This new approval changes everything about how long your dog can stay protected with a single dose.
A once-a-year flea and tick pill just got the FDA’s blessing, and every other treatment is now officially side-eye material. Pet parents have been chasing monthly refills and sticker-covered calendars like it’s still 2012. That’s over. The new med doesn’t just stretch protection, it practically flips the whole parasite game on its head. If your dog has ever been the unlucky host to a bloodsucking hitchhiker, this is the headline you’ve been waiting for.
1. Afoxolaner isn’t the active ingredient this time, and that matters.
The newly approved drug doesn’t rely on the same old school chemical you’ve seen in so many chewables. Instead, this one uses lotilaner, and according to the FDA’s press release, it was selected because of its ability to provide consistent, yearlong coverage from a single dose. That’s an entirely different ballpark than the 30-day windows most pet parents have been stuck with.
What makes this shift huge is how it changes resistance patterns. Vets have started noticing fleas showing reduced sensitivity to older compounds. Having a new active ingredient in the mix not only gives better long-term results, but also buys time against the slow creep of resistance. For dogs who seem to get bitten no matter what they’re on, this formula offers fresh hope in a market that hasn’t really innovated in years.
2. The tablet doesn’t wash off or wear down with baths or swimming.
Unlike those spot-on liquid formulas that become less reliable every time your dog decides to cannonball into the pool, this pill works internally. As reported by the American Veterinary Medical Association, once it’s ingested, the active compound spreads through the bloodstream and keeps working regardless of weather, water, or shampoo.
That means it keeps working through rainy hikes, mud baths, and full-on soap-slicked chaos. People with water-loving dogs finally don’t have to choose between keeping parasites away and letting their dog live its best wet dog life. It removes that annoying trade-off of “clean but itchy” or “protected but stinky.”
3. The FDA backed this treatment after extensive safety trials on multiple breeds.
This wasn’t a fast-track approval or some barely tested gamble. According to the data published by Elanco and confirmed by the FDA, the chewable underwent multiple safety and efficacy studies across various breeds, weights, and ages. The trials showed it was well tolerated—even for dogs with known sensitivity histories.
Having a once-a-year treatment sounds risky until you look at the actual science. These aren’t hunches. The dogs used in the testing weren’t just labs in labs, either. They represented all kinds of companion pets, so when the green light came, it wasn’t just about flea-killing power—it was also about proving you won’t be calling the emergency vet the next day.
4. You only have to remember it once a year, and that’s kind of genius.
If you’ve ever realized three weeks too late that you forgot your dog’s flea meds, this part hits deep. The once-yearly timing turns flea protection into a set-it-and-forget-it type deal. You handle it during your annual wellness visit, and then it’s off your mental to-do list until the next year rolls around.
It also dodges the chaos of month-to-month schedules that often get out of sync with heartworm pills or vaccines. One less thing to juggle. And the fewer gaps in treatment, the fewer chances parasites get to sneak in.
5. No more guessing how much liquid made it onto your dog’s skin.
Those squeeze-on treatments always feel a little like a guessing game. Did you part the fur well enough? Did they wiggle halfway through? Is half of it now decorating your throw blanket? Oral tablets remove all that drama.
You give the chew, and it’s done. The full dose is delivered, no external mess, no sad eyes from cold goo dripping down their neck. Plus, this method keeps the protection inside the dog, not smeared all over your furniture.
6. It doesn’t just prevent infestations—it kills fast and hard.
A lot of flea treatments promise protection but still let bugs bite before they die. This one has a kill-on-contact reputation. Once it’s in the bloodstream, any flea or tick that dares to bite into your dog gets taken out almost immediately.
That speed matters. Fast kill times mean fewer bites, less itching, and a lower chance of disease transmission. If you live in a tick-heavy zone, that peace of mind is worth its weight in vet bills you won’t have to pay.
7. Vets are already hinting it could reshape how we handle seasonal care.
Some veterinarians are quietly saying this might shift how clinics even think about flea seasons. In warmer climates where fleas are basically a year-round ordeal, this could become the gold standard. No more ramp-up in spring and panic in fall.
It smooths out the spikes in parasite prevention demand and gives dogs consistent coverage no matter what’s happening outside. For anyone in places like Texas or Florida, where fleas never really leave, this could mean no more surprise infestations in February.
8. Dogs that react badly to topical meds finally get a real alternative.
Some dogs just don’t handle topical meds well. They get skin reactions, hot spots, or start compulsively licking anything that touches their neck. This chew is built for those sensitive pups who still need protection but can’t tolerate being doused.
It sidesteps every skin-based complication. And for dogs with thick coats where topical absorption is questionable at best, this oral route just works better. One treat, swallowed and done.
9. The brand behind it isn’t new to the parasite game.
Elanco isn’t some mystery startup—they’ve been behind multiple parasite control options used by vets for years. They already had Credelio, which is what this new version is based on. They just extended the formula to last longer.
So if you’re worried this is some flashy gimmick, it’s not. It’s more like they finally figured out how to stretch their successful formula into something that doesn’t require a calendar full of reminder stickers. And for anyone whose dog has ever outwitted a monthly dose by hiding under the couch, this new era just made life a lot simpler.