Simparica Vs. Simparica Trio

Parasite prevention is crucial for all dogs, whether you live in a cold, warm, humid, or dry climate. Fleas and ticks are some of the most common complaints among pet parents, and they can be dangerous for your dog. In addition, heartworm is another parasite that can lead to death if not treated correctly. 

Simparica and Simparica Trio are two types of prescriptions from the company Zoetis used to treat and prevent parasites in dogs, but they have different uses. Which one is right for your dog depends on any other preventives they’re taking and their overall needs. Your vet can help you determine the best option for your pet. 

• What is Simparica Trio?
• What’s The Difference Between Simparica & Simparica Trio?
• Protecting Your Pet From Parasites
• Final Notes

What is Simparica? 

Simparica is a flea and tick preventative for dogs that protects them from up to five species of ticks.^[1] This monthly chewable protects dogs from ticks and fleas for 35 days and starts killing fleas within 3 hours and ticks within 8 hours of administration.^[1] 

Simparica is FDA-approved to block infections that can cause Lyme disease by killing deer ticks, and it offers the convenience of only having to give your dog a single chewable every month. 

What is Simparica Trio? 

Simparica Trio is the more advanced version of Simparica. It offers the same flea and tick prevention benefits with additional heartworm prevention and roundworm and hookworm treatment.^[2] 

Like Simparica, it’s fast-acting and begins to kill the Lyme disease-causing deer tick within eight hours and fleas within four hours of administration.^[2]

One of the biggest benefits of Simparica Trio vs. Simparica is the added heartworm protection. Since heartworm can be fatal when left untreated, vets recommend yearly diagnostics and a monthly preventative. 

What’s The Difference Between Simparica & Simparica Trio? 

The main difference to consider when comparing Simparica vs. Simparica Trio is their uses  and the types of parasites they protect against. Simparica is used to treat and prevent fleas and ticks only; it doesn’t protect your pet from other types of parasites. On the other hand, Simparica trio offers flea and tick prevention on top of heartworm prevention, and it eliminates roundworms and hookworms.^[2] 

Both Simparica and Simparica Trio kill up to 5 species of ticks and are fast-acting, meaning they take only a few hours to begin eliminating adult fleas and ticks. 

Other differences to be aware of when comparing Simparica Trio vs. Simparica include the following:

Active ingredients 

Simparica and Simparica Trio have different active ingredients because they have similar yet different purposes. Simparica Trio offers more protection from various types of parasites, so it has three active ingredients — sarolaner, moxidectin, and pyrantel.^[2] On the other hand, Simparica only has one active ingredient — sarolaner.  

As you can see, they share one ingredient in common: sarolaner. Sarolaner is an effective insecticide that kills fleas and ticks by interfering with their central nervous system receptors, preventing them from functioning normally and ultimately leading to paralysis and death.^[3]

This active ingredient not only kills fleas — it kills them before they can lay eggs, effectively ending the flea life cycle to treat your dog. In addition, sarolaner offers broad-spectrum protection against at least five species of ticks, including those that transmit disease. 

Since Simparica Trio is a more advanced version of Simparica, it offers protection from other parasites with its other two active ingredients. Moxidectin is an antiparasitic commonly used to prevent heartworm disease caused by the bite of an infected mosquito.^[4] When an infected mosquito bites a dog, moxidectin prevents the heartworm larvae from developing into adults, protecting your dog from a serious and potentially fatal infection. 

In addition, moxidectin is effective in treating other internal parasites like roundworms and hookworms that can cause GI issues and other health issues. 

The third active ingredient in Simparica Trio is pyrantel, a parasiticide used to treat intestinal parasites. It’s commonly used as a dewormer against common parasites like roundworms and hookworms and is effective against both worms and their larvae.^[5]  

How long it takes to work

How long Simparica vs. Simparica Trio takes to work differs slightly. Simparica and Simparica Trio are both fast-acting treatments for fleas and ticks. Simparica eliminates adult fleas within three hours, while Simparica Trio eliminates them in four. Both are effective in killing fleas before they lay eggs. In addition, both Simparica and Simparica Trio eliminate fleas within eight hours of administration. 

