My dog is scratching after NexGard. Is it working or a bad sign?

It has been known to cause local skin irritation, but the itching could mean that it is working if she had fleas on her. I would see if there is a number on the package to call for advice. If the itching continues into tomorrow or if she's actually injuring herself with the scratching or starts having other symptoms such as lethargy, loss of appetite, vomiting, etc., get her seen by your vet as soon as possible.

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!

This is a tick. The picture is not detailed enough to identify the exact species of tick, but no need to worry about that at this time. Since you have given Nexgard (which should kill ticks), then there are two things that could have happened. 1). The ticks were dead when you removed them. If they were not wiggling around and came out easily, then they were dead. 2) The Nexgard didn't work. It happens sometimes that the product (for some reason) didn't work. In that case you can just try a different product that is labeled for ticks. Sorry, I can't recommend any single product. There are so many and none that I know to be better than the other. If you try a new product, then just make sure it is only applied after the Nexgard is next due. I hope that helps.

No worries. This is just a tick dermatitis which is a local allergic reaction to the tick. Try applying a small amount of topical Neosporin to the area. This should resolve in a few days. Thanks for visiting Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach. Take care.

The photo is a bit blurry so it's hard to tell if that is a tick or just may be a nipple or small mole on the belly. If it is a tick, it should kill any ticks that hop onto the body within 48 hours, however, it should be preventing/killing ticks faster than that if you gave it more than two days ago. If you notice the medication is not helping with severe tick infestations, speaking with your vet about switching to a different product may be beneficial.

It will likely drop off after about 72 hours, but it is best to remove it as soon as possible to decrease the risk of tickborne disease transmission. Be sure to perform tick checks each time your dog returns from outdoors. https://www.petcoach.co/article/tick-removal/

If you’re noticing increased itching in that area and you found a flea, you may try switching the flea prevention to see if that helps. Fleas can become immune to products. The top products on the market are oral products such as Nexgard and Simparica. Most pets can use these products but you should talk with your veterinarian before switching. They are administered once a month and at this point appear to work very well. If the itching goes away, then you know it was related to flea bites. Best of luck.