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Every dog owner knows that fleas and ticks are bad news for a beloved pet. Without regular protection, your dog can quickly become infested with these pests that can bite and transmit diseases to your dog and your family.
A flea infestation on your dog can quickly become a big problem for your home environment. Fast breeding and difficult to stamp out, the key to ensuring your home doesn’t become a haven for fleas is to not allow them to live on your dog.
Bravecto for dogs is a chewable tablet that delivers 12 weeks of flea and tick protection. In this review of Bravecto for dogs, I will go over how the product works, side effects, safety concerns, where to buy it, and whether or not I give this product “Paws Up or Down.”
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Bravecto Rating
Bravecto for Dogs
Bravecto is a unique product in flea and tick protection because its chemical makeup kills active infestations and prevents future infestations.
Bravecto contains fluralaner, an active ingredient that kills adult and juvenile fleas as well as a variety of ticks including the black-legged, brown dog, American dog, and Lone Star.
Unlike Bravecto, most flea and tick medications only work to stop the reproduction of fleas and ticks rather than to kill fleas and ticks already on the dog.
Bravecto is a prescription medication so in order to get it, you must have approval from your vet. Many veterinarians recommend and prescribe Bravecto for one simple reason: it works.
When I started looking into the reviews for Bravecto for dogs, a common thread among pet owners is how easy the product is to administer; as a chewable tablet, dogs readily gobble it down.
The chewable is so much better than a topical product. I have used the so-called “spot on” products in the past and it was always a mess and has an unpleasant smell!
If I can manage to get my dog to stay still for long enough to squirt all of the treatment onto the right spot between the shoulder blades, invariably she shakes right after and sends the liquid running down the ridge of her back.
Naturally, she follows that up laying on her back in her bed or on the carpet, wiggling around to scratch the offending tickle and the treatment gets rubbed off.
I also wonder how effective the product will be when she has wiped so much of it off. Worse still, I have young kids in the house and I don’t want them touching her and getting the treatment on their hands or bodies.
Many of the reviews for Bravecto flea and tick protection also highlight the convenience of the dosing which lasts 12 full weeks. Having to provide a dose every 3 months instead of every single month is very nice and can save you money, too.
Bravecto can be used in dogs as young as 6 months old weighing at least 4.4 pounds and is considered safe for pregnant, breeding, and lactating dogs. Speak to your vet about a flea and tick solution that would work best for your smaller or younger pup.
Like all flea and tick medications, Bravecto is prescribed to your dog in the appropriate strength based on your dog’s weight. The heavier your dog, the higher the concentration of the active ingredient present in the drug.
Bravecto and corresponding concentrations of Fluralaner are broken down in the following dosage categories:
- Toy Dog formulation for dogs weighing 4.4-9.9 pounds contains 112.5 mg of Fluralaner
- Small Dog formulation for dogs weighing 9.9-22 pounds contains 250 mg of Fluralaner
- Medium Dog formulation for dogs weighing 22-44 pounds contains 500 mg of Fluralaner
- Large Dog formulation for dogs weighing 44-88 pounds contains 1000 mg of Fluralaner
- Extra Large Dog formulation for dogs weighing 88-123 pounds contains 1400 mg of Fluralaner
| Product Name | Price on Chewy.com | Description | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Bravecto Chews for Dogs, 4.4-9.9 lbs, 1 treatment |  | $52.49 | Toy Dog formulation for dogs weighing 4.4-9.9 pounds contains 112.5 mg of Fluralaner |
| Bravecto Chews for Dogs, 9.9-22 lbs, 1 treatment |  | $52.49 | Small Dog formulation for dogs weighing 9.9-22 pounds contains 250 mg of Fluralaner |
| Bravecto Chews for Dogs, 22-44 lbs, 1 treatment |  | $52.49 | Medium Dog formulation for dogs weighing 22-44 pounds contains 500 mg of Fluralaner |
| Bravecto Chews for Dogs, 44-88 lbs, 1 treatment |  | $52.49 | Large Dog formulation for dogs weighing 44-88 pounds contains 1000 mg of Fluralaner |
| Bravecto Chews for Dogs, 88-123 lbs, 1 treatment |  | $52.49 | Extra Large Dog formulation for dogs weighing 88-123 pounds contains 1400 mg of Fluralaner |
If you miss a dose of Bravecto all you have to do is give the chew to your dog right away. Mark your calendar for the next dose to be given 12 weeks later rather than sticking to the old schedule.
