Everything You Need to Know about Bravecto® Ingredients, Prices, Side Effects, Danger, Safety & More
Bravecto®, has been increasing in popularity due to the convenience and efficacy of its 12-week treatments; at the same time, however, this medication is also becoming popular for its adverse side effects and alleged deaths after administering the Bravecto® flea and tick treatment.
With this in mind, many pet owners are second-guessing Bravecto®, and are seeking Bravecto reviews, as well as asking lots of questions including:
- What are the side effects of Bravecto?
- Is Bravecto safe? Is Bravecto dangerous?
- What is Bravecto?
- Can I get Bravecto without a vet prescription?
- What are the Bravecto ingredients?
- What are the Bravecto prices for cats and dogs?
In this comprehensive Bravecto® review, we’ll address all the above questions and more to show you the unbiased truth about this flea and tick treatment and help you determine whether Bravecto® is safe, and if it is really the best choice for your four-legged family member.
Bravecto® Review (Flea and Tick Treatment)
Ask any pet owner what they would do to keep their pet safe, happy, and healthy, and the response will likely be: anything.
Of course, as every pet parent knows, part of keeping their pet healthy and safe comes from regular vet checkups and preventative treatments. For pets that spend consistent time outdoors, finding an effective and safe flea and tick medication is a high priority.
See Also: Bravecto® for Cats (Reviews) | Is it Safe? What You Need to Know
Bravecto® Review | What is Bravecto®? How Does Bravecto® Work?
Bravecto® is a flea and tick treatment produced by pharmaceutical company Merck Animal Health. The Bravecto® flea treatment is distributed globally, including the U.S., Canada, Australia, and England.
Available for both cats and dogs, the Bravecto® flea and tick treatment is one of the newer preventatives on the market, applauded by veterinarians and pet parents alike for its long-lasting capabilities.
In fact, the Bravecto® flea and tick medication is currently the longest-lasting treatment on the market, resulting in fewer trips to the vet and longer peace of mind for owners.
According to their website, the Bravecto® flea treatment for cats and dogs is effective on:
- Fleas (12 weeks)
- Black-legged ticks (12 weeks)
- American dog ticks (12 weeks)
- Lone star ticks (8 weeks)
How Does Bravecto® Work for Cats?
For cats, Bravecto® flea treatment is available as a topical solution, which is applied to your cat’s skin on the back of their neck. Bravecto® works by seeping into the tissues located beneath the skin. When fleas and ticks bite, they ingest the solution and die within 8 hours.
According to the official product website, the Bravecto® flea and tick treatment is suitable for kittens and cats that are at least 6 months of age and weigh at least 2.6 pounds; however, it is undetermined whether Bravecto® is safe for cats that are breeding, pregnant, or lactating.
Is Bravecto® Safe for Your Pets? (Bravecto Reviews)
How Does Bravecto® Work for Dogs?
The Bravecto® flea and tick treatment for dogs is available as either a flavored chew or a topical solution that is applied to your dog’s skin on the back of their neck. Bravecto works by seeping into the tissues located beneath the skin; once fleas and ticks bite your dog, they ingest the solution and die within 12 hours.
Their website also states that the Bravecto® flea and tick treatment is suitable for puppies that are at least 6 months of age and weigh at least 4.4 pounds.
Bravecto flea and tick medication can also be taken by pregnant, breeding, and lactating dogs.
Don’t Miss: Bravecto® For Dogs (Reviews) | Is it Safe? Dog Deaths & the Truth About Bravecto®
Bravecto® Reviews | Where Can I Buy Bravecto®? How Much Does Bravecto® Cost?
While the company intends for Bravecto® to only be sold through your veterinarian, there are plenty of ways to get Bravecto® without a vet prescription.
Our Bravecto® review found that this flea and tick treatment is readily available either in-store or online at pet retailers like Petco, Petsmart, 1-800-PetMeds, Allivet, and more.
Depending on which store you choose, however, the cost of Bravecto® will fluctuate slightly, as seen in the section below.
How Much Does Bravecto® Cost?
Based on weight, there are three versions of Bravecto® flea and tick treatment for cats (between 3 lbs. to 28 lbs.) and five versions for dogs (between 4 lbs. to 123 lbs.), but the Bravecto® prices remain the same for each dosage.
Bravecto® prices largely depend upon the total months of coverage (number of pills or topical solution) and the place of purchase. For example, our Bravecto® review found the following prices for Bravecto® based on coverage for six months (two doses):
- Doctors Foster and Smith—$99.98
- 1-800-PetMeds—$94.96
- Allivet—$79.98
While it certainly is possible to purchase Bravecto® without a vet prescription, your vet may provide more competitive pricing options, particularly when purchasing multiple doses at once.
Related: Frontline for Cats (Reviews) | Is It Really Safe for Cats and Kittens?
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Bravecto® Reviews | Ingredients in Bravecto®
One of the primary Bravecto® ingredients for cats and dogs is fluralaner. This active ingredient is both an insecticide and an acaricide, formulated to kill fleas and ticks, respectively.
According to the Safety Data Sheet, additional ingredients in Bravecto® include:
- Sodium lauryl sulphate
- Disodium Pamoate
While it may be effective at killing pests, fluralaner is easily the most controversial Bravecto® ingredients. Although insecticides and acaricides are commonplace in medicine and agriculture, how do you know if they are safe to administer directly to your pet?
One good way of evaluating whether Bravecto® is safe for your pet is to consider the types of Bravecto® side effects that have been reported, outlined in the sections below.
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Bravecto® Reviews | Side Effects of Bravecto®
Before giving your pet any type of medication, you should always ensure that you understand the potential side effects. Not only does this help you identify when your pet may need veterinary assistance, but it can also help you decide whether the medication is worth administering at all.
