Bravecto and cyclosporine?

Keymaster

Nikki,
How did you make out with this? Vally was correct that I don’t recommend some of the newer products on the market that try to be “everything” in the way of parasite protection. “Getting it out of the way” by dosing every three months really means that there must be a higher dose of pesticide and there must be enough internally to continue to supply the skin with it. I am reluctant to use my dogs as “internal dispensers of pesticides.”

Bravecto is the brand name for fluralaner. This drug is an inhibitor of the arthropod nervous system. So I want to search out how this drug works and what side effects it may have. We have a resource on our website where I can do just that.
https://www.secondchanceaihadogs.com/parasite-resources/
On this page click on the National Pesticide Information Center to open that website.

So I did that and was surprised to not find fluralaner in the database. So after research I discovered that “Potency of fluralaner is comparable to fipronil (a phenylpyrazole ectoparasiticide).” So now I can search for fipronil in the database.

But I also happen to know that fipronil is the active ingredient in Frontline, just as Vally mentioned above, I use it topically on my dogs to prevent tick bites. I do not give in internally.

So let’s look at what the database says about this pesticide.
http://npic.orst.edu/ingred/fipronil.html
“Fipronil kills insects when they eat it or come in contact with it. Fipronil works by disrupting the normal function of the central nervous system in insects. Fipronil is more toxic to insects than people and pets because it is more likely to bind to insect nerve endings.’

In more detail they describe what happens when you apply this to the skin and what happens if you ingest it.

Tests have shown that applying it on the dog’s body using a vehicle of oil allows it to gather in the hair glands where it coats the hair or fur. Ticks slugging through oily pesticide develop neurological dysfunction. They simply aren’t able to move well and they are unable to effectively get their mouth parts to grab hold of the skin and attach to the body. They are paralyzed and won’t be passing on tick disease.

Yes there are certain dog breeds, mostly the Collie’s, that do have a sensitivity to this pesticide. They can have neurological symptoms that are similar.

I have always recommended getting flea and tick products from the vet because of this. Not all dogs can tolerate these products. In addition, some owners think if a little is good, then more is better. These products need to be used exactly as the label recommends. Some dogs or cats who are given too much can become ill.

As for heartworm, I use what Dr. Dodds recommended to me years ago, Interceptor. It can be used for very ill dogs in 45 day dosing cycles, but there is NO WIGGLE ROOM if you dose this way. It must be exactly 45 days. The label says 30 days because owners can forget to give it and probably remember sometime in the window of 30-45 days.

For trips into tick infested areas I also use, not only on the dogs but also on us, permethrin impregnated clothing (we have shirts, pants, socks and hats as well.) This is a powerful insect repellent that is very effective but should not be used directly on the skin and it can’t be ingested. So the clothing is impregnated with it and doesn’t weep onto the skin. Tests done by the military show the only place they can find where this leaves the fabric is in dryer lint. It won’t weep in water or in the wash. We tie bandannas on the dogs’ necks securely to keep ticks away from their faces. This is one place where you can’t apply Frontline and the location where we would find ticks.

I see there are plenty of websites selling these bandannas (and human clothing too.) Pick one that is within your budget. Most of these must follow government regulations to sell them. Here is one study that shows a 93% reduction in tick bites.
https://www.insectshield.com/Tick-Study.aspx

When we finish with walks in the areas where we know there are ticks, before the dogs get in the car, I rub them down briskly with towels, focusing on their beards, eyebrows, between the toes, armpits and groin. All places where ticks may be able to get away from the Frontline.
my best
patrice

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