When checking out Bravecto flea and tick reviews I noticed that many dog owners began using this product after a yard or pet infestation was in full swing. When your dog is being attacked by fleas or ticks in large numbers, it is miserable for every member of the family and you want relief, fast.
Bravecto kills greater than 98% of active fleas, both adolescent and adult, on your dog within 12 hours. It kills 100% of ticks on your dog within 12 hours.
We all know that flea bites itch and can make sensitive dogs break out in rashes and hot spots and that both fleas and ticks carry some really nasty diseases that you all want to avoid. Bravecto reviews state that the product starts working really fast, helping to get an infestation under control quickly.
For a period of 12 full weeks after treatment with Bravecto, you can expect your dog to have a 98.8% reduction in fleas. Those are some seriously impressive results and a big relief to an infested dog and her family.
It’s important to note that in the case of yard or home infestation, you will have to seek the assistance of a pest control company to get rid of the problem. If you only treat your pet, your house and yard can remain infested which is a health concern to you and your family.
Is Bravecto Safe?
Bravecto is considered safe for most dogs. Vets everywhere recommend this flea and tick solution because it is safe, effective, and easy to use.
Bravecto has been approved by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA). This means that the drug has been tested and that the benefits of the medication outweigh the risks in taking it.
A field study was also conducted on 294 dogs to determine if Bravecto is safe. In that study, the most common side effect experienced was vomiting and no serious adverse reactions were reported.
Given that some dogs have experienced seizures as a side effect with Bravecto, it is very important that you tell your vet if your dog has any history of seizures. With a history of seizures, it would be best to use a different flea and tick solution.
There are not any known adverse interactions between Bravecto and other drugs. Nonetheless, it is always best to tell your vet of all current medications your dog is taking before starting a new one.
Bravecto Side Effects
As with nearly any medication, there is a risk of some side effects. Bravecto has been studied extensively to receive FDA approval but the following side effects have been reported with the use of Bravecto:
- Flatulence
- Vomiting
- Diarrhea
- Increased thirst
- Decreased appetite
- Lethargy/weakness
- Seizures
Obviously, seizures are serious and the risk of this side effect cannot be overlooked. If your dog experiences seizures after taking Bravecto, take them to the vet immediately.
The other side effects are unpleasant but certainly not life- threatening. If your dog has any of these milder side effects after taking Bravecto, talk to your vet and get a recommendation.
Where Can I Get Bravecto?
You must have a valid prescription from your dog’s vet to buy Bravecto. This flea and tick medicine can be purchased directly through your vet or through a specialty pet retailer like Chewy.com.
In some Bravecto reviews, consumers mention that this medicine is priced higher than its competitors. Bravecto only has to be applied every 12 weeks, not every month, so over time it can actually cost less, especially if you take advantage of sales and discounts with online retailers.
Bravecto for Dogs: Paws Up or Down?
I gave Bravecto 4 stars and a big “paws up!” The product is FDA approved, very effective, fast-acting, and easy to administer, but it has a higher initial price tag than competitors.
Pros | Cons |
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Final Word
Bravecto is unique in that it gives dog owners a solution to active flea and tick infestations in an easy to administer, convenient, 12-week dose. Although some side effects have been reported, that is true for any drug and studies have shown that the drug is safe for most dogs.
If your dog has a history of seizures, Bravecto is probably not the best choice for you. For most dogs, however, this drug is safe and very effective at ridding your dog of fleas and ticks.
If you are interested in Bravecto for your dog, talk to your vet to see if the medication is a good fit. Vets everywhere recommend Bravecto to stop fleas and ticks in their tracks.
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48 comments
Too bad that 32 dogs lost their lives in the course of testing the safety of this product.
DO NOT USE THIS PRODUCT IF YOUR PET IS COMPROMISED IN ANY WAY. My vet prescribed it for my 17 lb (deaf) French Bulldog. Three days later she is lethargic and trembling. I complained to the company, but they claim it’s safe. It’s not.
DonT do it! Nearly killed my girl 25 hours after taking the tablet.
Please report this to somewhere that counts, including to the author of this article.
