https://www.nbc4i.com/news/u-s-world…ats/1462289183
https://www.fda.gov/AnimalVeterinary/NewsEvents/CVMUpdates/ucm620934.htm
I don’t know what to think about that. We have had our dogs on Nexgard and Bravecto for at least two years, with nary an issue, and no fleas or ticks. Looks like a chat with their veterinarian is in order.
The tremor warning has always been on the drug fact sheet for Simparica.
And allll this info has always been included in the product packaging.
I don’t think it’s a coincidence that my Rodeo developed epilepsy after several years of Advantix/Advantage use.
But now my Polo is allergic to fleas so Capstar and Bravecto are my new treatment after several other failed product trials, all under my Vet’s supervision
I swear by Seresto collars. Herding breeds with the MDR1 gene mutation are recommended not to take combo HW/flea/tick meds. So basic HW plus Seresto it is in my house. The collar is wonderful, nary a flea or tick.
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Bravecto is fabulous too
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The tremors have always been a warning on the label the same with products like Trifexis and Comforts who have been out longer. Like every drug that is on the market there are potential side effects. Usually the benefit to their use outweighs the risks. I use Bravecto in my own cats as the benefits outweigh the risk. Bravecto, Nextgard and Simparica has improved the lives of dogs and cats with severe flea allergies, demodectic mange, scabies, and ear mites, its revolutionary for its prevention of tick borne diseases including cytaxzoon, erlichia, lymes disease and others. Of course talk to your veterinarian about your concerns but if you live in a flea and tick infested area the benefits are going to outweigh the risks.
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Frontline Gold. No neurological side effects. No fleas here.
I had my dogs on Nexguard for maybe 2-3 years. We don’t get many ticks in my area and fleas aren’t bad most of the year either so just did it every 3 months. Two of my dogs had no issues but one of them was always a little “off” for 2-3 days after the dose. When my dog with the horrid flea allergies passed away I stopped giving it. Haven’t had many flea problems since so feel lucky. Tearing up the carpet and replacing it with laminate flooring probably helped more than flea meds anyway.
My repro vet clinic released two statements about this. We live in a very risky area for tick borne illness, and just before this came out I discussed Bravecto with these vets because my younger stud dog has an infection of unknown origin at this time that has severely affected his sperm count. We can only presume he may have had a fever recently, even though I noticed no symptoms…and ticks are the first thing that comes to mine, but still searching for answers. The vets are concerned that people will stop using tick preventative and have more incidents of infection, at a higher rate than medication risk.
Their responses:
#1:
As you know, we try to keep you guys up to date on what is going in the Veterinary world. Very often that means sharing information before it hits the social media circle. The FDA has recently published a “Fact Sheet” regarding potential side effects of Isoxazoline Flea and Tick Products (Bravecto, Credelio, Nexgard and Simparica). This sheet discusses neurologic side effects with these medications. While this may sound scary, this information is not new. It has been known by the manufacturers and veterinarians, as well as, reported in the literature for each drug. Please be aware that, as with all medications, side effects are possible. If something occurs with your pet, absolutely get to us right away. However, at this time, the risk of tick-borne illnesses is much higher than the risk of side effects from the preventatives. Our recommendation to you regarding this information has not changed. Be informed, stay in contact but dont panic.
https://www.fda.gov/…/Re…/AnimalHealthLiteracy/ucm620940.htm
And then #2:
Many veterinarians and pet owners were alarmed by the FDA’s new label recommendations for isoxazoline flea and tick medications (Bravecto, Nexgard, Simparica and Credelio). Thursday’s announcement did not include specific figures for how many cases of neurologic symptoms have been reported, and we at Harmony have not observed these side effects in our own pets or patients in the last three years that we’ve been prescribing Bravecto. So, we asked Bravecto’s manufacturer Merck for more information, and are passing it along to you to help you make informed decisions for your pets.
- 80 million doses of Bravecto have been dispensed since its US release; seizures have been reported at a rate of less than 1 in 10,000 cases. A causative link has not been established yet- these seizures may or may not be related to Bravecto, but are reported anyway for safety’s sake. The effect is classified as “very rare”.
- This information is already on the labels for Simparica and Nexgard, two similar medications.
- There has not been an increase in cases and, as we mentioned before, the data is not new- the only change is that the FDA is requiring all manufacturers to change the way their labels are written.
Side effects for Frontline products are…skin irritation at topical site. Call me crazy but I’d rather risk some skin irritation then play russian roulette with tremors, ataxia, seizure, neurologic symptoms, and death.
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The topical products such as Frontline are governed by EPA. This means there iare minimal safety studies performed, and ADE’s (adverse drug events) are not reported either. Thus, we don’t really know about side effects with the topical products. FDA products, such as Bravecto and Nexgard are subject to extensive safety and efficacy testing prior to approval. ADEs are tracked and published. So while your dog did not have an issue with Frontline, we can’t say with any certainty that the product is 100% safe and side effect free.
I’m not arguing for either with my opinion…just sharing what my vet clinic has passed on. For me, Frontline used to be effective in my area but then did not do enough. Frontline Plus, started out ok, then same thing. Have not tried Frontline Gold.
Fleas aren’t the problem, it’s ticks. Not sure where you live but half of my animals have already had tickborne diseases despite using tick control products. It’s serious stuff. Lyme and Anaplasmosis are the two we’ve seen so far which are serious enough. Babesiosis, Powassan virus and Rocky Mountain spotted fever have also been reported.
My dogs have worn Seresto collars this past year and I thought they were good, but now I am questioning their effectiveness.
Frontline Gold keeps fleas off in heavy flea load areas for me for 30 days. Frontline Plus knocks them off but doesn’t keep them off here anymore. My dogs don’t get much exposure to ticks but it’s kept the voracious flood plane mosquitoes off here in the wet midwest. Those suckers are huge and aggressive and I was actually surprised to see them being repelled.
And absolutely worthless in my area
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Worthless in my area too.
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Bravecto was a life saver for my cockapoo with an overload of demodex.
I live in Lymes and West Nile central.
No such thing as harmless bugs here.
Poor Po tore holes in himself that needed abx.
I wish there were more information available, such as whether a dog who takes Bravecto without incident can show those reactions when it’s given at a later date. Gave my pup Bravecto in July and it’s been fantastic - not a tick to be found, and I also live in tick central.
