Compare Bravecto and Nexgard

Two new dog tick products have hit the Australian market this year and it's hard to choose which is the best, Nexgard by Merial and Bravecto by Merck Sharp Dohme (MSD)

.

Both Nexgard and Bravecto work by attacking the nervous system of fleas and ticks.  Nexgard was released in late 2014 followed by Bravecto in March 2015. Both are selling well in the Australian pet market and many dog owners want to see Bravecto and Nexgard compared.

Which Dogs Can Take It?

Nexgard: dogs at least 8 weeks of age and weighing at least 4 pounds.

Bravecto: dogs at least 6 months of age and weighing at least 4.4 pounds.

How Do I Give It?

Nexgard: beef-flavored chewable tablet given once each month with or without food. Dosage depends on your dog’s weight; 5 strengths available.

Bravecto: beef-flavored chewable tablet given once every twelve weeks (or every 3 months) with food.  Dosage depends on your dog’s weight; 5 strengths available.

Are Nexgard and Bravecto It Safe?

Nexgard: in a field study of 415 dogs, reactions included vomiting, dry/flaky skin, diarrhea, lethargy, and lack of appetite.  These reactions occurred in 4% or less of dogs.  Three dogs in the study had a history of seizures; 2 out of 3 experienced one or more seizures after taking Nexgard.  In the margin of safety study, Nexgard was given at 1, 3, and 5x the recommended dose, with only vomiting noted as an adverse event.  All lab data collected from all dogs was normal.

Bravecto: in a field study of 294 dogs, reactions included vomiting, decreased appetite, diarrhea, lethargy, and increased drinking.  These reactions occurred in 7.1% or less of dogs.  In the margin of safety study, Bravecto was given at 1, 3, and 5x the recommended dose, with diarrhea and vomiting noted as adverse events.  All lab data collected from all dogs was normal.

Nexgard compared to Bravecto

At the end of the day,  the major factor for dog owners to consider is the choice between once monthly and every three month administration.  All things considered, most vets are recommending Bravecto although Nexgard may have its place for dogs under 6 months of age who cannot be started on Bravecto.

The other factor is pricing, however the cost of buying Nexgard or Bravecto online is reasonable and will generally work out cheaper than Frontline Plus or Kiltix over 12 months. You can buy Nexgard online from $42.96 and you can buy Bravecto online from $38.48.