ComboGuard vs Trifexix

Are you looking for the proper deworming medication for your dog? We bet you do! Most of the owners settle for the first treatment they see for their dogs when it comes to fleas and heartworms. It can be dangerous for the dog at times, as the owner does not know the risks of the medication. What’s the catch? Today, the most popular and effective medicines available on the market for deworming dogs include Comboguard and Trifexis. Want to know which one is best? Here, in this article, a detailed comparison of Comboguard vs. Trifexis will let you know which one is best for your pup. Shall we get started? Hang in there!

Comboguard vs Trifexis

COMBOGUARD VS TRIFEXIS:

CHARACTERISTICCOMBOGUARDTRIFEXIS
AgePuppies 8 weeks and older and weigh more than 5 lbsPuppies 8 weeks and older and weigh more than 5 lbs
Dosing1 tablet per month1 tablet per month
ApplicationChewing TabletChewing Tablet
Rx requiredYesYes
Active IngredientsSpinosad and Milbemycin OximeSpinosad and Milbemycin Oxime
TasteBeefBeef
How Long to Work30 minutes to 4 hour after administration30 minutes after administration
WaterproofYesYes
Other ParasitesWhipworm, Roundworm, and HookwormWhipworm, Roundworm, and Hookworm
Prevents HeartwormYesYes
Repels MosquitosNoNo
Repel TicksNoNo
Kill TicksNoNo
Kill FleasYesYes
Kill flea eggs and LarvaNoNo
Repel FleasNoNo

What is Comboguard?

The comboguard is an oral treatment for dogs that is efficient for treating and controlling adult whipworm, hookworm, and roundworm infections, preventing heartworm disease, and killing fleas. As hydrolyzed soy and pork liver are used in its production, the tablet gives off a delicious beefy taste, and dogs ingest them happily without making the owners make some efforts.

Milbemycin oxime and spinosad are the two active ingredients of the tablet that are highly trusted by vets and are ideal for preventing your dogs from multiple dangerous parasites. It seems incredible, right? We know it does!

What is Trifexis?

Trifexis is a chewy medication given once a month to dogs to prevent several common parasites, including whipworm, roundworm, and hookworm, reducing the risk of heartworm disease.

What did you get? Hang on! It means, between Comboguard vs. Trifexis, the functionality is almost the same. Then why are they two separate names? Well, we hope you will get your answer from the below-mentioned details of the medication.

The Trifexis has the same active ingredients just as the Comboguard: spinosad and milbemycin oxime. The tablet comes in 5 different sizes so that you may give your dog the recommended dosage according to its weight and age.

Dosage and Administration:

Comboguard:

The chewy tablet is administrated orally, and the dog can take it without food. But we cannot guarantee you the best results empty stomach; hence, if you are looking forward to some quick and effective results, make sure you are giving it to your dog along with some food.

Do not forget any dose and try to provide it at the right time. Observe your dog, and if it throws out due to any reason (not as a side effect or allergic reaction), you can give another dose.

Usually, the medication is given once a month to prevent your little puppy, but if we go in-depth, the dosage of this medication entirely depends on the dog’s weight. How’s that? Let us tell you! If your dog weighs anywhere between 5 to 10 lbs, then you should give a single tablet of Comboguard once a month containing 2.3 mg of Milbemycin oxime and 140 mg of spinosad.

Similarly, Milbemycin oxime and spinosad dosage for dogs weighing between 10 to 20 lbs is 4.5 mg and 270 mg, respectively. For 20 to 40 lbs body weight, the dosage is 9.3 mg and 560 mg, for 40 to 60 lbs is 13.5 and 810 grams, and for 60 to 120lbs is 27 mg and 1620 mg. However, if your dog weighs more than that, consult your vet for a better recommendation.

Trifexis:

Just like Comboguard, one should give this medication to the dog once a month.  The dosage according to the age should be like the recommended concentration dosage of Comboguard, as both medications have the same ingredients.

But commonly, one should give 13.5 mg/lb of spinosad and 0.2 mg/lb of milbemycin oxime to the dog according to its body weight for better and effective results.

Indications:

Comboguard:

Comboguard tablet is indicated for preventing Dirofilaria Immitis– a heartworm disease, killing and preventing Ctenocephalides felis- flea infestations, killing fleas, and treating as well as controlling infections of adult whipworm (Trichuris Vulpis), adult roundworm (Toxocara Canis and Toxascaris Leonina), and adult hookworm (Ancylostoma Caninum).

Triflexis:

When should the Trifexis medication give to the dog? Recommended for the treatment and prevention of flea infestations, the Trifexis tablets are often given to dogs to prevent heartworm disease and kill fleas. Besides, control of hookworm, ringworm, and whipworm and their treatment can be done by Triflexis effectively.

Heartworm Prevention:

Comboguard:

As we know, the Comboguard tablet is used for Heartworm Prevention, but it is crucial to understand the administration. It would be best to start giving your dog the medication once a month and continued for three months until the season goes for better prevention. Secondly, if you are going to switch from any other medicines to Comboguard, it is recommended to give the first dosage and the last dosage of the previous medication.

    • Effectiveness:

It is not impossible that the dog can get 100% hookworm prevention from a single dose, but it is not common but just seen in few cases. Also, two dosages do not provide 100% prevention, but three do. If you make your dog administer Comboguard for three consecutive months, there are no chances that the dog can get a hookworm infection. Instead, studies have found antigens against hookworm in such dogs, which make them 100% prevented.

