Bravecto

The key ingredient found inside Bravecto is fluralaner, which is ingested by your pet orally through a chewable tablet and then travels through your pet’s system.

Vomiting – Although Bravecto has been shown to be readily eaten by most pets as a chewable tablet, even without mixing it with food, there is a chance of it causing your pet to vomit. This may be due to your pet having an upset stomach before ingesting the tablet, with the new medicine then causing a reaction.

Diarrhoea – Alongside vomiting, diarrhoea is another possible side effect that may be triggered by Bravecto. Pets have different tolerances and the chewable tablet may not sit well with dogs that have sensitive stomachs or pre-existing digestive conditions.

Other reported side effects include:

1. Appetite changes – Bravecto may cause changes in a pet’s appetite. In some cases, this may cause a temporary reduction in appetite or refusal of food.
2. Thirst changes – Some owners have reported increased thirst or water intake after their pet received Bravecto.
3. Weakness – In more serious cases, a pet may experience weakness after taking Bravecto.
4. Hair loss – Hair loss has been reported. Please consult your veterinary surgeon if your dog is itchy, distressed or develops skin or coat changes.
5. Dehydration
6. Panting
7. Skin-colour changes

There is also the MDR1 mutation, which has been identified in breeds including Shetland Sheepdogs, Rough Collies, Australian Shepherds, Old English Sheepdogs, English Shepherds, German Shepherds, Long-haired Whippets, Silken Windhounds and various mixed-breed dogs.

In 2015, a Facebook post claimed that the Bravecto chewable flea-and-tick treatment was fatal to dogs. A family who had adopted a dog from Pet Helpers asserted that their dog died after being given Bravecto and that another of their dogs had nearly died after receiving the same treatment.

Studies available at the time suggested that Bravecto was safe. However, thousands of suspected adverse reactions have since been reported, which has led some owners to remain concerned.

As the warning spread on social media during 2015, it was considered by the website Snopes , which attempts to investigate and confirm or disprove online claims.

Investigating the claim, Snopes referred to a 2014 study published in the journal Parasites & Vectors, in which 32 Beagles were treated with Bravecto (fluralaner) and no serious adverse effects were attributed to the medication.

The full study can be found here .

Dr Michael Mogavero of Wilson Street Veterinary stated that the drug had been extensively tested before release and had proved safe for dogs. The original Facebook post can be viewed here .

Snopes concluded that the Bravecto claims were unproven.

The family asserted that one of their pets died within a day of being given Bravecto and that another dog nearly died after receiving the same treatment at the same time. The post also alleged that Bravecto was responsible for the dog’s death and that other dogs had died from liver or kidney failure shortly after receiving the same medication.

As of August 2018, the European Medicines Agency had received reports of suspected adverse reactions following the administration of Bravecto, including reports involving deaths. Reports of suspected adverse events do not, by themselves, establish that the medicine caused the event.

On 20 September 2018, the US Food and Drug Administration issued information about the potential for neurological adverse reactions with isoxazoline flea-and-tick products. This class includes fluralaner for dogs and cats (Bravecto), afoxolaner for dogs (NexGard), sarolaner for dogs (Simparica) and lotilaner for dogs (Credelio).

Muscle tremors, ataxia and seizures have been reported in some dogs and cats receiving products in this class, including animals without a previously known history of these conditions.

The MDR1 gene helps produce a protein involved in removing certain drugs and toxins from the brain. Dogs carrying particular MDR1 mutations may be more sensitive to some medicines because larger amounts can cross the blood-brain barrier. Owners of susceptible breeds should discuss medicine selection and dose with their veterinary surgeon.

With all this in mind, some pet owners do not believe Bravecto chews are worth the potential risk. Your veterinary surgeon can help you compare the known risks of a medicine with the risks caused by fleas, ticks and the diseases they may transmit.

If your pet experiences a suspected reaction after receiving any flea or tick treatment, contact your veterinary surgeon immediately. If a topical product has been applied, follow the product instructions and your vet’s advice about whether it should be washed off.