[pitlove]

I use a generic oral Ivermectin pill for heartworm and Bravecto oral for flea/tick. Not a single issue with either even for my very sensitive pitbull who we just found out after a recent minor surgery is predisposed to seizures.

I live in the South and we don’t get real winters so it would simply be irresponsible for me not to use a tougher preventative. I’ve tried the “all natural” route with zero success.

[Joy A]

I recently rescued an Aussie from a shelter who was injured and needed a few stitches. Because of this I was unable to give him a flea bath for several weeks. He was covered in fleas and ticks (not to mention internal parasites) and the topicals didn’t even make a dent. My vet prescribed a dose of Bravecto and it worked very well at killing the parasites quickly. My dog, however, was extremely listless for 24 hours before rebounding. I’m not sure if it was the medication or the culmination of all the trauma/surgery/exhaustion but I figured that Bravecto was too strong for him on a regular basis. As we do not have a tick problem in my area I switched him to Comfortis for flea control, as my other two dogs (another Aussie and a corgi) have been taking it for years. Fortunately, none of my dogs have had any issues with it.

[Kate M]

This is another site I’ve registered on to help get the word out on Bravecto. Our perfectly healthy Old English Sheepdog received 2 doses of this drug: May 24/16 and Aug 21/16. Symptoms starting appearing in June (diarrhea, increased eliminations, hair loss- basically symptoms of poisoning) and we never connected it to this drug, otherwise he’d have been on a detox program immediately. Now we are at the point where his system has been so destroyed by the Fluralaner, that we have to put him down. He is 10 years old and this breed has a life expectancy of 10 – 12 years. We just cannot handle watching him suffer any longer and we are devastated over this. Please, please keep posting your stories and get the word out. I have written to Merck Animal Health Canada and posted on “Does Bravecto kill dogs” and “Is Bravecto safe” facebook pages and signed all petitions that are out there, to remove this drug from the market. Stats so far to July 15/16: 8,520 reported ADE’s (adverse drug events) and from the EMA: 682 deaths.

[Nancy M]

I’ve used Comforts without issue. My vet wanted to switch us to Bravecto and now I’m glad I refused!

[SummerRainAussies]

YESS.. The new oral flea meds (Bravecto, Nexgad, Simperia) are only trouble. Dogs are having reactions anything from slight skin rash to death.
Just like with any flea and tick preventive some dogs will react and others wont but these are the worse of the worst. Check out the facebook group “does Brevecto kill dogs” with over 30,000 members who are sharing stories. Its a great page with a lot of support. Also check out “does Nexgard kill does”

[Susan]

Hi Mary, so sorry for your loss, all you can do now is warn people about given pets oral flea medications…
I’m always warning people when giving any oral flea medications, only give 1/2 the dose with their breakfast on a full stomach & then only if your dog was OK no side effects then give the other 1/2 tablet or chew with their dinner on a full stomach & if your dog is over 7yrs old to have your pet vet checked first especially if they’re a senior dog or cat…

Bravecto has killed a few dogs cause it’s a 3 monthly chew it’s a stronger oral flea medication, I bet all the dogs that have died were elderly, these flea companies need too write on the flea packet, “make sure any pets over 7yrs old are vet checked first for any under lying health problems”, my boy has IBD & Skin Allergies when I asked my vet can I try one of the new flea products Patches vet looked a me & said NO do not give Patch any flea meds just use the frontline spray & frontline spot on, so she must of seen a few dogs get sick after taken oral flea meds… if only vets came on these type of dogs sites & wrote what they have seen being a vet..

[Lisa W]

I gave my 14y/o 35 lb. mutt Bravecto. He was scratched for 3 weeks, had lethargy so bad I thought he was going to die and he lost his hearing. His 3 months were up 8/1/16. He got his pep and energy back, but is still deaf. This is a dangerous medication and would strongly urge anybody contemplating using this medicine not too use it.

[Cameron R]

I have read almost all of the posts. I personally am a big fan of Nexgard. We have always had success with Frontline but the thought of a chewable that was tasty for my dog was nice. The vet informed me of Nexgard and Bravecto but was confident that Nexgard was the superior. It is monthly. Bravecto was 3 months so that was a huge red flag because that is triple the medicine in one dose. He assured me that Merial has never had a product in 33 years that has ever had issues. Bravecto was labeled in Europe but some studies were not done here.

Nexgard started killing the fleas quickly and was 100% effective. There are no fleas, keeping my dog on it monthly will prevent another infestation. I would not feel comfortable with Bravecto but swear by Nexgard.