I’ve been looking and reading reviews about all the different products for my dogs and cats to take for Fleas, Ticks, Mosquitos, I moved to the South from the Southwest, my pets are constantly scratching and I find the black fea stuff on my bed and their beds. I’m constantly washing and drying at high temp. It’s miserable here because of the bugs. I’ve decided to go all natural using homemade peppermint or vinegar sprays. But I have purchased one called, Natural Care. It seems to work. I avoid dog parks, keep away from standing water or lakes and streams. It’s a bitch, but I refuse to put something in my dog or cat that has any chance of Killing them. and I will be moving out of the south. I wasn’t paid by anyone to writ this.
Perhaps Not as safe as your portray in this article. FDA warns against this and others like it: https://www.fda.gov/animal-veterinary/cvm-updates/animal-drug-safety-communication-fda-alerts-pet-owners-and-veterinarians-about-potential-neurologic?fbclid=IwAR1hhIupsqtIacIOvYG52r2YvtzNnjTcyn8J_yMQ6yMMHbgm0vzuvvRioFQ
My chi-papillon would not take it!!! Most difficult thing to give her! Had to cut up in 4 pcs and still kept spitting it up. I had to keep putting it back in and holding mouth closed and still she would still spit out or come out on suses of mouth. It started to melt away w every attempt in my own hands every time I tried. Concerned it was getting in her eyes and face cuz had to hold her sm muzzle open. After about 40 min of wrestling w her it finally went down. She is being punished right now cuz that little tab caused me $73!!! Hope it took cuz was really melting away in front of me. Any suggestions? Can I crumble and put in food or water?
Hi. How do you flush it in her system of bravecto? My baby girl is suffering now. Platelets are going down.
This product has worked well for 3 of my dogs but the 4th has had long lasting negative effects. I will be trying chemical free products in the future as the fur babies are part of my family.
I had the same problem with my 11pound pup. I think I got it in. My old dog is on frontline and I will probably switch the young one back to that! It’s so frustrating to try and get him to eat it. My middle dog does well on Bravecto.
I suggest you do your homework on the research of this product (Bravecto). I’ve been reading where HUNDREDS of pets have died within a short period of time after having been given Bravecto. And there have been 100’s more pet-parents that have shared their horror stories stating their pets have irreversible side-effects after just giving one dose of Bravecto. And here you are claiming how safe this product is!?!?? You best do a better job of researching a product BEFORE stating how you “feel” how safe you THINK it is!!!
My dog is been having diarrhea sincre I gave her bravecto I dont know what to give het to stop tbe diarrhea. Any suggestions?
Get lean hamburger boil it till all cooked drain the water I rinse it off to get rid if most of the fat. Then add cooked white or brown rice. It will get rid of the diarrhea.
Hi my female dog is now a year and 8 months old she seems very agitated when bitten my fleas she has no ticks but I also sit with her on a daily basis to remove fleas and a good way to kill fleas is to use sunlight liquid it kills the majority of fleas but that’s a short term solution. I was considering using Bravecto but after reading the comments on this product I’m having second thoughts I nearly lost her due to Pavo and when I had her sterilised she was so sick it took months for her to recover she didn’t eat had no energy just slept again vets don’t tell you about the side effects when it comes to your pets and be it medication or surgery . I would never risk giving her something if it can cause her any harm I’ll never forgive myself if anything happens to her especially if I could have prevented it .
I’ll keep looking for a safer alternative coz I have my doubts now about using this product companies should be held accountable if an animal is harmed in any way due to the use of their product .My dog is family I won’t put her at risk .
Dog had convulsions, flatulence and extreme sensitivity to light and sounds within 12 hours of taking bravecto. Her symptons remain the same after 36 hours.
TOXIC, POISONOUS, LETHAL
My dog has been on Bravecto for 3 years without any complications.
My pup Border Collie had it 2 weeks ago STILL has fleas !! OMG Now what! That was expensive! Of course no tefund…
No other problems. But just a tasty chew treat that didnt work
My boxer SPIKE has been on bravecto for the last 2 years without any side effects. Effect of a single BRAVECTO 1000 tablet last for 11 months. Was given last year on August 2nd. Will be giving it to him today. He loves it in his dinner. Whole.
