Dog has fleas, Nexgard gone, chewing fur. What should I do next?

Thanks for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach! I would not recommend that you switch him yet as this may be completely coincidental. Nexgard is a great preventative and I would give it more time before switching to something else. Hopefully the scratching is not a reaction to it as that would be quite unusual. If the itchiness continues despite giving it a few days, that would likely be due to allergies rather than a cause of using Nexgard. It really comes down to figuring out what is causing his allergies so that they can be treated or the specific allergen avoided. A secondary infection is likely and also needs to be addressed. There are many things that can cause allergies though in most cases they can be broken down into 3 big categories: flea, food and environmental allergies. Allergies are usually worked up in a stepwise fashion starting with flea allergies as this is the easiest and cheapest to take care of. If not on a flea preventative, then it would be a good idea to get started on one. If already on one then it would be a good idea to change to something else (there are many new products out in the market). If not improved in 1-3 months then it is time to move on and check for food allergies by switching to a novel diet (new protein and new carbohydrate). If that does not seem to be the issue then you are left out having to check for environmental allergies which require blood and/or skin tests. Allergies can be very frustrating to deal with at first but so rewarding at the end when we are able to treat them effectively!

I am sorry to hear about Sherlock! If he is still getting attacked by fleas you most likely need to treat your home and yard. You could consider a product that also repels the fleas such as a Seresto collar or Vectra 3D, but even with these products, if there are a large number of fleas in the area you will not be preventing all bites without treating your home and yard. You can read more about how to do this at https://www.petcoach.co/article/flea-control-and-prevention/

If he has a flea allergy than it will probably take a little bit of time for the itching to resolve. You could ask your vet for an anti-histamine or a corticosteroid to help relieve the itching. Make sure to use a monthly flea prevention, like NexGard, Frontline, Advantage, etc every month to prevent him from getting fleas again.

Sorry to hear about the flea problem! They can definitely be pesky little suckers. I would absolutely recommend getting the cone since it is the only essentially surefire way to prevent significant amounts of self-mutilation. Kitty definitely won't like it but it is for his own good. In terms of flea and tick medications, my favorite one to use is the Seresto collar. I find that in my geographic area it seems to be the most effective option. This certainly could be different where you live, and as such, I would tend to tell you to consult with your local vet and other pet owners for feedback. In terms of healing the affected regions, they look to me to be significantly inflamed and likely partially infected. At this point, they likely would benefit from an oral antibiotic which would require making a trip to your vet for the prescription. In terms of treating the environment, multiple flea bombs may be required. In some cases, hiring an exterminator is the only solution. I hope this helps.

Sorry to hear about all of Jazz's issues. Dermatologic issues can be very frustrating and take a long time to resolve unfortunately. In terms of the steroid shots, if those are not working there are definitely other medications available that can assist with the symptoms. The first two the come to mind are Apoquel, which is a daily medication that is given orally, and the second is Cytopoint, a once monthly injectable biologic. I have had fantastic success, far greater than with steroids, fighting against severely itchy dogs. The itchiness associated with both fleas and food allergy should be addressed with both of these medications. In terms of switching to a different flea medication, I would switch if you feel you have been finding fleas. If not, then I see no reason to change to something else. Nexgard is typically a really good choice, which is part of the reason it is so expensive. As for the dietary changes, these trials can be very long and often require repetition with different proteins. I usually don't start with chicken since it is such a common protein that your dog has likely been exposed to already. I would have chosen something like salmon or venison. You might want to speak with you vet about why he thought to go with chicken as a first line choice. Anyway, I think the above recommendations are a good place to start. If you are not seeing any improvements are want the advise of a specialist, ask your vet for a referral to a dermatologist. Hope this helps!

I would use this medicated mousse on him for a week or so. If no improvement or if he seems worse then get him to your vet for an exam. ( http://www.allivet.com/p-6679-douxo-calm-mousse-for-dogs-and-cats-68-oz.aspx ) Hope this helps. Best wishes.

Capstar is effective for killing adult fleas that are on Max. You will need a topical or oral treatment to continue killing adults and eggs both on and off him. Frontline, K9 Advantix and Vectra are just a few topical preventatives. NexGard and Bravecto are newer oral medications. Your veterinarian should examine Max to rule out other causes for the hair loss and to dispense antibiotics or antihistamines if indicated. Topicals are very effective when used properly. Use the appropriate dose based on Max's weight. Do not split doses between pets. It must be applied at least 3 days before or after a bath or grooming. It must be applied directly to the skin. This is accomplished by parting the fur with the applicator tip down to the skin. Treat ALL pets in the house for at least 3 consecutive months, preferably year round. Vacuum all areas and dispose of the bag outdoors. Wash all fabrics and beddings that have had contact with any pet in the hottest water temp allowable. The environment must also be treated. Knockout ES area treatment (by Virbac) is just one very effective product that can be used to prevent reinfestation. Lastly, treat all pets for tapeworm since fleas carry the risk of tapeworm infection.