Would you use Bravecto?

[elevenswan]

The puppy is acting a bit itchy, worried he's got fleas (again). Last time nothing worked- frontline, baths, flea combing, washing and hoovering like mad, flea spray on everything- until the vet gave us Bravecto. Have since googled it and there's lots of scary stuff about it causing health problems but can't tell if it's well founded or not. Would you give your dog it? Thanks!

[ChairRider4]

I use it for my lab the skin stuff no good as he just loves water

We have never had a problem and TBH you google any flea treatment and always those that have a problem

[Noitsnotteatimeyet]

Yes - we use the other version Nexguard as my dog can't use the spot-on treatments (they make him really agitated for hours).

It's been absolutely fine - no fleas or ticks (vital as we live in a tick-infested area). You have to weigh up the very small chance of an adverse reaction against the much higher chance of serious problems from fleas or ticks. Also remember that two events occurring close together aren't necessarily causally related and that anecdotes on social media aren't the same as scientific proof

[Thewolfsjustapuppy]

No. I saw the Facebook page and thought the same as noitsnottea about social media hysteria. So I researched the ingredients and read the list of reported adverse events and decided it's not worth the risk. I wouldn't take insecticide myself so I won't give it to my dog.

[Wolfiefan]

Don't know about dogs but frontline is often rubbish when it comes to cats. We use advocate on cats. And Indorex the house.
No. I wouldn't use it.

[Slippersandacuppa]

Could it be allergies? I have an itchy, allergic-to-everything dog (puppy farm reject). Or fox mange? (She's had that too!)

[Lilmisskittykat]

I have used it.. my mums old cat (sadly passed) really struggled with fleas so inevitably they ended up on my dog and it was pretty bad... frontline did nothing despite both pets using it.

We just couldn't get a grip on it (making our houses sound filthy which they really aren't)

Bravecto was given to the dog for 12 months .. (2 courses I think?) got it under control and sadly mums cat passed too and since then nothing for about a year and a half. But I had no idea of issues it could cause.

[Lonecatwithkitten]

If you google any veterinary medicine and check the list of possible side effects you will find similar as the companies have to acknowledge any possible side effect.
Personally I have sold over 5,000 doses and I have had two dogs vomit and have not seen any other side effects. I use it on my own dogs and cats as in my area we have Lyme disease and the fact that bravecto has the quickest tick kill of any product is of greater benefit than the risk.
With every medicine we all have to balance the risks with the benefits.

[elevenswan]

Interesting responses thanks. I was thinking the Facebook stuff was maybe overblown and not proven but there just seemed to be so much of it. He has had it before and was fine, I just love him so much that I felt guilty maybe giving him something that could cause issues. Should probably should trust my vet and what they recommend...

[elevenswan]

slippers not sure, can't see any skin irritation, but also can't see any fleas either! Last time he had them though I was combing daily and only finding the odd one so they may be evading me at the moment

[Floralnomad]

We swapped from advocate to bravecto early last year for my dog and my mums 2 elderly dogs , I was concerned about the lack of tick coverage with my previous regime and although we'd never had fleas the advocate used to make my dogs skin/ fur really greasy and horrible . We've had no problems at all and I'm fairly sure I could find some horror stories on the Internet to do with every drug available , human or animal .

[elevenswan]

www.facebook.com/groups/411371212394679/ the fb group has 27,000 members...

But then David Ike's fanpage has 777,000 likes

[LimeJellyHead]

I did some research into Bravecto just the other week. It does look like the number of reported cases of issues has got it flagged up as needing further investigation now. I would err on the side of caution and maybe use an alternative, for now, until things are clearer, rather than risking it.

www.dfordog.co.uk/blog/the-bravecto-scare.html

[elevenswan]

Lime that's useful thank you. Clearly set out and not sensationalised...maybe will try something else for now until there's more data

[georgedawes]

I use it on my dog with no problems at all.

[Blacksheep78]

I've used it on my 4 dogs now for over 2 years with no problems. TBH I didn't and haven't looked into side effects as it was recommended to me by my vet.

[SparklingRaspberry]

I wouldn't touch any animal with that.

I treat my dogs naturally.

Garlic every day and apple cider vinegar is just as good but without the risk.

[LimeJellyHead]

Be careful with garlic, Sparkling. It is from the onion family. It does carry a risk for dogs I am afraid, if given long term. Some garlic once in a while won't harm a dog, hence why it can safely be added to say a dog cake or occasional treat/biscuit, but garlic has a cumulative toxic effect in dogs, so personally I would avoid giving it daily.

[Floralnomad]

sparkling , what do you do to protect your dog against worms , including lung worm ?

[SparklingRaspberry]

Garlic info -

www.dogsnaturallymagazine.com/garlic-for-dogs-poison-or-medicine/


Treating worms -

www.dogsnaturallymagazine.com/preventing-treating-worms-dogs/

My puppy and previous dog never once had flea's or worms. And was never once treated in a way that wasn't natural.

[LimeJellyHead]

I can't see the article mentioning the cumulative effects of garlic, which is important. With garlic is it not just about the amount eaten in one sitting. Also, if it is going to be advocated in the way it was above, please note an important part the final paragraph of that link:

Don’t think you can get the dosage right? Don’t want to mince, chop or crush garlic throughout the week? Don’t have time to let it sit for 10 to 15 minutes before use? Then don’t feed garlic to your dog. It’s that simple.

To say that because it is natural it is therefore safe is misleading. It still needs to be used with knowledge and care.

[Thewolfsjustapuppy]

I use Billy no Mates and Vermex. You can get the dogs poo checked for worms relatively cheaply then worm if needed rather than routinely worming wether they need it or not.

[SparklingRaspberry]

Lime - of course, I totally agree. It should be used with knowledge and care. I don't like to think anyone would give their dog something without research. Yet thousands do by giving them the usual chemical filled flea or worming treatment.

I never began treating my dogs naturally until I researched into it. I completely agree 100% that everything should be looked into when it comes to giving something to your dog.

[picklemepopcorn]

Ive just used thornit powder. Have a look on Amazon. I got it for my dogs ears. Maybe that would help?

[Lonecatwithkitten]

Sparkling the article on worms you link to fails to mention lungworm. The first sign that your dog has lungworm is a dead dog in 50% of cases.