[Kay W]

Where to go for Authority report?? My GSD has major skin yeast infection. She is treated with three medicated shampoos, takes Bravecto every three months, Ciprofloxacin daily, Ketoconazole daily, antibiotic with flare ups along with Prednisone. Pred is tapered off as flare up decreases.

Due to rendering, I refuse to feed my dogs meat since I cannot be sure where the meat comes from. I have been feeding them all Solid Gold Fish & Krill dry food. But according to DogsNaturally we should avoid fish meal & Omega-3 additives.

It seems very complicated to feed ones’s dogs now a days!! I have nine rescues & no time to cook for them.

Any suggestions??

[Cathy B]

I’ve been giving my two dogs (a 110 pound male and a 50 pound female) bravecto for almost two years with no problems to date but because I’ve been following this thread I’m considering getting them off of it. I live in swampland basically, on 40 acres of wooded and watered land where my dogs roam and come in and out of the house. Pills are the only thing I’ve ever found that works on the level of fleas in deep East Texas near Louisiana. Trust me, dips and sprays do nothing to phase fleas in seriously hot and humid climates. Our winters often don’t have freezes and the fleas never die. I have an indoor cat with flea allergies and will not risk ANY fleas getting in my house. Before Bravecto they took a type of pill that I can no longer find. Three different vets I called, the answer was all the same, Bravecto is the only flea pill they sell. So here is my question, do I have any flea pill options if I try to get off of Bravecto? I need the type strong enough that a vet sells them so if none of my local vets carry anything else what are my options?

[Katerina C]

Yes and our dog became seriously ill after he got Bravecto from the vet. He stopped eating and felt so unwell that he couldn’t walk down the stairs. We thought he would die. It took good two weeks before he improved. His liver nearly failed. And it’s surely damaged to a certain level now. I can’t believe that any vet can recommend such a crap. I would like to know how many animals (any) had to die in clinical trials for such “medicine”. This product needs to be outlawed and am surprised that the company is not prosecuted yet.

Please let know as many people possible and tell your vet to update the knowledge on this product.

There’s a petition on FB page Does Bravecto kill dogs? that you all can sign.

Kat

• This reply was modified 9 years, 6 months ago by Katerina C.
• This reply was modified 9 years, 6 months ago by Katerina C.

[Midge M]

I, also lost my dog after receiving a prescribed dose, with 22 hours he was dead. I would strongly urge people not to use this drug.. What a horrible way to find out your pet is not tolerant to Bravecto/Fluralaner . I did join FB Does Bravecto Kill Dogs and I did report to Merck and FDA.

[cheryl w]

I lost my dachshund after her second dose of Bravecto. She was hospitalized months after her first dose with kidney and liver failure, but after a long fight, we got her home. I administered a second dose of Bravecto at the end of February 2016. (not having made a connection with the product and her illness) Within a few days Thula started showing signs of being ill. She stopped eating and had severe diarrhea, which had blood in the stools. She was rushed to the vet. She suffered for 5 days from kidney and liver failure, severe anemia and despite attempts to save her, she died in early March. My daughter in law had read some of the adverse effects of this product after her dachshund suffered from dry itchy patches on her skin and said that many reports were showing the same adverse reactions as Thula had. It was only after her death that I found out about Bravecto.
My eldest dachshund was also treated for dry itchy patches and a rash on her tummy after her first dose. After researching the product, I examined her carefully only to find out that she had developed the same skin condition that she had experienced after her first dose. She is now fully recovered.
My ridgeback is currently in hospital. She has been seen by three different vets, all giving different diagnosis. She stopped eating suddenly and only after large doses of cortisone, would she take very small portions of soft food. MRI and CT scan, scopes and medication were administered. The scope has revealed ulcers and inflammation in her stomach, we are waiting for the biopsy taken for further information.
READ THE FACEBOOK PAGE DOES BRAVECTO KILL DOGS FOR FURTHER INFORMATION

[pitlove]

Hi Connie-

Your post kind of hit me hard. When I was in Second Grade I had the human version of what your Poodle had. It is called Thrombocytopenic Purpura in humans (and in dogs as well I believe). Mine was idiopathic as we never found out the cause. I am so sorry that your dog’s outcome was not better…

I have used Bravecto for my pitbull in the past who is quite sensitive to a lot of things and had no adverse reactions to it. Does the vet feel the Bravecto played a role in his TP?

