BRAVECTO TOPICAL solution for DOGS & CATS - SPOT-ON against FLEAS and TICKS - MERCK AH - fluralaner - isoxazoline

Brand: BRAVECTO ® topical solution

Company: MSD ANIMAL HEALTH = MERCK ANIMAL HEALTH (formerly INTERVET)

FORMULATION: «spot-on» solution for topical administration on the back of the animals (also called pipettes, squeeze-ons, drop-ons, etc.)

ACTIVE INGREDIENT(S): FLURALANER: 280 mg/mL (=28 %)

CHEMICAL CLASS of the active ingredient(s): ISOXAZOLINE

INDICATIONS: DOGS & CATS

PARASITES CONTROLLED* (spectrum of activity):

RECOMMENDED DOSE*:

USA and other countries

  • Dogs, 4.4. to 9.9 lbs. ≈ 2.0 to 4.5 kg bw: 1 tube with 112.5 mg fluralaner (equivalent to 56.3 to 25.0 mg/kg fluralaner)
  • Dogs, >9.9 to 22.0 lbs. ≈ >4.5 to 10 kg bw: 1 tube with 250 mg fluralaner (equivalent to 54.3 to 25.0 mg/kg fluralaner)
  • Dogs, >22.0 to 44 lbs. ≈ >10 to 20 kg bw: 1 tube with 500 mg fluralaner (equivalent to 49.5 to 25.0 mg/kg fluralaner)
  • Dogs, >44 to 88 lbs. ≈ >20 to 40 kg bw: 1 tube with 1000 mg fluralaner (equivalent to 49.8 to 25.0 mg/kg fluralaner)
  • Dogs, >88 to 123 lbs. ≈ >40 to 56 kg bw: 1 tube with 1400 mg fluralaner (equivalent to 34.9 to 25.0 mg/kg fluralaner)
  • Dogs, >123 lbs. ≈ >56 kg bw: administer the appropriate combination of tubes
  • Cats, 2.6 to 6.2 lbs. ≈ 1.2 to 2.8 kg bw: 1 tube with 112.5 mg fluralaner (equivalent to 95 to 40.0 mg/kg fluralaner)
  • Cats, >6.2 to 13.8 lbs. ≈ >2.8 to 6.3 kg bw: 1 tube with 250 mg fluralaner (equivalent to 90 to 40.0 mg/kg fluralaner)
  • Cats, >13.8 to 27.5 lbs. ≈ >6.3 to 12.5 kg kg bw: 1 tube with 500 mg fluralaner (equivalent to 80 to 40 mg/kg fluralaner)

* Can be slightly different in some countries: read the product label!

SAFETY

  • LD50 (acute oral) in rats: >5000 mg/kg (calculated from the LD50 for the active ingredient >2000 mg/kg)
  • Estimated Hazard Class according to the WHO: not applicable for veterinary medicines

In September 2018 the FDA of the USA has alerted pet owners and veterinarians about potential neurological adverse events following the use of products containing isoxazolines. Some treated animals have experienced adverse events such as muscle tremors, ataxia (lack of voluntary coordination of muscle movements), and seizures. This regards all products containing isoxazolines. Most treated animals will not show such adverse drug reactions, but some may be affected.

Suspected poisoning? Read the article on fluralaner safety in this site.

WARNING !!!: Never use on cats or small dogs spot-ons approved for large dogs. Learn more about spot-ons and their safety.

You may be interested in the following articles in this site dealing with the general safety of veterinary products:

RESISTANCE PREVENTION

Risk of resistance development? YES, very low in fleas, mainly in the cat flea, Ctenocephalides felis

Fluralaner has been recently introduced. It belongs to the isoxazolines (together with afoxolaner and sarolaner, the active ingredients of NEXGARD and SIMPARICA, respectively), a new chemical class of insecticides ana tickicides introduced in the 2010s. Isoxazolines have a mode of action that is different from all other insecticides currently used against fleas or ticks, and shows no cross-resistance with them. Consequently there are no reports on resistance to isoxazolines. However, fleas have developed resistance to several other insecticides (e.g. carbamates, organophosphates and pyrethroids) and are certainly capable of becoming resistant to isoxazolines as well. Experience shows that prolonged and uninterrupted use of any insecticide agaiinst fleas bears the risk of resistance development. 

