My 3-pound Yorkie was prescribed Bravecto for 4lb+ dogs. Is it safe?

Hi and thanks for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach! Sorry to hear about Bella. Bravecto can be used in puppies under 6 months but it's considered off-label or extra-label use. Puppies under 6 months are now treated with Bravecto for demodectic mange so it's safe. Just make sure you use the correct dose for her current weight. Here's part of a thread I copied from a veterinarian only peer-reviewed site- Bravecto should be safe to use, as would be Simparica or Nexgard. Nexgard is labelled for puppies 8 weeks or older, but with either of these drugs you would be using it off label based on using it for treatment of demodicosis, as well as based on the dog's body weight and/or age. If I were to use one of these products, I would go monthly with either Nexgard or Simparica, and every 2 months with Bravecto for this little guy. Another option is Advantage multi even though the dog is not quite 3 lbs - use every 10 days topically. This is a labelled option though not as effective as the off label treatments in my opinion. If/When the dog gains some weight over the next couple of months, you could always switch to an Isoxazoline drug if the Advantage multi isn't benefitting adequately. Good luck

Hi there. Yes, Bravecto is an excellent product - it's extremely safe, and very effective. It's the main flea medication that we use at my clinics, and what I am currently using for my own three dogs. In terms of side effects, we occasionally have clients report some mild lethargy or stomach upset for a day or two after giving it, but most dogs have no side effects at all. Nexgard or Credelio would also be reasonable choices.

Thanks for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach! She is adorable! Bravecto is an excellent product and is currently one of the most recommended flea and tick products by veterinary dermatologists. This is what I use for my own dogs and I think would be a great option for Willow. Best of luck!

Fleas can be the worst! According to the Bravecto website, it can be administered as early as eight weeks of age as long as the puppies are each at least 2kg in weight. It is safe to give to your adult dogs and puppies. You will also need to disinfect the environment in order to kill all the fleas. Wash their bedding in hot soapy water, and vacuum the furniture and carpet surfaces. You can use a spray to kill fleas in the house, such as Indorex, or a flea bomb would work well to kill the fleas in the home. Good luck, I hope this helps!

Hello and thank you for reaching out to Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach. The Seresto collar is a flea and tick preventative that is safe for small dogs. It is a collar that provides up to 8 months of prevention. K9 Advantix II is also safe for dogs that are 4 pounds, and is a topical medication that is applied monthly. I recommend reaching out to your local veterinarian to see what products they have for the tiny dogs :) I do not recommend using a preventative that can be purchased from a food or pet store or online, as these are NOT safe or effective for use in dogs. Omega-3 supplements are generally very safe for dogs, but should be used in moderation as they are very high in fat. I hope this is helpful!

It sounds like Marley may be sick. Bravecto will kill ticks but if she is not feeling well, there is a high likelihood this medication will make her feel worse. We generally wait to give flea prevention to pets until they are feeling better. Additionally, you note that Marley only weighs 15 pounds but is a German Shepherd. This leads me to believe she is a puppy. Bravecto is not recommended in puppies as they will outgrow the weight range quickly. Instead you use a monthly product like Nexgard. I recommend to take her into your veterinarian today if possible. Depending on where you live, ticks can transmit many diseases and she may go on an antibiotic prophylactically. Drinking a lot of water can be a sign of a kidney or bladder infection as well. Large breed puppies however are prone to drink a lot of water and it’s not pathologic. You can’t know the difference however without testing the urine. It’s always better to be safe than sorry! I hope this is helpful and please feel free to post any additional questions!

These are different drugs and do not negatively interact, so it's OK to give the Bravecto, but it may be unnecessary. Sometimes owners will still see fleas and ticks on their dogs, but they are dead. I recommend checking to see if they are truly alive before giving the Bravecto. I also recommend reading the article at the link below it is fleas that you are treating. https://www.petcoach.co/article/5-tips-to-get-rid-of-fleas/ I hope that helps and all is well with Quincy.