Bravecto® side effects can vary depending on whether it is given to a cat or to a dog, outlined in detail throughout the sections below.
Bravecto® Side Effects (Cats)
According to the product website, common Bravecto® side effects for cats reported during clinical trials include:
- Vomiting
- Itching
- Diarrhea
- Hair loss
- Decreased appetite
- Lethargy
- Scabs/ulcerated lesions
While similar, Bravecto® skin side effects for cats appear to be more severe than for dogs. For cats, however, our Bravecto® review found another—and subjectively, more serious—side effect that cat owners should be aware of before administering the Bravecto® flea and tick treatment.
For example, the Bravecto® flea treatment listing at 1-800-PetMeds warns that “Neurologic abnormalities have been reported in cats using Bravecto,” including cats that did not have a previous medical history of abnormalities.
Is Bravecto® Dangerous? Safe?
Bravecto® Side Effects (Dogs)
According to the Bravecto® for Dogs product website, common side effects experienced in clinical trials for the edible chews include:
- Vomiting
- Decreased appetite
- Diarrhea
- Lethargy
- Polydipsia
- Flatulence
Common side effects experienced in clinical trials for the Bravecto® topical solution include:
- Vomiting
- Hair loss
- Diarrhea
- Lethargy
- Decreased appetite
- Moist dermatitis/rash
While Bravecto® skin side effects are commonly shared between both cats and dogs, the long-term adverse effects reported by dog owners are much more severe, pointing to a greater Bravecto® danger with administering this flea and tick medication.
See the section below for a detailed overview of what cat owners and dog owners say about Bravecto® side effects in their personal reviews of the product.
Read More: Frontline Plus & Gold for Dogs (Warning) | Is it Safe for Large, Small Dogs & Puppies? (Reviews)
Bravecto® Reviews | Is Bravecto® Safe? Or Is Bravecto® Dangerous for Your Pet?
According to reviews from pet owners, determining if Bravecto® is safe will largely depend upon whether you have a cat or a dog.
While the company maintains that Bravecto’s ingredients are safe for use, experiences with Bravecto® flea and tick medication seem to be drastically different. See the sections below for an overview of whether Bravecto® is safe for use on your pet.
Is Bravecto® Safe? (Cats)
Bravecto reviews from cat owners in the US and the UK are generally positive, with nearly perfect ratings across the board on Allivet and 1-800-PetMeds.
For example, one reviewer on Allivet states that it is “the best flea and tick control around. All the other types had stopped working on our cats, but this stuff works and lasts for 3 months.” Similarly, Bravecto® reviews on 1-800-PetMeds praise the product for its long-lasting abilities to repel fleas and ticks, particularly for cats that spend their days outdoors.
However, cat parents should keep in mind that, along with Bravecto® skin side effects, some reviews report neurologic abnormalities, which may put your cat at risk for seizures. Additionally, the Bravecto® flea treatment is not approved for cats that are breeding, lactating or pregnant.
Whether a cat could become pregnant in the short-term or the long-term—and the potential impact of Bravecto® side effects—is certainly a consideration that cat owners should take before administering the Bravecto® flea treatment.
Negative Bravecto® reviews from cat owners largely come as critiques about difficulties applying or storing the topical treatment, and not the actual product itself. As such, based on the general lack of serious complaints, Bravecto® does appear to be safe for cats.
Is Bravecto® Dangerous?
Is Bravecto® Safe? (Dogs)
While the Bravecto® website maintains testimonials from dog owners and veterinarians alike about the safety and efficiency of the tablets and topical solution, Bravecto® reviews from across the web paint a much darker picture.
Even with one online search for “Bravecto side effects,” or “Is Bravecto dangerous,” dog parents can find a long list of blog posts, news articles, and social media groups dedicated to sharing horror stories about the Bravecto® flea and tick treatment.
In fact, a Change.org petition called for Bravecto® to be removed entirely from the market, and received just shy of 15,000 signatures. Comments from those who signed the petition detail serious Bravecto® side effects that include renal failure, liver failure, and even death.
Some of the most concerning Bravecto® reviews come from Facebook pages like “Does Bravecto Kill Dogs?”, “Is Bravecto Safe”, and “Bravecto side effects reported”. With thousands of members posting photos, stories, and memorials to their deceased pets, there is a significant number of pet owners that strongly believe that Bravecto® is dangerous enough to be avoided entirely.
While likely underreported, there does appear to be some evidence supporting the claim that Bravecto® is dangerous, at least for dogs. According to a statement released by the European Medicine Agency, between February 2014 and August 2017, deaths had been reported in “1,265 dogs worldwide” after using the Bravecto® flea and tick treatment.
The sheer number of conversations surrounding Bravecto®, illnesses, and deaths is enough to make any dog owner cautious. Based on widespread Bravecto® reviews in the news and online—and the growing number of deaths associated with the treatment— it does not seem as though Bravecto® is safe for dogs.
Bravecto® Review Conclusion—The Truth About Bravecto®
When it comes to keeping your pet healthy and safe, preventative flea and tick medication goes a long way. Finding the right medication, however, can be a challenge, especially in the case of Bravecto®.
Is Bravecto® safe? Is Bravecto® dangerous for cats and dogs? For cat owners, it appears as though the Bravecto ingredients are indeed safe, with manageable side effects and few reports of serious incidents.
For dog owners, however, widespread claims of serious health issues and even death are becoming commonplace, providing strong evidence that Bravecto® is not safe for dogs.
While the final decision on whether to use Bravecto® or not ultimately rests in your hands, we strongly recommend discussing any concerns that you may have about flea and tick treatment with your veterinarian to ensure that your four-legged family member is happy, healthy, and pest-free.
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