I was told by my vet bravecto was safe for our pregnant female she had had 2 other healthy litters in the past with no complications. On the day of her delivery we almost lost her due to a deformed puppy being stuck in her birth canal the puppy did not survive it had an abnormally large head that was deformed and we also had another puppy born with no tail or rectum s owe had him euthanized the next day at the vet, in all we lost 3 puppies that day and almost lost out girl Luna. We gave Our dog Luna bravecto at week 2 of her pregnancy at the advise of our vet please please please do not give this poison to any of your pets!! It is not a safe product!
My dog was INFESTED with fleas even after treating the yard, house and putting spot ons from the vet on him. He’s double coated so the spot ons just didn’t do the trick. Bravecto is the only thing that works on him. I’m grateful for it.
My Labrador’s will not chew these. Do they work if pushed down their throats . Can they hurt human if crushed/cut up put in cheese. Is a human at risk for health. Poisonings human by cutting Bravecto up putting in cheese I handle these pieces. Is this harmful to me.
I have been using this product for my 4 1/2 chow since she was 4 months old. We travel all over usa and live in alot of heavy wooded area. She has never had a flee or tick issue and has no problem taking the chew. I now have another baby chow and he will also be taking this product.
Have been using for my dog for a few years and have had no side effects or fleas! Wish the price would stop going up.
We’ve been using bravecto on our now 10yr old red fox lab and have yet to find a single tick or flea after 5 years of use. He takes it between March and October. We’re up in BC Canada so the winter doesn’t matter. Often we’re in tick haven forests and he’s always been clean coming out aside from mud and dirt. Works for us. Dogs are like us humans. We’re not all alike and some drugs will kill you and yet not me or vice versa. Get a good vet and have them go over what’s best for your dog. There is no one-drug-works-for-all.
Bought Bravecto on Friday today is Sunday and I still have fleas alive jumping off my small dog. It states it kills fleas, but they still live. I just killed 7 on my bed from where the dog was sleeping. Why?
You also have to treat the environment. If your dog is medicated, but you still have fleas in her bedding, your furniture, the backyard, they will continue to jump on her. They probably won’t live that long, but they WILL still jump on her. If the initial infestation was bad enough, then you need to spray grass, furniture, carpets etc.
Bravecto killed my goldendoodle 4 months after taking and made my 2yr labradoodle extremely ill! Like that’s not bad enough, prepare to be treated like shit from all the vets and hospitals that you will frantically frequent!! Oh the joy of poisoning your loved babies!! Once your pet is ill, this will never leave the body!
I gave my dachshund mix and chihuahua mix both a dose of bravecto on may 2nd. I really didn’t want to give them the medication but I had tried everything else with no success. And today both my dogs still have fleas. So now I must wait till August to try something different. I will continue to give them a bath with dawn dishwashing liquid for some temporary relief. I hate that my babies are so miserable.
Try treating the environment. If the initial infestation was bad enough, you’re going to need to spray the yard, the furniture, carpets, bedding etc. Fleas can continue to live in carpets or furniture or grass, and they can live off of human blood. They might feed on you at night.
Just as humans are allergic to different types of antibiotics, so also are dogs allergic to different types of medication. There are many among us who just cannot stand penicillin while many would not think twice before popping a penicillin given by the doctor. If you are being admitted, hospitals used to test small patches of your skin for allergy to various drugs. That is why Bravecto is a prescription drug. It is presumed that the Vet would have tested for adverse reactions (with one fourth the dose by weight and observation for two weeks) before prescribing Bravecto for long term use. If that had not been done, and if the first full dose of Bravecto produces unpleasant reactions, stop taking it. End of Story. FOR HEAVENS SAKE, DO NOT CAUSE A STOPPAGE IN SUPPLY OF BRAVECTO FOR MY DOG JUST BECAUSE YOUR DOG CANNOT STAND IT. That is being cruel in the garb of being helpful.
My springer will not take this I’ve ground it in food cheese on it ham sausages you name it I’ve tried as soon as she smells it it’s a no any other tablet she takes no bother but will not take this Why ..
Be wary. This medicine can cause strokes, equilibrium problems, blindness an deafness.
Within 10 hours of administration, my 12 year old dog had all of these symptoms.
I gave this to my 2.5 year old Airedale first time ever., He was perfectly healthy. In 10 weeks of taking it, he has had 3 seizures, blood tests came back normal and now may have to put him on anti seizure medications. I live in fear every day for my fur baby. I wish I was told of these potential side effects as I would never have given this toxic medication to my dog. I dont know if he will have them for life :(
Brevecto is definitely not safe for the growing number of dogs seriously harmed or killed by being given a massive dise of chemical toxins into their bodies. Many dogs having epilepsy and seizures but vets and Bayer Merck accept no responsibility. The FDA have issued a warning about the neurological harm this can do to dogs and have asked for it to be put on the drug but they haven’t.
