There has been some concern by pet owners as to the safety of the flea treatment “Bravecto”.
This month we are going to look a bit deeper at this product and hope to dispel any misunderstandings.
What is Bravecto?
Bravecto is a chewable tablet that is given orally. It is a flea and tick treatment that lasts for up to 12 weeks.
How does it work?
The active ingredient in Bravecto is a substance called Fluralaner, a potent inhibitor of parts of the arthropod nervous system causing paralysis and death.
Before it was approved for veterinary use the safety of Bravecto was established through comprehensive clinical research studies.
Is it safe?
No veterinarian or person working within the veterinary profession would purposefully promote a product that was known to be unsafe.
As with any new product, we rely upon information from clinical studies and the fact that the product must pass the criteria of the medical regulatory board of the country it is being introduced to.
In order to register any new product drug companies have to put the product through stringent clinically trials.
Bravecto was introduced to the European veterinary market in early 2014 and then to the USA in May of the same year. Below is a quote from the MSD website.
“Prior to its first approval by a regulatory agency, the safety of Bravecto® was established through comprehensive clinical research studies “
As part of the product approval process, regulatory agencies throughout the world have reviewed the Bravecto® research data and have deemed it is safe for sale in their countries, when used according to the product label.
At MSD Animal Health, animal health and well-being are our primary concerns and we welcome discussion of the safety of our medicines. We maintain an extensive global post-approval surveillance program for all of our medicines, including fluralaner. We monitor and update safety data on an ongoing basis, and share these data with health authorities in accordance with regulatory requirements.
§ Global safety surveillance of Bravecto® use has provided additional compelling evidence of the safety of the product.
§ The overall reporting rate for suspected adverse reports is classified as rare. The most commonly reported events are mild and transient gastro-intestinal upset.
Does Bravecto have side effects?
According to the company the most common side effect to giving Bravecto is vomiting and/or diarrhoea although we have had no reports from clients of any adverse effects ourselves.
We are aware of the Facebook site and petition and the statements of various people that Bravecto has caused liver/ kidney failure and the ultimate death of their pet. It is impossible to know if these are valid or not as unfortunately it seems that details are often confused.
In conclusion ....
Although it is impossible to know the long term effects of a new drug, the legal requirements of pharmaceutical companies to provide accurate data from clinical trials goes a long to prevent the disasters we have experienced in the past in both human and veterinary medicine. As a consumer you have the right to information about a product before you purchase it and with access to the internet there is certainly a wealth of data at your fingertips.
But please remember to be discerning as to who and what you believe. Below are some links to articles regarding the use of Fluralaner/ Bravetco that may be of interest.
For more information on any of the flea products available do not hesitate to speak to your vet.