[Susan W]

Connie H, I hope you see this. I am so sorry for your loss. Sadly you are not alone! Please go to Facebook and type in the search bar “Does Bravecto Kill Dogs”. This is a group with about 12,000 members worldwide. Numerous reports of problems after Bravecto. Please join and share what happened to your dog and please report this to Merck. The group can help you do this.

[Connie H]

I had three Standard Poodles, two 5-year-old females and a 15-year-old male, who kept up and played with the two five year olds. I gave each of them a dose of Bravecto on Wedneday 6-1-2016. The older dog got lethargic after his dose, and this morning (Saturdày, June 4) he was not feeling well and had blood dripping out of his penis. I rushed him to the vet and they did a CBC blood test on him that showed he had no platelets in his blood and his blood would not clot — so he was basically bleeding out. I did not want him to suffer, so i had them put him to sleep. I know it was the right thing to do, but it is still so hard (my dogs are like kids to me and they have better lives than most people). Has anyone had any adverse reactions to Bravecto? I am not sure if Bravecto was the issue with my dog but it was the only thing that was different and he was a very healthy dog with no health issues before I gave him the Bravecto. I am very interested to hear if anyone else has had any significant issues. I will never give Bravecto to any of my dogs àgàin.

[Connie H]

I had three Standard Poodles, two 5-year-old females and a 15-year-old male, who kept up and played with the two five year olds. I gave each of them a dose of Bravecto on Wedneday 6-1-2016. The older dog got lethargic after his dose, and this morning (Saturdày, June 4) he was not feeling well and had blood dripping out of his penis. I rushed him to the vet and they did a CBC blood test on him that showed he had no platelets in his blood and his blood would not clot — so he was basically bleeding out. I did not want him to suffer, so i had them put him to sleep. I know it was the right thing to do, but it is still so hard (my dogs are like kids to me and they have better lives than most people). Has anyone had any adverse reactions to Bravecto? I am not sure if Bravecto was the issue with my dog but it was the only thing that was different and he was a very healthy dog with no health issues before I gave him the Bravecto. I am very interested to hear if anyone else has had any significant issues. I will never give Bravecto to any of my dogs àgàin.

• This topic was modified 9 years, 6 months ago by Connie H. Reason: Misspellings
• This topic was modified 9 years, 6 months ago by Connie H. Reason: Typos

[Becca]

Im so glad i opted out of giving my dog bravecto. the vet i was going to knew my dog had liver cancer and still wanted me to give it to him, i switched vets, and this one was mortified and glad i did not give it to him, dogs are so stoic we have no way of knowing how they are reacting to these chemicals until it too late.

[Patricia B]

I’ve used Bravecto since 2015 for my 3 dogs. I’ve had NO ill side effects/no side effects at all. I’ve also had 0 fleas and 0 ticks. Great product. True user testimony.

[karen S]

I have used Bravecto for the first time on my old girl (16 y/o rescue) and my young chihuahua. for the first time my 75 # old girl didn’t start scratching her stomach a few days after giving her a topical (Advantix II) and she still hasn’t over a month later. Neither of them have had any adverse effects and their food and elimination habits have remained the same. My old girl is prone to skin allergies, has many small and large skin tags, is in congestive heart failure and on prednisone and it is a relief to know that she isn’t in misery from fleas, particularly since we have not had a hard winter in a couple years to get rid of fleas. I advised a friend about it and he also has had no problems with his dog, a lab mix. I think there can be many reasons for an animal to reject a medicine that have to do with the animal’s physical make-up so a degree of caution is always advisable when trying out a new medication. I have my vet’s office on speed dial!

[davis h]

Hello
As I have previously posted I have almost lost a dog to Rocky Mountain Spotted Fever. In Arkansas, and elsewhere, MANY humans have contracted RMSF and LYNES disease. It is serious and getting worse. I recently tried bravecto collars and initially no issuse. A week later 2 dogs were very sick with plastic like drool..One dog had a hotspot like lesion 6 inches in diameter. All recovered when I discontinued use.
Years ago one dog had an adverse reaction to Advantix2. I think different dogs have dofferent reactions to products. What to do is a hard question to answer.
I went back to using Preventic collars and have never had a single adverse reaction. These collars dont kill fleas as i understand it. I now keep my dogs in a fenced environment treated with granules and only walk them in the winter…dad.
Theres got to be an answer but I think its subjective.
Even pet medicines, like human medicines, cause reactions. Its often trial and error but not treating for ticks in my area is potentially dealy for my dogs and the humans that love them.

