Pregnancy is a delicate time for dogs and their puppies, and this is especially true when it comes to picking the right flea and tick medication for your pet. While some treatments are safe for breeding animals, many should be avoided during this fragile stage of life. Fortunately for pet parents who favor convenience, Bravecto’s flea- and tick-fighting chews are approved for use in pregnant, breeding and nursing dogs.
Dogs’ gestation period lasts about 63 days, but you should begin monitoring your pet’s medications as soon as you elect to start breeding her. It’s important to protect pregnant pets from disease-bearing fleas and ticks, as their immune systems may be vulnerable, but it’s equally vital to avoid flea and tick medications that can cause birth defects in puppies. While the “no” list includes many oral medications, Bravecto has been tested and approved for use in pregnant, breeding and lactating pets.
While undergoing field trials, Bravecto for dogs was found to be free from life-threatening and serious side-effects. It’s active ingredient Fluralaner is FDA approved and proven to prevent flea and tick infestations for up to 12 weeks with each tasty chew. Bravecto starts to work almost immediately after your dog eats a tablet by spreading to the fluids under his skin, where Fluralanerbegins attacking fleas and ticks as soon as they bite. This disrupts certain pathways in pests’ nervous systems, causing seizures that are fatal to invertebrates. Because it is more effective on invertebrates than mammals, however, Fluralaner has been proven to be safe for your companion even during pregnancy. The most common side effects observed during field trials included diarrhea, flatulence, increased thirst and loss of appetite—all symptoms related to the gastrointestinal system, not pets’ nervous systems.