk with your veterinarian to determine whether that is true for the product you are giving your dog.
A few heartworm and flea preventives are given on a different schedule.