[Tania M]

Hi Judy
I’m very sorry for your loss .
I Was wondering how you’re so certain that comfortis was the problem when your dog passed away ? I’m currently researching 3 medications that were refered to me by the vet . They are Advantix , Nexguard and Bravecto . Did an autopsy confirm the cause of death ? I wonder seeing as that’s usually the only way to confirm 100 % a cause of death , otherwise one would be assuming . Thanks in advance .

[Anne B]

@anonymously,

Thanks for the links….I think I’ll be ordering some of those TickEase tweezers….However, I couldn’t play the article in second link due to this ancient computer with totally blown out sound system..**SIGH**

Also thanks for your condolences about my dog.
In VA, we have to give rabies vaccination every three years, but I have heard in some states, dogs have to get it every year….That’s much too much, IMO.

I do have a nice vet now, but the clinic she works for is really pushing the Bravecto.
She knows I won’t buy any flea/tick pesticide products, so respectfully, she doesn’t try to push them on me.

I do buy the heartworm preventative, which is a pesticide, but feel I have no other choice , since I can’t really control flying insects like mosquitoes with a natural product, and my dogs getting heartworms would be a major setback……However, I only give it every 6 weeks, during the warm months, and they only get 6 doses a year.

• This reply was modified 9 years, 8 months ago by Anne B.

[davis h]

There is no natural product that I know of that works against heavy artillary of ticks! So many products would never have been invented if vinegar stopped fleas and removing carpeting solved the problem!
Even with a tick preventative Activyl Plus my dog was bitten by tick and came within 24 hours of dying with menangitis and a swollen brain!
One in four dogs will die from cancer…one in two adter age 10! Im sure chemicals dont help the statistics but PLEASE dont rely on smoke and mirrors or your dog may pay the price!
Im now using the soresto collar good for 8 months. So far so good. ..no adverse reactions. I never had a problem with Bravecto..but I did with Advantix2….neurological twithing in hind legs. Try the soresto collar. Order it from Petmeds…if youre not happy they will refund 100%. With a such a liberal guarantee you can afford to experiment and see what works best in your area.
I almost lost my Service Dogs life within a weeks time due to a tick bite. I know the need for heavy duty prevention even given long term possibilities of cancer due to chemicals. Good luck!

[Anne B]

I would encourage everyone who has a flea problem to rip out all of the carpet from their home and replace it with laminate flooring or linoleum, if at all possible–fleas can’t reproduce in these types of flooring….However, they absolutely love carpet to lay their eggs in.

I ripped out all carpeting from my home 3 years ago, plus I applied food grade diatomaceous earth (DE) in my yard, and still do……..Haven’t seen a flea in my home since, and I live in VA–known for hot, humid summers….The DE was very effective at killing all the fleas in my yard (plus it killed other nasty creepy-crawlies like ants and spiders that would occasionally get in my house).

If you decide to try DE, make sure you buy the FOOD GRADE DE, not the DE used for pool filters….The kind used for pool filters is chemically treated and toxic, but Food Grade DE is completely non-toxic…..I have heard of some people applying directly on their dogs, and it successfully killed the fleas with no ill effects…You can get it fairly cheap at Southern States or Tractor Supply Company.

If applying DE on your yard, use a protective mask and safety glasses so you won’t inhale it or get it in eyes.

Yes, I would rather rip out all my carpet than use Bravecto, Comfortis, Nexguard, Trifexis, etc, or any topical flea product………However I do have to give heartworm preventative, because the DE obviously wouldn’t be very effective against mosquitoes…..I only give the heartworm prevention every 6 weeks, and only during the warmer months when mosquitoes are most active, so my dogs only get 6 doses a year…..This approach has worked well for me–my dogs are always tested once a year for heartworm, and have always tested negative.

My concern is, even if you don’t see any immediate adverse reactions from an oral or topical flea pesticide, who knows what it’s doing to your dog’s internal organs, especially if taking long-term—That’s why I choose not to use them.

• This reply was modified 9 years, 8 months ago by Anne B.

[aimee]

Hi Chris,

I think the key to flea control in a challenging environment is to focus your efforts on shutting down flea replication and not on killing adult fleas. The products geared to killing adult fleas without addressing reproduction can fail because some fleas always seem to survive to reproduce so the cycle continues.

A very effective option is to administer lufeneron to all the dogs and cats in the home.
http://www.jarvm.com/articles/Vol10Iss3/Vol10%20Iss3%20Dryden.pdf

If the above isn’t an option I think a professional application of Fleabusters borate powder is the next best thing. You can apply it yourself but I think a professional application may be more effective. The company guarantees their product.

