Bravecto to treat fleas on cats - has it worked for you? Is it safe?
October 19, 2018 10:21 AM Subscribe
My vet is recommending a new topical flea killer called Bravecto, which is supposed to continue working for three months after you apply it to your cat. I've never heard of Bravecto. Have you? What do you like to use to control fleas?
Our fleas have become resistant to both Advantage and Revolution, in spite of using them frequently (once a month with the Revolution, and then, when we found fleas anyway, twice a month with Advantage). When we tried Frontline years ago, we found it to be ineffective.
We haven't found fleas anywhere but on the cats. They're not biting us. We don't have any carpets in the house, and we don't have much upholstered furniture. We have not treated the tops of the cat trees, where the cats like to sleep: do you have any recommendations for what to use there?
Our fleas have become resistant to both Advantage and Revolution, in spite of using them frequently (once a month with the Revolution, and then, when we found fleas anyway, twice a month with Advantage). When we tried Frontline years ago, we found it to be ineffective.
We haven't found fleas anywhere but on the cats. They're not biting us. We don't have any carpets in the house, and we don't have much upholstered furniture. We have not treated the tops of the cat trees, where the cats like to sleep: do you have any recommendations for what to use there?
I'll be watching this thread with interest, since we're in the same boat: indoor cats, Revolution & Advantage not working (or barely working).
My philosophy has always been that it's not necessary to treat spots like the top of the cat tree since the cats will go up there and rub themselves around while they have the flea treatment on them. But I don't think it would hurt to vacuum that spot and any others where they spend time.
posted by BlahLaLa at 10:32 AM on October 19, 2018 [1 favorite]
My philosophy has always been that it's not necessary to treat spots like the top of the cat tree since the cats will go up there and rub themselves around while they have the flea treatment on them. But I don't think it would hurt to vacuum that spot and any others where they spend time.
posted by BlahLaLa at 10:32 AM on October 19, 2018 [1 favorite]
My dog takes Bravecto. I like it, he likes it, no fleas thus far. It was a bit (like a few bucks) cheaper for one 3-month treat thing than for 3 months of the other treat-based one (I don’t remember what it’s called).
posted by Weeping_angel at 10:43 AM on October 19, 2018 [1 favorite]
posted by Weeping_angel at 10:43 AM on October 19, 2018 [1 favorite]
I have used Bravecto for both dogs and cats and liked it. It was safe. No observed side effects. Then we moved to a new city and got a new vet and they don't use Bravecto. We're back to whatever monthly thing they sell, which we have also previously used. Shrug. I'm agnostic as long as it works, seems unremarkable in terms of effects, and doesn't break the bank.
posted by ImproviseOrDie at 11:56 AM on October 19, 2018 [1 favorite]
posted by ImproviseOrDie at 11:56 AM on October 19, 2018 [1 favorite]
My dog gets Bravecto, too. The lady where he goes for training and when I'm away insists it's the safest and pet-friendliest, she has cats as well as dogs. I know my dog hated the other treatments and has no complaints about Bravecto. It works just fine.
posted by mumimor at 12:51 PM on October 19, 2018 [1 favorite]
posted by mumimor at 12:51 PM on October 19, 2018 [1 favorite]
Bravecto for 3 years now on a 6.5lb chihuahua and never seen a flea or tick on her. She does spend time in the yard during the summer, so if it wasn't effective we'd find out pretty quick.
posted by Mary Ellen Carter at 2:23 PM on October 19, 2018 [1 favorite]
posted by Mary Ellen Carter at 2:23 PM on October 19, 2018 [1 favorite]
Best answer: I'm an emergency physician/medical toxicologist. As the latter I know a fair amount about insecticides used in OTC pet products because I have to know how they affect humans. As for non-humans, I've read a lot of the veterinary research on fleas because I live in San Diego (where fleas thrive year round) with 3 cats and 3 dogs regularly infested with the little fuckers
SAFETY
1) Cats are far more sensitive to topical chemicals than dogs. In and of itself, the fact that a chemical is safe for dogs says nothing about whether the chemical is safe for cats
2) According to the European Commission Community register of veterinary medicinal products, Product information, Annex 1 Summary of product characteristics Bravecto spot-on solution for cats topical Bravecto/Fluralaner (BF) is safe for cats at up to 5 times (465mg/kg)the recommended maximum clinical dose of 93 mg/kg body weight
EFFECTIVENESS
To date, only 2 out of 89 papers about about BF have focused on cats.
One study focuses on the safety of BF when used with a drug for intestinal worms and parasites, and speaks to the safety of BF when used by itself
A second study tracked of 31 cats treated with BF for 12 weeks, and concluded:
Following a single topical BF dose, 80.6% (25/31) of treated cats had no fleas recovered ...on days 28–30 and 100% (31/31) of cats were flea free at 12 weeks
and
At the 82–86 day count, 95.0% (19/20) of homes in the BF treatment group...had flea free traps
SUMMARY
Speaking as a scientist and animal lover, I think you should feel 100% comfortable using BF on your cats.
posted by BadgerDoctor at 3:01 PM on October 19, 2018 [5 favorites]
SAFETY
1) Cats are far more sensitive to topical chemicals than dogs. In and of itself, the fact that a chemical is safe for dogs says nothing about whether the chemical is safe for cats
2) According to the European Commission Community register of veterinary medicinal products, Product information, Annex 1 Summary of product characteristics Bravecto spot-on solution for cats topical Bravecto/Fluralaner (BF) is safe for cats at up to 5 times (465mg/kg)the recommended maximum clinical dose of 93 mg/kg body weight
EFFECTIVENESS
To date, only 2 out of 89 papers about about BF have focused on cats.
One study focuses on the safety of BF when used with a drug for intestinal worms and parasites, and speaks to the safety of BF when used by itself
A second study tracked of 31 cats treated with BF for 12 weeks, and concluded:
Following a single topical BF dose, 80.6% (25/31) of treated cats had no fleas recovered ...on days 28–30 and 100% (31/31) of cats were flea free at 12 weeks
and
At the 82–86 day count, 95.0% (19/20) of homes in the BF treatment group...had flea free traps
SUMMARY
Speaking as a scientist and animal lover, I think you should feel 100% comfortable using BF on your cats.
posted by BadgerDoctor at 3:01 PM on October 19, 2018 [5 favorites]
I use Bravecto on our 3 cats and it just mowed down the fleas they had at the time and we haven't seen a flea since.
posted by Ghostride The Whip at 8:54 PM on October 19, 2018 [1 favorite]
posted by Ghostride The Whip at 8:54 PM on October 19, 2018 [1 favorite]
This thread is closed to new comments.
posted by chromium at 10:23 AM on October 19, 2018