Activyl vs. Bravecto for Cats Comparison

Activyl

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Bravecto for Cats

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Frontline Gold

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Kills Fleas

Repels Fleas

Kills Flea eggs and Larvae

Kills Ticks

Repels Ticks

Kills and/or Repels Mosquitoes

Prevents Heartworm

Other Parasites Information

Eliminates infestations with chewing lice

Waterproof (shampooing once a week can reduce effectiveness)

Safe for pregnant or nursing Pets

The safety of Bravecto has not been established in breeding, pregnant and lactating cats.

How long does it take to work

Reapply Activyl every 30 days.

Kills 100% of fleas within 8 hours of application.

Starts killing fleas in 30 minutes

Taste

Applied to skin

Active Ingredient(s)

indoxacarb

Fluralaner

Fipronil, S-methoprene, Pyriproxyfen

RX Required

Dosage

Usage

Video

Coming soon

Vet Review

Another recently available new topical flea preventative for dogs and cats. This new product works by being activated by only the flea's enzyme systems into a flea specific mechanism which paralyzes and kills the adult flea. The company claims that it does not get into the blood stream, but stays only in the superficial skin layers of the pet. Any adult fleas which come into contact with this product are quickly killed so that fleas do not have to actually bite the pet, which is tremendously helpful in those flea-allergic pets, where it only takes a few flea bites to set off an extensive itchy allergic reaction. Another wonderful benefit of this product is that it is waterproof, which is especially helpful in those active outside pets who are exposed to rain or like to swim. This effective product starts working within 12 hours of application, where over 90% of adult fleas are killed. Another excellent benefit of this product is that it also inhibits the development of flea eggs and larvae in the environment, which is a big bonus since much of the flea life cycle occurs in the home environment. While Activyl is very safe and effective for most pets, I have seen occasional rare reactions in sensitive pets, which most commonly is seen as irritation or excessive itchiness at the site of application. While the company says that it is odorless, some of my clients have said that they do sense an odor within the first several days of application, as well as leaving an occasional oily film for the first day or two following application. This film, however usually quickly disappears. The only other very rare reactions include digestive upset and/or drooling/neurological reactions, and certainly if a pet has any chronic digestive weaknesses or history of seizures, etc then the local veterinarian should be consulted before applying the product. I give this product an overall rating of 4, with an ease of use of 4.

Flea control in cats is always challenging, not only in terms of safe products, but also in ease of application, and ultimately performance. Over the past several years the oral products like Bravecto and Nexguard have been highly effective for flea and tick control in dogs, as well as surprisingly other, unforeseen benefits such as treating, controlling and often curing previously frustrating Demodex mite infestations, and for much longer periods of time; 3 months of protection after one tablet. While the drug company has not come out with a similar oral formulation for cats, they have come out with a topical formulation, which also is labeled as effective for up to 3 months after one application. Obviously, handling one's kitty only once for a flea/tick treatment over 3 months is certainly welcome to most feline guardians. While I don't have lots of clinical experience with this product, reports from the field have found it highly effective in treated patients. As with many other products, it is also often important to treat the home environment, where 90 percent of the flea life cycle occurs. While the product is being reported as highly effective, I am concerned about using a product labeled for 3 months in cats after one use, especially if a sensitive feline patient suffers a reaction. Occasional reactions reported include transient irritation at the site of the product application, as well as occasional digestive and neurological reactions, which may be significant. While the product is highly effective for an extended period and easy to use, I would tend to reach for products that are shorter acting, although they will, of course, have to be applied or given more frequently.

As most exterminators will tell you, the battle with external parasites and pests is an always evolving battle, as over time, parasites will develop partial resistance to products that had once worked almost perfectly in the past. This has been my experience with some of the older flea/tick formulations and has been reported by my veterinary colleagues and clients alike on occasion. While the older products are mostly still effective, companies are always researching new formulations to stay one step ahead of the development of resistance in the parasites. One of the latest formulations, Frontline Gold takes advantage of newer technologies and now has added an additional insect growth regulator, Pyriproxyfen, to its original formulation, to help enhance the efficacy of the Frontline plus product. The Frontline product is thus able to kill the next generation of flea larvae and eggs even more effectively by breaking the life cycle of the flea. The likelihood of flea immune resistance to this new triple action formula is thus significantly reduced. Given the increasing global warming seen in recent years, the expanding and increasing flea populations in heavily infested areas, however, do require a truly holistic approach by the animal guardian in treating the home, environment and yard for optimal flea control, as it is important to keep in mind that much of the flea life cycle still occurs in the home. While many clients find the more easily applied, self-puncturing tube dispensing method(often only requiring the use of one hand) to the old product, other clients find it difficult to see if all of the product has been dispensed from the colored tube. This new product, however, is quite effective, with only rare topical irritation at the site of the application an only rare complication. With that being said, I give this product an overall rating of a 5, with an ease of application of 4.

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