For adulticide I’d follow your vets advice. I’ve heard in challenging environments some products need to be given more frequently than the label directions specify. An option to consider would be Bravecto which reports good control for up to 90 days after one oral dose.

If my finances were limited and I had to choose between using an adulticide or shutting down reproduction I’d choose targeting reproduction. The adult fleas can be dealt with by less costly options like combing them off or bathing.

[Kathy P]

I’ve heard of Bravecto, but not seen anyone using it around me. Among Advantix, Bravecto, Frontline, Nexgard, Bayer Kiltix, Above all, I think the most popular one these days for dogs is Nexgard. My sister uses Bayer Kiltix Necklace on her dog for fleas and ticks and My uncles’ dogs are on Nexgard all of the seasons. (both from either walmart/amazon/ petbucket.com, if you want to know more info) I guess they both work great now that the medication won’t wash off unlike Frontline.

[gina m]

It’s been more than a year ago that i posted on here regarding my terrier mix Dolly’s gulping. I don’t know what we did but she stopped having her panic/gulping/eating grass frenzy. We still don’t know what was the issue but i wanted to post what we did.

Dolly is 8 years old and we adopted her along with her brother a year and a half ago. She came with the gulping issue and super allergic to seasonal pollen and allergic to any bug bites (ticks, flea, mosquito, etc). Her teeth were ground down and causing irritation so some of her teeth had to be removed. She had a few lumps on her body which one was cancerous so we’re glad we were proactive and removed it.

After all these issues: we stopped giving her any chicken, beef, pork (mass produced meat) but stuck with venison & rabbit wet food – Royal Canin from the vet, and anchovy dry food from Forza. Additional supplements of enzyme and probiotic. Cosequin for her joints. Famotidine for heart burns (though i’m thinking of stop giving this to her to see if she still needs this daily). Zyrtec in the morning and Benadryl at night for her allergy. We give her Sentinel and Bravecto for fleas and ticks and heart worm. And we shampoo her once a week.

After continuing this for a year, her gulping has stopped since last summer. A small gulping happened few weeks ago but I realized we gave her a lot of cheese the day before (she loves cheese) so no more cheese for her. I think dairy might be causing it as well, as I remember giving her yogurt thinking that it will help with the gulping but may have been causing it.

Hope this helps someone or gave them a clue for a cure.

[Gavin S]

Yes we have tried Bravetco – buying from https://www.petcare.com.au/bravecto-single-chew.html the Australian online pet store.. It is a great product – why it is easy to give, my dogs loves it

• This reply was modified 9 years, 8 months ago by Gavin S.

[Stephen S]

I have some real concern about Bravecto. I have given it to my doc, Snowflake (American Eskimo miniature , 13 yo). First time she did Ok I think. The second time, she essentially refused to take it, I tried hiding small pieces in bread, her favorite, she would spit it out.. I managed to “force”a bit more than half in her… Since then she has been very weird, walks very very slowly (she was a VERY lively dog, jumping, running..).. I doubt it’s old age or pain (pain med trial one week did NOT hep), it was sudden and after I gave her the med… She always has that “puzzled” look on her face when I walk her, like she is scared …. It has now been 2 months almost and she seems to be getting a bit better, running at times… Appetite still good, no vomiting… Vet checked he and could not find anything… Old age? Doubt it would be that sudden… So I guess I will hope she will continue to improve over next month or so.. But definitely no Bravecta any more, I doubt the dog would take it anyway, and she takes anything usually! So back to a topical preparation? I will continue monthly HW med which she takes willingly

[Michelle S]

I have used Bravecto for about a year on our Great Pyrenees and also on our Bichon – both of them have had no reactions at all and – no greasy hair, isolation from kids, no collars that irritate skin; I am liking it more and more. No fleas, no ticks, and only four doses a year. Our dogs go to several states with us… IL, NC, FL. We have two Vets in two states who like it and have had no reports of problems from their pet owners. My old standard was Advantix II, which worked well, but one had to be sure to put it on every month and keep the kids from petting them (hard to do.) The fleas have been horrific in the South – warmer winters – fleas don’t die and lots of ticks. Not a flea or tick to be seen since starting Bravecto and as I said no reactions at all from either dog. Will be using it on our Great Pyr young one when he is old enough & Vet says okay. If your dog is sensitive to medicines – talk to your vet and see what they say. Otherwise I would get some! Our full grown Great Pyr cannot get bitten by fleas; she gets a terrible reaction to one flea, so this is great for us. Good luck.

