Animals are susceptible to fleas and ticks. These are common parasites that live as freeloaders on other creatures. They cause problems for animals and make them continuously scratch and chew their body which can lead to hair loss, visible patches, and make their skin reddened and irritable. They can also cause allergies and even the transmission of other parasites like tapeworms. You can find in this article the negative impacts they can have on your pets.
It is a good thing to not just leave your pets with these parasites but to help them get rid of them so they can be comfortable. There are a number of ways to this but what has been proven to be very effective is administering Bravecto to animals.
Bravecto also called Fluralaner is an insecticide and acaricide that is administered to animals especially dogs and cats orally to treat or kill fleas on their body. It was approved for use on dogs by the Food and Drug Administration in May 2014.
How it Works
Fluralaner is powerful and effective enough that a dose is able to kill parasites for up to three months. Fleas and ticks can be hard to find because of the hair and fur on dogs therefore administering Bravecto is a good way to get rid of them. It does not only stop fleas and kill all sorts of ticks and fleas from cat flea to brown dog ticks to lone star ticks and black-legged ticks, it also prevents infestations in the future.
It is available only through prescription by a veterinarian and can either be administered as tablets that are chewable or applied topically unto your pet’s skin via shampoos or lotions. Administering it orally has been found to be more effective as dogs may lick it or rub it off their bodies when applied topically and again, they might not stay still for it to be applied properly.
A Bravecto treatment lasts for about 12 weeks and its dosage is based on your dog’s weight. Upon ingestion, Braveto goes through the bloodstream and when fleas or ticks bite your pet, they are killed in a few hours.
The Bravecto Advantage
Below are some of the advantages of administering Bravecto to your pet:
- It is chewable and its efficacy is long-lasting with up to 3 months of protection.
- It can kill 98.7% of new ticks and fleas in 24 hours
- It has an immediate impact and is effective in killing fleas as soon as 2 hours after it is administered.
Dosing
Dosing is based on your pet’s weight. While bigger dogs require more of the products, lighter or smaller ones require less. For example, while pets that weight between 4 to 10 pounds will use about 112mg of the product, those that weight up to 188 to 123 pounds might use about 1400mg.
Treatment will need to be repeated after 12 weeks. The chewable version can be mixed with your dog’s food but the topical version should be applied to its shoulder blades. Also, a missed dose should be administered immediately.
What are the Side Effects?
Bravecto has been proven to be safe for your pet and can even be used for animals that are breeding, pregnant, or lactating. It is recommended that the dog must at least be 6 months and weigh 4.4lb or greater before it can be administered to it although it has been tested on pets that are 8-9 weeks old and have been found to be safe.
That said, every drug or medication has some sort of side effects. Some of the side effects that have been reported include:
- Diarrhea
- Flatulence
- Lack of appetite
- Vomiting
- Lethargy
In rare cases, a seizure might occur. If this is so, your pet should be taken to see the vet as soon as possible. For other side effects, they should clear up after some time but you might need to speak to a vet to know if there is anything that can be done to relieve your dog.
As of now, Bravecto has shown no contraindication or reaction with any other drug but it is good practice to let your vet be aware if your dog is on any other form of medication while administering this product.
Conclusion
Fleas and ticks are a great discomfort to your pet. While there are several ways to deal with this and other alternatives that can be used, Fluralaner has proven the most effective of all. Added to this, it is the only medication that has a cover of up to 12 weeks for your dog.
As far as protecting your pet from these external parasites is concerned, this is a solution you can trust.
