Capstar vs Nexgard
Your pets health needs are vital to a happy home, and we at Allivet understand you may not have the time to find out what best suits your cat or dog for their health. To that end, we've built a table comparing two treatment options, Capstar Flea Tablets and Nexgard Chewable Tablets. As with each option, we have created a table with additional information that can help you form a decision on which option is best.
What are the differences between Capstar and Nexgard
The main difference between Capstar and Nexgard, is that Capstar is a single pill designed to quickly kill all Adult fleas in one dosage and is safe to administer again within the same month if reinfestation occurs. Whereas Nexgard covers a variety of pests, including ticks and will kill fleas before they're able to lay eggs. Which may be far more convenient to the owner than to buy multiple products for their pet. You may need to hide Capstar in your pet's food since it doesn't have a tasty flavor that dogs love.
For some pet owners, the convenience of a once a month flea and tick treatment is worth it. However Nexgard has not been evaluated on pregnant pets and puppies must be 8 weeks or older, and weigh more than 4lbs. Whereas Capstar is deemed appropriate for use on dogs as early as 4 weeks and at least 2lbs and can be used on pregnant dogs.
Both Nexgard and Capstar are specifically designed in order to eliminate fleas. However Nexgard's Afoxolaner works as a preventive measure for the entire month. The ingredients in Capstar leave your pet largely unaffected, while the active ingredient is deadly specifically to fleas. The same can't be said for Nexgard and other Isoxazoline products as mentioned here. Reinfection could occur if other pets and the house are not treated for fleas, similarly if any eggs or larvae have hatched, another dosage of Capstar will be required to eliminate them. Nexgard and Capstar have the same time frame for killing adult fleas. Nexgards additional effect on ticks takes roughly 24 hours. Nexgard is the only FDA approved option for preventing infections that cause Lyme disease.
Capstar is available for both cats and dogs whereas Nexgard is for dogs specifically. As for readily accessible, Capstar does not require a prescription and may be bought over the counter. Nexgard requires a prescription from your veterinarian before it can be purchased. Your vet should be able to answer any questions related to side effects, precautions, or special care for your dog.
Final Thoughts on Capstar vs Nexgard
Overall, Nexgard generally costs more but covers the preventative measures as well as the initial infestation. Capstar is designed to eliminate fleas in both cats and dogs. Some pet owners may start with Capstar then switch to Nexgard when the puppies reach 8 weeks old. Additionally, some pet owners may opt to switch over to Capstar to protect breeding, pregnant, and lactating dogs.
If you still have questions on which oral flea and tick treatment is best suited for your pets needs, our veterinarians are standing by to assist you.
| Feature | Capstar | NexGard |
|---|---|---|
| Kills Fleas | Yes | Yes |
| Repels Fleas | No | No |
| Kills Flea Eggs and Larvae | No | Yes |
| Kills Ticks | No | Yes |
| Repels Ticks | No | No |
| Repels Mosquitoes | No | No |
| Prevents Heartworm | No | No |
| Protects Against Other Parasites | No | No |
| Waterproof | Yes - taken orally | Yes - taken orally |
| How Long to Work | Kills 90% of fleas in 4 hours | 4 hours to kill fleas and 24 hours hours to kill ticks |
| Taste | No Flavor | Beef Flavored |
| Active Ingredient | Nitenpyram | Afoxolaner |
| RX Required | No | Yes |
| Application Type | Chewable Tablet | Chewable Tablet |
| Dosing | Safe for as often as once per day | 1 tablet per month |
| Age | Dogs 4 weeks and older that weigh at least 2 pounds | Puppies 8 weeks and older and weigh more than 4 lbs |
| Manufacturer | Elanco | Boehringer Ingelheim |
| Safety | Breeding, pregnant, and lactating dogs may use. | Not yet evaluated for use of in breeding, pregnant, or lactating dogs. |