[Celeste S]

I recently used Bravecto on both my Jack Russell terriers, one of them was a little off the next day, the other was really ill, vomitting, not eating, listness, in pain. She was admitted to the vet hospital for 2 days and a night and cost me $1000 in vet bills. Luckily she is back to normal now, but she went through a really bad time and caused us a lot of worry. I will never, ever use it again and would like to warn others. I believe some dogs have very bad reactions to this medication and would like the manufacturer and vets to do more testing on this product

[Hanna D]

I live in Mexico where it is summer like all year long. We have a huge problem with fleas but more so with ticks. I use Bravecto now on both my dogs, a rottweiler and a chihuahua/dacschund mix. Both have had ehrlichia, a tick born illness and common problem here. Both my dogs were terribly ill with the disease, (rescues), and it took nearly six months to get them healthy again. I began using the Bravecto because the Frontline did not work nearly as well. With Frontline and others if a tick bites and attaches to a dog it takes at least and hour or more for the tick to die whereas with the bravecto the tick will die within 20 minutes. It takes a tick 40 minutes to release the chemical causing the disease, so I opted for the Bravecto rather than risk them getting sick again with the ehrlichia. I get their bloodwork done every six months and they are healthier now than ever. I also have the yard sprayed for fleas and ticks every three to four months using natural ingredients not harmful to dogs. It may sound like overkill, but I would rather be safe than to have the dogs or myself become sick from a tick bite. This product may not be safe for all dogs, there could be some underlying issues with an animal that becomes ill or dies after taking the medication. I would recommend having a complete blood workup done prior to administering any chemical that could be hard on a pet whether it be oral or topical.

[Jacky R]

I have just tried Bravecto on my pit bull and it was absolutely wonderful. He only had a few little brown ticks. I gave him the tablet in the evening and by the morning every single tick had dropped off and was dead. Not cheap but it works. I also have a neighbor who has only given it to her dog once and that was last November and her dog is still tick free.

[Becca]

I’ve used only natural products on my dogs and cat for the past five years. you name it ive tried it there is nothing out there naturally that i haven’t gave it my all to get them to work, diatamacous earth, apple cider vinegar, garlic, lemon, every spray they have ever made, beside all the homemade spray i’ve made, as well as the amber collars, and those tags, flea trap lights, etc, the list goes on. i’ve dealt with the fleas for 5 straight years with no relief, the new vet i go to wants my dogs on bravecto, it makes me sick to my stomach just to think about giving it to them. so its sitting in the package. it is too new to the market, although they say its safe for pregnant and nursing dogs then why have i read about horrible reactions, even death. in the past i’ve tried spot on flea treatments which always made my dogs not right for 3 day or so and my cat was frothing at the mouth does anyone know which product out there is the safest, with the least side effects and no pyethrins or any others in that family of pesticides

[Shirley B]

I own several dogs, all of the same breed, parents are screen genetically prior to mating, all of which are not known to have kidney disorders. All had perfect blood work ups prior to using Bravecto. My youngest (under 3 yrs of age) became ill two months after taking Bravecto. Kidney failure. I am watching her undergo dialysis for the second week now. The other two, have also been tested for blood. A second one, also under age 3, has elevated BUN levels, indicative of potential for Kidney complications. The third one came up clean, thank heavens I may not lose him. I just sobbed as I wrote that, and he looked over at me.

I didn’t want to come on the message boards, but I owe it to others who could lose their sweet precious babies.

What happened is this: I wanted to switch to what was a gentler flea application. A vet told me yes this was it. Fool that I am, I didn’t research side effects. They are posted all over the web. How dare this company not pull the product, to prevent death to our sweet dogs. However, once I gave them these tablets, I did research, for one threw up in 30 mins. I felt sick to my stomach reading the reports. My husband said relax, most likely nothing. Two months later we were looking healthy and enjoying life, balls, playing, and all of a sudden my sweet girl becomes ill. Looked like UTI, kidney failure mimicks that. If you have already given Bravecto, RUN A BLOOD WORKUP FOR KIDNEY FUNCTION IMMEDIATELY.

Another (dog of mine) didn’t look so great, but oddly enough he is the one who is coming up good blood work up. I was so upset as I read the incidents of kidney and liver failure, but my dogs seemed to clear up and look wonderful, but ah kidney failure is sneaky. You don’t see the signs until there is so much damage.

