Annual Bravecto Injection for Dogs for Tick Prevention

Annual Bravecto Injection for Dogs for Tick Prevention

by Dr Gretta Howard, Senior Veterinarian

For busy households that might prefer an annual tick preventative given via injection or for dogs that refuse to take or do not tolerate the oral chews, Bravecto Quantum is now available at Turramurra Veterinary Hospital.

How long does the Bravecto Quantum injection last for?

A single treatment gives 12 months protection from fleas and deadly paralysis ticks (it is designed to work for between 12-13 months).

As with the oral and spot-on products, for added protection from ticks, we recommend combining the Bravecto Quantum injection with the use of a Seresto tick collar to repel ticks  from attaching to your pet.

How does Bravecto Quantum work?

Just like the Bravecto chews and spot-on treatments, the injection contains the active ingredient fluralaner. Rather than having to give a bigger dose, the active ingredient is in a crystalline form, which slowly dissolves over time, so that fluralaner is continuously but slowly released in small amounts to protect your dog.

Is Bravecto Quantum safe for my dog?

Bravecto Quantum is an injectable slow release suspension, which is actually a lower dose  than the Bravecto spot-on formulation. So, if your dog has previously had a Bravecto chew or spot-on without any issues, then the injection is also likely to be well-tolerated.

Clinical trials showed that even at 5 times the recommended dose, there were no side effects noted apart from some swelling at the injection site, which can be a side effect of any injectable.

Bravecto Quantum can be used in dogs from 6 months of age, after their rapid growth phase, but our practice generally recommends waiting until their adult weight has been reached. The dose does allow for some weight fluctuations to occur within the 12 month period your dog is covered for.

This product is not currently registered for use in breeding or lactating dogs.

When is the best time to start my dog on the Bravecto Quantum injection?

The best time to administer the Bravecto Quantum injection is at your dog’s annual vaccination appointment.

It takes 6 days for therapeutic levels to be reached so it is important that your pet is up-to-date with an oral or spot-on tick preventative the first time your pet has the injectable tick treatment. The ideal time to administer it is 8-12 weeks after a Bravecto chew or Bravecto spot-on has been administered. If your dog is not up-to-date with a tick preventative when given the Bravecto Quantum injection, then additional precautions need to be taken for the following 6 days to avoid tick toxicity during this time, as your dog will not be protected.

The following year the Bravecto Quantum injection can be given safely again after 11 months to allow the option of an earlier injection if clients are going away on holidays.

If you would like your dog to have the Bravecto Quantum injection prior to the next annual vaccination appointment, a consultation fee will apply, as a veterinarian needs to prepare and administer this injection.

Is the Bravecto Quantum injection better than the oral chews in protecting my dog from tick toxicity?

The Bravecto oral chews are a very reliable form of tick prevention if given at the right time every 3 months. The risk is if a preventative is forgotten and allowed to lapse, leaving your dog vulnerable to deadly tick toxicity. So, if you are unable to reliably give your dog the oral chews, then we strongly recommend the Bravecto Quantum injection instead, so that the entire year’s treatment can be administered by the vet.

Should my dog start change from the oral chews or spot-on product to the Bravecto Quantum injection?

If you are already in a reliable routine of administering the oral chews and do not let it lapse, then at this stage, we are recommending to continue the same preventative regime. If your dog does not tolerate the chews and you are currently using the Bravecto spot-on topical product, then we recommend the Bravecto Quantum instead of the spot-on product, as it is more reliable.

What if my dog doesn’t tolerate injections very well?

Bravecto Quantum needs to be given using an 18 gauge needle, which is slightly larger than the regular vaccination injection needles. The product has an aqueous base, so it doesn’t tend to sting.

If your dog is already very jumpy with needles, then this may not be a good choice for your dog. In our experience, for dogs that tolerate the regular vaccinations well, the Bravecto Quantum injection is also well-tolerated.