A very dangerous toxin I would not touch let alone feed your furry baby. ☠️
https://www.fda.gov/animal-veterinary/cvm-updates/animal-drug-safety-communication-fda-alerts-pet-owners-and-veterinarians-about-potential-neurologic
Bravecto (soft, chewable) doesn’t last for the 3 months it says for our dog – I’m lucky if it lasts for a month. And that’s with our dog getting an allergy shot along with it. I will say that Bravecto must have some good sales reps and “incentives” for vets to sell and promote this. With one of my cats I wanted Revolution for her because it kills ear mites too. My vet actually lied to me about Bravecto and said that it killed ear mites too – which it doesn’t. It didn’t even do that good of a job killing fleas.
Bravecto is safe to apply on dogs and approved by FDA, Can read Reviews here https://www.petcareclub.com/bravecto-for-dog-reviews-317.aspx before buying, don’t just go with the opinion of others try it as ones that go to any conclusion
My dogs had had severe infestations the last few years, I was desperate.
I’m so sad to see your review and endorsement of Bravecto. My dog almost died from this medication. Think about it. It’s massive poison internally. She was 12 yrs old the first time I gave it to her. She had diarrhea and then she started tripping over her front paws. They started rolling on her. I didn’t put it together with the medication. I thought maybe she was just getting old. I gave it to her again about a 1 & 1/2yrs later for fleas and she got soo sick! I thought she would die! Severe diarrhea, vomiting and for sure more neurological problems!! She started falling down! And not being able to walk. I would never recommend this product to anyone. Please find another way to kill the fleas without injuring your dog. Thank you
Thank you for your response. With recent articles linking pet deaths to the popular seresto collars I’m re-evaluating all the recommendations we’ve made for flea products in past articles. I’ll definitely be reviewing Bravecto and consulting with a veterinarian to get expert opinions.
Place it in cheese. Dogs love cheese.
I administered Bravecto to my 11 month old female golden retriever. Shortly after eating this tablet, she started shedding her coat. She gradually started scratching more and more and licking her paws. Her ears became red and irritated and she developed a weird rash on her belly. Now, she is shedding her fur at a very alarming rate. She has very little of her coat left, just enough to cover her skin. I took her to the vet and we just assumed it was a food allergy and so I am in the process of switching her diet but nothing seems to be working and I am now wondering if there have been any other reports of this happening to other dogs. Looking for advice.
This is a very similar reaction our lab is having to Bravecto. We’ve managed to stem the scratching somewhat with soothing shampoo but her ears are red and being cleaned much more than usual. I’m looking to switch to another type of flea and tick product but worried about the 3 month usage of Bravecto. Can I ask if you changed to another product and the timescale applied or any info you may have to help. Thanks
My fur baby is getting the same reaction as your puppy, fur loss bald patches red rashes hives and itchy skin, the vet have said the same allergies, we have changed her food to hypoallergenic made no difference, I now bath her in hb scrub
I live in FL and always used the top rated topical treatment until my Vet recommended this for my 8 year old 16 pound Poodle. My dog had never had a problem with fleas for would always apply the topical every 30. I am guessing at $60 per pill, the profit margin is high so my Vet actual told me this product was much better than the one I was using and insisted on me purchasing ASAP for my dog. I did and at 60 days out my dog had fleas and ticks. I bathed him in a flea bath and went back to the topical and that got rid of the fleas and tick. We now have a new Vet. Lucky my dog did not have any severe reactions like others had.
My dog have not had any problems that I have notice but I will be paying close attention to him from the reviews I have read I also think that 40.00 a pill is very high to me but if I can get it cheaper or another brand that cheaper and works just as good I will. Thanks for all the good reviews.
Bravecto tastes awful to our food-oriented Malamute and Affenpinscher. Pill pockets sometimes work, but peanut butter will be licked off and the pill rejected. Repeatedly. I cannot believe so many dogs in other reviews eat this med with gleeful abandon.
Ny gsd/rottie took bravecto he shed non syop it was ridiculous.