Alternatives to prevent resistance through product rotation:

*F = effective against fleas; T = effective against ticks.

These alternative products may not be available in all countries, or may not be available as spot-ons.

Resistance of fleas to carbamates, organophosphates and pyrethroids is not uncommon in several countries, including the USA.

Learn more about resistance and how it develops.

MARKETING

Are the active ingredients of this product ORIGINAL* or GENERICS**?

  • Fluralaner: ORIGINAL (introduced in 2013, first described by NISSAN)

*Meaning that they are still patent protected and generics are not yet available
**Meaning that they have lost patent protection and may be acquired from manufacturers of generic active ingredients other than the holder of the original patent.

COUNTRIES where this product is marketed: USA, the EU
GENERIC BRANDS available? NO

Click here to learn more about GENERIC vs. ORIGINAL drugs.

COMMENTS

BRAVECTO topical solution is a new flea+tick spot-on with fluralaner for dogs & cats. It is the topical follow-up version of the oral chews introduced by MERCK AH two years ago only for dogs. Its 3-month protection claim against fleas and ticks (Amblyomma americanum in dogs only 8 weeks; Dermacentor variabilis in cats only 8 weeks) is unprecented for a spot-on. Only insecticide-impregnated collars claim to offer such a long-term protection against fleas and/or ticks, and there is also an injectable with a 6-month protection claim against fleas, but only for cats (PROGRAM INJECTABLE).

BRAVECTO topical solution is approved for the control of fleas and all importants ticks in the USA (Amblyomma americanum = lone star tick; Dermacentor variabilis = American dog tick; Ixodes scapularis = black-legged tick; and Rhipicephalus sanguineus = brown dog tick) and in the EU (Ixodes ricinus, Dermacentor reticulatus and Rhipicephalus sanguineus).

However, it must be considered that, although less abundant, there are other tick species in the USA and in the EU that can infect dogs in addition to the ones controlled by this product. It is not known whether BRAVECTO controls such tick species as well.

Fluralaner is a broad-spectrum isoxazoline insecticide and acaricide introduced in the 2010s (by MERCK AH, licensed from NISSAN). It has a systemic mode of action, i.e. after oral or topical administration it gets into the blood of the pet and reaches the fleas and ticks during their blood meal. It starts to kill fleas about 8 hours and ticks about 12 hours after administration. Administered about every 12 weeks it kills attaching ticks and fleas and prevents flea population development in the pets environment, but only if all the dogs and cats in the same household are treated against fleas.

Topical products (mainly spot-ons and insecticide-impregnated collars) have some advantages over systemic products (mainly tablets or chewables for oral administration and injectables):

  • Most topical products kill or sterilize the parasites before they bite and suck blood on the pet, whereas systemic products kill or sterilize the parasites only after their blood meal.
  • Topical products cannot be vomited.
  • Spot-ons and collars are very convenient to administer.
  • There is a larger choice of topical products.

But topical products have also some disadvantages:

  • Topical products contaminate the pet's hair coat and it is advisable for children and also adults to avoid contact with the pet for several days after treatment.
  • Topical non-systemic products may not control parasites in some parts of the pet's body (e.g. the ears, below the tail, between the legs, etc.), whereas systemic products reach the blood-sucking parasites through the blood wherever they are.
  • Efficacy of topical products may be reduced or shortened through exposure to dirt, sun, shampooing, washing, rain, baths, etc., whereas efficacy of systemic products is independent from these factors.

For an overview and a list of the most popular pet antiparasitics for flea, tick, lice and/or mite control click here.

DISCLAIMER

This article IS NOT A PRODUCT LABEL. It offers complementary information that may be useful to veterinary professionals and users that are not familiar with veterinary antiparasitics. 

Information offered in this article has been extracted from publications issued by manufacturers, government agencies (e.g. EMEA, FDA, USDA, etc.) or in the scientific literature. No guarantee is given on its accuracy, integrity, sufficiency, actuality and opportunity, and any liability is denied. Read the site's DISCLAIMER.

In case of doubt contact the manufacturer or a veterinary professional.

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