Bravecto Chews for Dogs vs. Flea5X Plus Comparison

Bravecto Chews for Dogs

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Flea5X Plus

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Simparica

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Kills Fleas

Repels Fleas

Kills Flea eggs and Larvae

Bravecto also kills newly emerged fleas before they can lay eggs.

Kills Ticks

Repels Ticks

Kills and/or Repels Mosquitoes

Prevents Heartworm

Other Parasites Information

Eliminates infestations with chewing lice, aids in the control of sarcoptic mange infestation

Waterproof (shampooing once a week can reduce effectiveness)

N/A

N/A

Safe for pregnant or nursing Pets

Safe for use in breeding, pregnant, and lactating dogs.

The safe use of Simparica has not been evaluated in breeding, pregnant, or lactating dogs.

How long does it take to work

Starts to kill fleas in 2 hours.

Fast-acting protection that lasts up to 30 days

Begins to kill adult fleas within 3 hours and ticks within 8 hours of administration.

Taste

Tasty Chew

Applied to skin

Liver flavor

Active Ingredient(s)

Fluralaner

Fipronil/(S)-Methoprene

sarolaner

RX Required

Dosage

Usage

Video

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Vet Review

An exciting new development in the fight against fleas and ticks is the long lasting chewable tablet called Bravecto, The active ingredient fluralaner, is a very effective ectoparasiticide, which acts on the nervous system of the parasite, without affecting the dog's nervous system. When given to dogs, this product starts killing fleas within 2 hours, and ticks a short time after that. Protection will last for approximately 12 weeks for fleas, and 8-12 weeks for ticks. In fact, clinical experience has shown it to be effective in treating and controlling 4 species of ticks, many of which are involved in transmitting disease to both dogs and people. It is even safe to use in pregnant and lactating animals, as well as most pets over the age of 6 months. I would use caution in using this or any other pesticide in sick, geriatric or pets with chronic immune mediated disease. Another minor drawback is that the fleas or tick must be ingesting a blood meal or feeding on your pet before becoming effective, thus there is still a remote possibility of transfer of certain tick born illnesses on rare occasion. Unlike most topical products that can potentially be washed or bathed off, the added benefit of giving a pill minimizes pesticide exposure for human family members, as well as being effective within a very short period of time. I give this product an overall rating of a 5 with an ease of use, and efficacy a 5 as well.

1800petmeds is very excited to now offer an economic and reliable alternative to the brand name Front line plus in the war against flea and tick infestations on dogs and cats. By storing itself in the oil glands of the skin, the ingredients self distribute through the hair follicles and provide protection against fleas, ticks and lice for up to a month. While most of the competitors' products kill only the adult fleas on pets, the two main ingredients in this product, fiprinil and methoprene, not only kill the adult fleas and ticks, but also eggs and larvae, which may represent up to 95% of the total flea population. Recent studies in dogs have shown that these ingredients together start killing fleas within 4 hours, and within 12 to 24 hours 100% of the fleas are killed. While many competitors' products require the fleas to bite the pet, Flea 5x kills on contact. Another wonderful advantage of using Flea 5x is that the product is water proof, and will not be washed away with bathing or swimming, as long as animal guardians wait until the product is completely absorbed into the oil glands, which usually takes 48 hours, before bathing the pet or allowing pet to swim. Veterinarians and guardians should also know that this product is safe to use in breeding, pregnant and lactating dogs and cats. However kittens and puppies should be at least 8 weeks of age before applying this product. Because fleas and ticks pose many health threats to both dogs and cats, including dangerous anemia, rickettsial diseases, flea allergy dermatitis, and tapeworms, it is important to have all pets on a comprehensive flea and tick control program such as Flea 5x. And with the reliable 1800petmeds brand name, animal guardians can confidently rely on the performance of this product as comparable to the brand name. I see very few disadvantages in using this product. Rarely there may be a mild contact dermatitis at the site of application, where occasional pets experience crusting and hair loss. Even less common are idiosyncratic digestive or neurologic upset in very sensitive patients. Any pet with a chronic health condition or prior sensitivity to chemicals or vaccination should have a thorough veterinary exam and evaluation before applying any topical or oral pesticide product. I also recommend that the application of products such as Flea 5x be done on a different day(preferably at least 7 days apart) from other parasite control products such as heartworm prevention or immune challenges such as vaccination. Occasionally clients may see more fleas on their pets after immediately applying Flea 5x plus, but this is just the dying off of the flea population, as they rise to the top of the coat. Because of the often presence of eggs in the environment before the application of this product, it may take a few months to kill the total population of fleas in the home, which is why I often suggest treating the home as well when starting pets on a product like flea 5x plus. While flea 5x does not repel fleas and ticks, I have not found any current products on the market effective with that in my experience and opinion. I give this product an overall rating of 4.5(on scale of 1-5) with the efficacy and ease of use of a 5.

Within the past few years, we have seen a surge of new flea and tick parasiticides for dogs and cats, especially important as we are discovering increased transmission of health-threatening disease to our animal companions. In the past year, the very trustworthy and reliable pharmaceutical company Zoetis has come out with a revolutionary liver flavored chewable tablet, Simparica, that is highly effective against fleas and multiple species of ticks. Compared to similar oral tablets, as well as other topical products, I find that Simparica works even more quickly than competitor products, starting to kill fleas within 3 hours, and ticks within 8 hours. Unlike other products labeled for monthly use, studies and my clinical experience show that Simparica is actually effective up to 35 days, not dropping off in efficacy as many other products do in killing fleas and ticks toward the end of the month. I also find that the many flexible dosing packages offer convenience to canine guardians, even in small dogs who weigh under 5 pounds. In addition to the efficacy against fleas and ticks, the product is also labeled effective against scabies mites. Many veterinarians and dermatologists are also now reaching for Simparica as a quick, safe and effective off-label treatment of demodex mange mites, which have long been very difficult to manage in veterinary medicine. I have found that in many cases one dose of Simparica will clear up many demodex mange cases within one month of the first pill. I have found that most dogs tolerate this product very well, especially when given with food. I have occasionally seen mild digestive upset in some sensitive pets, as well as rare neurological reactions. If a dog has a history of seizures, I would probably be cautious in using this product or ones of a similar class. Most dogs readily take this chewable tablet. I give this product an overall rating of a 4.5, with an efficacy of 4.5, and ease of use a 4.5.

Our expert panel consists of licensed veterinarians and the knowledgeable staff of PetMed Express, Inc. d/b/a 1-800-PetMeds. Neither the Company nor any of its employees or consultants make any warranties, expressed or implied, or representations about the accuracy or completeness of the content or the content of any site or external sites. Likewise, no legal liability or responsibility is assumed for the accuracy or completeness of any information, or usefulness of products discussed. While every effort has been made to accurately represent the qualities and characteristics of each product, which for the most part were taken directly from the websites of the manufacturers, we are not responsible for any errors. The information presented is for educational purposes only and is intended to be a supplement to, and not a substitute for, the expertise and professional judgment of your veterinarian. The information is NOT to be used for diagnosis or treatment of your pet. You should always consult your own veterinarian for specific advice concerning the treatment of your pet. The information is not intended to cover all possible uses, directions, precautions, warnings, allergic reactions, drug interactions or adverse effects, nor should it be construed to indicate that use of a particular drug is safe, appropriate or effective for your pet. It is not a substitute for a veterinary exam, and it does not replace the need for services provided by your veterinarian. Note: Any trademarks are the property of their respective companies.