Which one is better for your pet?

Ultimately, you won’t be able to get Simparica or Simparica Trio without a prescription from your vet. Only you and your vet can decide which option is right for your dog based on their needs. However, Simparica Trio is generally designed for dogs that need monthly heartworm prevention in addition to flea and tick prevention. 

If your dog is already on separate heartworm medication, they likely don’t need Simparica Trio. Instead, their other heartworm medication will be effective in preventing heartworm disease. 

Both Simparica and Simparica Trio are designed to eliminate fleas and ticks within hours of administration. It’s recommended to keep your pet on a flea and tick preventative year-round, even in the winter, to protect them from potentially dangerous diseases. 

If your dog only needs flea and tick prevention because they’re on another heartworm medication, Simparica might be the better option. However, if your dog has roundworms or hookworms, your vet may prescribe Simparica Trio to treat them. 

Always tell your vet about any other medications your dog is on. While Simparica Trio and Simparica are well-tolerated among dogs, there’s always the potential for side effects. In addition, your vet needs to know whether your pet is taking a different type of flea, tick, or heartworm prevention medication to ensure they choose the right prescription for them. 

Wondering which is best for your dog — Simparica or Simparica Trio? Schedule an appointment with a Dutch vet today, then shop treatments and order your pet’s prescription online. 

Protecting Your Pet From Parasites 

Diseases from parasites are completely preventable, so it makes sense to protect your pet year-round from parasites like ticks, fleas, and heartworm. 

Visiting your vet annually for your dog’s wellness exam gives them the opportunity to test for heartworm and prescribe you medication for the next year, preventing the disease. In addition, you can talk to your vet about flea and tick prevention to protect them from other potentially dangerous diseases like Lyme disease. 

Parasite prevention products prescribed by a vet are the most effective way to prevent diseases caused by fleas, ticks, and heartworm. However, you can also follow these tips to further protect your pet: 

• Regular grooming: Regularly grooming your dog allows you to inspect their fur and skin to look for signs of fleas or ticks. 
• Clean living environment: Keeping your dog’s living environment clean and hygienic by regularly cleaning their toys, bedding, vacuuming, and maintaining the yard can help prevent parasites. 
• Avoid contaminated areas: Don’t allow your dog to play in heavily infested or high-risk areas, such as areas with standing water or dense woods. If you have standing water in your yard, remove it as soon as possible since it can be a breeding ground for mosquitoes and other parasites. 
• Use pet-safe repellants: If you live in a humid area, you probably see a lot of mosquito activity in the summer. You can use pet-safe mosquito and insect repellants to reduce the risk of mosquito bites and associated insect-borne diseases. 
• Avoid animal feces: Dogs are curious creatures with powerful senses of smell they use to learn about the world around them, which is why they sniff feces on walks. However, you should avoid letting your dog do this because you never know whether another dog’s feces is infested with roundworms or hookworms. Since these parasites are eliminated in feces, they can come into contact with your dog’s nose or mouth if they get too close. 
• Don’t forget their monthly preventive: If your dog takes Simparica, they’re probably also taking a heartworm medication. However, if they take Simparica Trio, they only have to take one chewable a month. Whatever the case for your dog, you should try to avoid forgetting to give them their medication on a monthly basis. Simparica products are designed to be effective for up to 35 days to give you some leeway, but we recommend setting the alarm on your smartphone or making a note on your calendar to give your dog their preventive medication every 30 days. 

Final Notes 

Both Simparica and Simparica Trio are effective preventative medications that can protect your dog from fleas and ticks. However, Simparica Trio offers additional heartworm protection while eliminating other internal parasites like hookworms and roundworms. 

When comparing Simparica vs. Simparica Trio, it’s important to keep your dog’s needs in mind. Dogs already on a monthly heartworm preventive don’t need Simparica Trio, but it may be more convenient to give them one monthly chewable instead of two. Try Dutch today and ask a vet about switching your dog to Simparica Trio for an all-in-one preventative that’s proven effective.