I hope I can help my second sweet heart. I hope that it is not too late. But literally I have a sick feeling about my sweet girl who is undergoing dialysis. She is not looking good and the Vet (not the one that recommended Bravecto) looks so sad about her illness, and so shocked at how athletic and healthy her heart and body is otherwise. He said this he hasn’t seen before, and cannot imagine what caused it.

So I write this as one is real bad, and the worst is heading our way. A second hopeful, but ah I see how horrid this is, this damage. The third will not understand why his younger pack mates would vanish. Such pain, so avoidable, as is using Bravecto. Avoid Bravecto. Shame on the manufacturer of this product… My heart is with them and part of me will leave with them if they die prematurely at such a young age.

I had to be responsible and post this. I do not want more blood on my hands. It is bad enough i held out the Bravecto and told them good dog as they ate it.

[anonymously]

Dosing Information of Fluralaner for Dogs
Medication should never be administered without first consulting your veterinarian. The dose of Bravecto™ for preventative flea control is administration of the product every 12 weeks throughout the flea season and every 8 to 12 weeks through tick season. Bravecto™ should be administered with food to maximize effectiveness. Treatment can begin any time of year but should ideally begin 1 month prior to flea or tick season. The duration of administration depends on the condition being treated, response to the medication and the development of any adverse effects. The manufacturer suggests monthly treatments to protect against flea re-infestation. Be certain to complete the prescription unless specifically directed by your veterinarian. Read more at: https://tr.im/tPTdl

[anonymously]

ADVERSE REACTIONS: The most common adverse reactions recorded in clinical trials were vomiting, decreased appetite, diarrhea, lethargy, polydipsia, and flatulence. For complete safety information, refer to product label.

CAUTION: Federal (U.S.A.) law restricts this drug to use by or on the order of a licensed veterinarian.
Available by veterinary prescription only.

For technical assistance or to report a suspected adverse drug reaction, contact
Merck Animal Health at 1-800-224-5318. Additional information can be found
at http://www.bravecto.com. For additional information about adverse drug experience
reporting for animal drugs, contact FDA at 1-888-FDA-VETS or online at
http://www.fda.gov/AnimalVeterinary/ SafetyHealth.

PS: I would consult a veterinarian and have the dog examined if symptoms continue.
Not sure if Bravecto would have any liability, as based on the information you have provided, the preventive was not specifically prescribed for your dog (correct me if I’m wrong).

[Susan]

Hi Koa, It’s Spring in Australia & the fleas are here already, last year wasn’t as bad as this year….I’ve been doing research on the net & asking people what flea product they use & no one uses Bravecto it’s too strong, it last 3 months, A few people in Australia recommend NexGard made by Frontline ….NexGard was tested on dogs over 8 years & seems to have less side effect or no side effects, I suppose it all depends on your poor dog, if the diarrhea persist see vet or email Bravecto & ask for help….also make a complaint to Bravecto maybe they will change their ingredients & make a monthly chew that wont have as many side effects….

[Koa B]

DIARRHEA! Did not have this side affect with the once a month pill , and just gave pup Bravecto , got it for free from friend. We do not like it! Runny diarrhea stooles and dog seems uncomfortable with it, wish I could undo it and not looking forward to the next 3 months. Do the once a month pills (forget the name) if your going to do anything.
– Koa Hauna Breath

[Keryn S]

I’ve used oral flea and tick treatments for years (when available) and have NEVER had a problem. On the farm we used Proban for 20 years until it was withdrawn from sale due to difficulties sourcing a key component of the preparation.

In that time we didn’t have fleas or ticks on the dogs. Yes it did cost us a bit to treat 4 dogs (one of which was 45kg) however this was small in comparison had we had to treat for scrub tick paralysis.

I was devastated when Proban was no longer available but did manage to keep the dogs flea and tick free from regular use of flea and tick collars. It is only the scrub ticks we are concerned able in Australia as the kangaroo, dog and cattle ticks are a nuisance but don’t have the severe consequences should a dog come in contact with them.

I am now using Bravecto and love it. It’s easy to give, doesn’t leave a smell or stickiness on their coat and the dogs tolerate it well.

[Lori W]

I gave Bravecto to my dog, the next day she slept all day. Then from then on she was having accidents all over the house, which she had never done and real thirsty, a couple weeks later I took her to my vet,who I got the Bravecto from, they did blood work and was in stage 4 kidney failure. Now I am giving her fluids twice a day and a special homemade diet. She was healthy before I gave her the medicine. It stays in their system for three months. So please don’t give your dog Bravect. I dont want anyone else going through what we have.