Trifexis:

When an infected mosquito bites a dog, Trifexis prevents multiple stages of the heartworm infection in the dog, but it cannot kill an adult hookworm. If your dog has adult heartworm, reach out to your vet because it can be fatal for the dog if left untreated.

    • Effectiveness:

If the medicine is administrated for around three months consecutively, the treatment effectively acts on the dog to prevent heartworm disease. While you are trying to kill the worm using Triflexis, you are doing this whole thing wrong as there is a lot of difference in prevention and treatment.

Intestinal Nematode Treatment and Control:

Comboguard:

Dogs can get reinfected from dangerous intestinal parasites anytime. The dog doesn’t have to get infected by hookworms, roundworms, and whipworms only in a specific season or climate. However, the infection is common in some seasons but is not impossible in others. Hence, Comboguard can prevent dogs from such intestinal infections throughout the year.

    • Effectiveness:

In most cases, Comboguard is always more than 90% effective and succeeds in removing all the roundworm, whipworm, and heartworm infections.

Trifexis:

Intestinal Nematode can stick to your dog anywhere, whether playing in a park or walking around the house. The infection leads to diarrhea, anemia, dehydration, and further severe complications; hence, it is essential to deal with them. Trifexis is the ultimate solution for intestinal nematode treatment and control.

    • Effectiveness:

In more than 90% of cases, the treatment is successful, just like Comboguard, as the active ingredients of both medications are similar.

Flea Treatment and Prevention:

Comboguard:

Right a month before the fleas become active, it is essential to make your dog ingest the medication so that it may prevent itself from the risk of getting fleas. You should give the medicine to the dog throughout the season every month. However, if the dog gets fleas, Comboguard effectively treats the dog as it kills them efficiently. Also, in some areas, fleas are prevalent. Hence, it is recommended to take medicine throughout the year.

    • Effectiveness:

If the dog has fleas, Comboguard kills them even before they can lay eggs. In the first 30 minutes, the medicine starts to perform and shows effective results in 4 hours only.

Trifexis:

To prevent the dog from flea infestations, Trifexis keep working the entire month, and if there is any flea present in the dog’s body, it just takes 30 minutes for Trifexis to kill the fleas.

    • Effectiveness:

Among all the problems, Trifexis is the most efficient for killing fleas and prevent their attack on

Side effects:

Comboguard:

Make your dog administer spinosad alone along with the use of ivermectin. The dog may show signs of disorientation, blindness, mydriasis, ataxia, seizures, drooling, and trembling as a reaction.

Also, some common side effects of the medication noticed in several dogs include vomiting, Pineal reddening, decrease appetite, diarrhea, lethargy, pruritus, skin reddening, and dermatitis. Among all these side effects, vomiting is the most common one. In case your dog faces any side effects, rush to the vet before they become worse.

Trifexis:

You should be aware of all the side effects of a dog after the administration of Trifexis. The most common side effect is vomiting, especially in young dogs, but the other ones include lethargy, diarrhea, loss of appetite, redness of ear or skin, itching.

In case your dog is already suffering from any health concern, especially epilepsy or allergy, the medicines can have harmful side effects. Hence, it is always essential to consult the vet to avoid chronic conditions like anaphylaxis.

the dog’s body to avoid any further complications.

Cautions:

Here, we are going to mention some precautionary measures that you should keep in mind if you opt for this medication among Comboguard vs. Trifexis:

  • If, in any case, you forgot to give a dose or do not continue the medication for three months, it’s possible that the drug does not work correctly.
  • If the dog is previously suffering from heartworms, make sure that the vet treats it with some other medication as Comboguard cannot kill adult heartworm but prevent them.
  •  For microfilariae clearance, the medication does not work.
  • Consult your vet before giving the medication to breeding dogs.
  • If a dog has pre-existing epilepsy, make sure the medication is suitable for it.
  • It is recommended not to give the medication to puppies below the age of 14 weeks.

How to store Trifexis and Comboguard?

The ideal temperature for storing the medication is 20-25°C (68-77°F).

Is it safe to give comboguards or Trfexis every month for the entire year?

There is no harm in giving the tablet throughout the year, especially for those who live in such areas where the risk of getting infections is higher. But still, it is recommended to consult the vet before making such a decision on the excellent health of your dog.

Is it dangerous when the dog consumes more than the recommended dosage?

When a dog administers more than the recommended dosage of the medication, symptoms including vomiting, tremors, decreased activity, salivation, coughing, and vocalization appear in the dog. It is crucial to keep the medication out of reach from the dogs to keep your dog safe from such situations.

Ideal age for giving tablet:

When a dog weighs at least more than 5 pounds and is older than eight weeks, it is safe. If you make a young pup, less than the mentioned figures can administer the medication, it can primarily affect its health and show side effects.

How fast it works?

Right after the dog administers the medication, it starts working inside its body within 30 minutes. Impressive, right? Well, yeah!

Warnings:

Do you know every medicine has some warnings that should be considered very important, especially in dogs? Some people might think that the medication can have a positive effect on humans as well. Is it right? No, No, No! Never try this medication on yourself, and keep this out of the reach of children. Also, if your dog is on some other medicines, consult your dog before giving Comboguard to prevent any drug interaction.

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