My puppy has ticks and is sick. Is Bravecto safe for a sick puppy?

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

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!

No, if you got the tick off within a day they generally don’t get sick from ticks. If there is any question you can get a tick infection test done at your veterinary clinic. I recommend starting a veterinary oral tick and flea prevention product when he’s old enough, like Bravecto or Nexgard so he doesn’t get more ticks. Thanks for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach to help you care for Boa.

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.

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.

No you should not be worried, in order for Bravecto to kill ticks, the ticks have to attach and feed on the dog. After giving Bravecto, it distributes to the tissue fluids just under the skin. When fleas and ticks feed, they ingest Bravecto and die. Bravecto kills 100% of ticks on dogs within 12 hours so it would not be unusual to see some live ticks during the first 12 hours that they attach. Remember to give the medication every 12 weeks.

Hello, and thanks for your question. It’s common for dogs to get a firm small scab after a tick bite, and sometimes it takes a few weeks for that scab to heal. Keep an eye on it, gently clean/scrub it with mild soap and water (Dawn dish soap can work well), and monitor for swelling or discharge that could signal an infection. Talk to your vet about the tick bite and how Willow is doing; your vet can help you decide if you should test Willow for exposure to tickborne disease. As long as Willow is feeling well, it will probably be fine to vaccinate as planned, and I would definitely recommend keeping Willow protected with Bravecto! Hope this helps!