[anonymously]

Are you a veterinarian? If not, How can you say “Bravecto is also safe for dogs who have seizures, NexGard is not”.

If you are happy with the product and find it to be effective…great. We are all eager to share experiences that others may find helpful.
But, every dog is different. You really can’t make a blanket statement. IMO

PS: Actually, this is the internet, so you can pretty much say anything you want about anything 🙂
Peace

[Pitlove]

My dog has been on NexGard his whole life and we recently just switched to Bravecto for certain reasons. Never had a reaction to any oral flea and tick med. Bravecto is also safe for dogs who have seizures, NexGard is not.

I am really really sorry for your loss

• This reply was modified 10 years, 1 month ago by Pitlove.

[Barbara M]

Merck’s vet (whom I spoke to the next day when I reported it) agreed it had to have been a reaction to Bravecto. My vet too, said although she hasn’t seen it in her practice, she felt it couldn’t be anything else but a reaction to the drug.
Some dogs do fine with it, thank God for that, but I’m hearing more and more that there are terrible reactions that HAVE been reported. Many confirmed deaths.
Fleas around here have built up an immunity to Frontline. If I ever get another dog, and this was and is so painful that I don’t know that I will, I would only go the natural route…even if it means bathing 2-3 times a week. I will never use a man made chemical again on a dog. The more I thought about it, it is meant to be a poison. The insert even says not to handle the pill, nor to breathe any of the scent of it in. How safe can that be for our beloved pups?
After the initial reaction, the next 7 weeks were filled (daily) with vomiting, diarrhea, excessive thirst, not eating, incontinence, disorientation, confusion, itching, sores. All this in a puppy who was so full of life, so healthy. There was never a health issue before dosing. I am beyond grief. I was just wondering if anyone on here has had similar experiences with any of the oral stuff.

[Susan W]

Hi Melissa, I am sorry about your dog. Please come to the Facebook group called Does Bravecto Dogs? You’re not the first to report aggression and a dog after this medication. It was actually an article about the potential risks from this in the WashingTon Post. There are numerous members reporting bad side effects including prolonged G.I. problems including diarrhea. Please come to the group. We are trying to make sure that all side effects get reported to the manufacturer Merck and the FDA

[Melissa K]

Please do your research on this product!! We did not and now we are faced with a terrible situation. We have a beautiful, gentle 2 year old golden retriever that lives in a household with multiple young children, in a neighborhood with even more and our yard boarders a elementary school where the children come visit her daily. Our dog has been the most passive easy going animal until one week after we administrated the Bravecto. Within a week after we gave her the med I witnessed her turn her lip up at a 12 year old for absolutely no reason. Three weeks later she was involved in a scuffle with another nonaggressive dog, and the following day bit a 4 year old who required stitches in his hand. She also experienced prolonged diarrhea and excessive salivation to the point that it woke me up at night. The ONLY thing that changed in her life was this drug. The drug has now worn off presumably, and she seems to be back to her normal self, but as her owners with young kids we are struggling to trust her again and are considering rehoming her where there are only adults. My children are devastated and so are we. I know this may work for some, but please be aware!!

[Laura M]

I live in MA, but my dogs train all over the NE area and NJ as well and I have had great, and I mean great success with Nexgard. I find dead ticks if any and you don’t need to worry about the getting wet part at all since my dogs are big swimmers. I would highly recommend this product – have been using it for about a year now. I also heard that Bravecto is good too and I think it lasts a longer period of time but I’m not switching from Nexgard – it is almost too good to be true! Sorry to hear about the collar reaction. I know several people that use them and love them with no problems. My dogs sleep with me so I don’t like to have the chemicals on the collars around their necks – and I don’t really like the collar method in general – seems like a throwback to when that was all we had in the arsenal to protect our animals. I do think they are new and improved though. Good luck and hope your baby feels better!

[Jeni T]

Before you administer either NEXGARD or BRAVECTO to your loved ones….I beg each and every one of you to check out the Facebook Groups….Nexgard- Did it Kill my Dog and Bravecto – Does it Kill Dogs. I know thousands of parents have given their dogs these new chewables and have had fabulous success – but others haven’t – please read first.

[Susan W]

I am very concerned about this medication. I am hearing more and more stories about bad side effects but nothing is being done. Above, Colleen H comments that her dog died because of it. I am concerned mine may have to. I urge anyone with negative side effects to please go to the Facebook group called Does Bravecto Kill Dogs and explain your dogs symptoms. And make sure you report it to the FDA and the ASPCA poison control.