Bravecto, Nexgard And Simparica: Oral Treatments For Flea And Ticks In Dogs Safe Or Not?

In the last few years, oral treatments have become immensely popular compared to topical solutions. This surge has been reported due to the better efficacy of oral drugs that eliminate the possibility of the product getting greasy on the pet’s skin. Moreover, if the dog has contracted severe allergy and hotspot, it cannot be cured completely unless a more potent oral treatment is administered. In comparison to the topical treatments, those provide monthly protection against fleas and ticks. You have to apply them very carefully to get the results you want. Oral tablets and chews just require a one-time institution. To find out how beneficial oral treatments are compared to the risks they bring along, here is a list of advantages and disadvantages of using oral chews and the safety concerns related to them.

Benefits Of Using Oral Treatments

• Topical solutions may cause fleas and ticks to develop resistance if people use them too much in some areas. Oral drugs work better and last longer in these cases.
• Topical solutions may be the cause of concern if you have kids at home who often come in contact with the pet. The application of topicals on a pet may put the kids at risk of rubbing the chemical onto themselves while petting the animal.
• Some topical treatments contain ingredients that are very toxic to cats. So, if the owner also has cats in their pet family, it is safe to use oral treatment over topical.
• There is a big risk of contracting an allergy from the topical solutions if the pet parent is allergic to any of the ingredients.
• Oral treatments do not have the same problem as topical treatments, which may lose their effectiveness if you bathe your pet right after applying them. Once instituted in the mouth, they provide protection uninterruptedly.

Negative Effects

Oral treatments like Bravecto or Nexgard have many advantages, but they also have some safety risks for pets. Some pets may react well to these oral chews, but others may show negative effects like:

• Vomiting
• Lethargy
• Loss of appetite
• Diarrhea
• Flatulence

Bravecto Vs Nexgard Vs Simparica: Reviews

Bravecto has an active ingredient fluralaner that kills 99% of the flea population and provides 100% protection against various tick species like American Dog Tick or Brown Ticks. Although the product is said to be safe for all dogs but must be only used if the pet is above 5 pounds. Moreover, Bravecto must not be administered to dogs that have had a seizure history. When used correctly as per the directions, it is completely safe to use even on pregnant and lactating mothers.

Nexgard provides 100% protection against fleas within a day and eliminates 97% of ticks effectively. The FDA has approved NexGard Plus as a safe product for dogs to use against fleas and ticks, but you must follow the instructions on the package carefully. Moreover, use the Nexgard very cautiously in dogs that have a history of allergies to afoxolaner or are prone to seizures.

Simparica again is safe to use in dogs that are more than 6 months old. Dogs that receive vaccines or other treatments do not experience any negative effects. The manufacturers of Simparica claim that it works on fleas within 3 hours of giving it to your dog. It hardly takes 8 hours to kill ticks. Other than being used as a flea and tick preventive, Simparica is also labeled to be used against mange-causing mites.

Bravecto Vs Nexgard Vs Simparica: Comparison Chart

Conclusion

For every product that cures a disease, it is mandatory to follow the directions of use written on the pack insert. One wrong use can threaten the life of your pet, after all, it is just a drug! Make sure you vaccinate your pet in the first year of his homecoming. And ensure whatever treatment you provide him in the future works more effectively. Maintain a record of all the drugs you gave or are currently providing your pet. All these measures will ensure the protection of your pet enough to administer any kind of preventative. Remember, all oral treatments are effective and safe only when administered correctly. Otherwise, no matter what you do, it won’t prove as effective as expected. Keep a check on your pet after giving the drug as some pets may have side effects.

All the oral products are safe. But do make sure you check with the vet if you still face issues or have a concern.