Bravecto vs Simparica: Key Differences (Vet Answer)
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Both Bravecto and Simparica offer effective and fast-acting prevention against fleas and ticks. Bravecto lasts for 12 weeks as opposed to 35 days like Simparica. If you’re someone who doesn’t want to have to treat their dog every month, then Bravecto is the product for you. Bravecto offers a spot-on version for dogs that are difficult to tablet, along with a spot-on for cats.
If you live in an area with a high population of ticks, then it’s worth bearing in mind that Simparica offers protection against 5 different types of ticks, as opposed to the 4 that Bravecto covers. Bravecto appears to be the more popular product overall, but this could be in part because it has been available for longer than Simparica.
At a Glance
Let’s look at the key points of each product:
- Chewable, palatable tablet for dogs for flea and tick prevention
- 1 tablet offers 12-week protection against fleas and ticks
- Starts killing fleas within 2 hours of administration
- Kills 4 different species of ticks
- For use in dogs 6 months of age or older
- Safe for use in breeding, pregnant and lactating bitches
- Only available by veterinary prescription
- Chewable, palatable tablet for dogs for flea and tick prevention
- 1 tablet offers protection for 35 days against fleas and ticks
- Starts killing fleas within 3 hours of administration
- Kills 5 different species of ticks
- For use in dogs 6 months of age or older
- Not licensed for use in breeding, pregnant or lactating bitches
- Only available by veterinary prescription
Overview of Bravecto
- It only must be given once every 12 weeks
- It’s licensed for use in breeding, pregnant and lactating bitches
- It’s easy to administer to most dogs
- There is also a spot-on formulation available for dogs that are difficult to tablet
- Bravecto also produces a spot-on for cats, so it may be more suitable for households where there are both dogs and cats
- It’s fast-acting
- You might be more likely to forget when it’s due compared with a monthly routine
- It’s more expensive than some other competitive products
- As with any medication, side effects are possible and Bravecto could cause vomiting or other gut problems
- In rare cases, it has been known to cause neurological side effects or seizures
Overview of Simparica
- It’s a monthly treatment but lasts for 35 days, providing a few extra days of protection should you forget to give it exactly when it’s due
- Its effectiveness doesn’t wane toward the end of the 35 days
- It’s easy to administer to most dogs
- It’s more suitable than a spot-on for animals that regularly swim or require bathing
- It’s fast-acting
- It’s not licensed for use in breeding, pregnant and lactating bitches
- It has to be administered monthly
- It might be difficult to administer to dogs that are fussy eaters or do not take tablets well
- As with any medication, side effects are possible and Simparica could cause vomiting or other gut problems
- In rare instances, it has been known to cause neurological side effects or seizures
How do they compare?
Active ingredient
The active ingredient in Bravecto is fluralaner. The active ingredient in Simparica is sarolaner. These both belong to the isoxazoline class of ectoparasiticides.
Target parasites
Both Bravecto and Simparica kill:
- Ctenocephalides felis (Cat flea)
- Ixodes scapularis (Back-legged tick)
- Dermacentor variabilis (American dog tick)
- Rhipicephalus sanguineus (Brown dog tick)
- Amblyomma americium (Lone star tick)
Simparica also kills Amblyomma maculatum (Gulf Coast tick).
Onset of action
Both products are fast-acting. Bravecto starts to kill fleas within 2 hours of administration and Simparica starts to kill fleas within 3 hours of administration. Both Bravecto and Simparica start to kill ticks within 8 hours of administration.
Duration of action
One Bravecto tablet provides 12 weeks of protection against fleas and ticks (8 weeks’ protection against the Lone star tick). One Simparica tablet provides 35 days of protection against fleas and ticks.
Efficacy
According to most recent studies, Simparica appears to have a greater efficacy throughout its dosing interval compared to Bravecto. However, it’s important to note that these studies were funded by the company that makes Simparica, which could present a potential source of bias.
Available formulations
In addition to the chewable tablet, Bravecto is available as a spot-on treatment. Simparica is only available as a chewable tablet.
Species use
Bravecto is available for dogs as a chewable tablet and a spot-on treatment. It is also available for cats as a spot-on treatment. Simparica is only available as a chewable tablet for dogs.
Weight
Bravecto can be used for dogs weighing 4.4 lbs or greater. Simparica can be used for dogs weighing 2.8 lbs or greater, meaning it is suitable for more puppies than Bravecto. For both products, there are different weight bands of treatments depending on the weight of the animal to be treated.
Cost
For the same period of treatment, Bravecto does tend to be slightly more expensive than Simparica.
What the users say
We’ve looked into what people who’ve used these products have to say about them. From reading reviews and various forums, it seems that on the whole, the feedback for both Bravecto and Simparica is very positive.
Many people say that they like the fact that they are both tablets and much less messy than applying spot-on treatments. They are also both said to be very easy to administer, with lots of people commenting that their dogs love the taste and will take them just like a treat. There are, however, a few reports of dogs not liking the taste of Bravecto and pet parents commenting that they must break the tablet up and disguise it in food.
Although most people comment that there are no side effects with either Bravecto or Simparica, a few people report that their dog was lethargic and had vomiting and/or diarrhea after administration. There is the occasional mention of a dog that has had a seizure after administration of either tablet.
Bravecto
People love the fact that Bravecto lasts for three months, and lots of users say that they have not seen any ticks on their dog since they started using it, despite many of them living in tick-dense areas. They also say that it seems to work instantly when it comes to killing fleas. A few people mention that it is at the higher end of the price bracket compared with other parasite treatments, but many also state that it is well worth the expense. Some people even say that it works out cheaper than applying monthly spot-on treatments.
Simparica
Simparica also appears to be a popular choice of flea and tick medication, with many users highly recommending it. They say that it works straight away and report that their dog hasn’t had any ticks or fleas since they started using it. A few people comment that it is more expensive than some other products but worth it due to its effectiveness.
It is worth mentioning that since Bravecto was introduced onto the market, there have been anecdotal reports linking it to the death of some pets. However, it is important to note that there has been no evidence to date to associate Bravecto with pet deaths. As with all medicines, Bravecto had to undergo rigorous testing to ensure that it was safe and effective before it was approved by the FDA and released onto the market.
Final Thoughts
In this review, Bravecto pips Simparica to the post, but only just! The fact that Bravecto only has to be given once every 12 weeks, compared with monthly for Simparica, gives it a winning advantage. It also comes in a spot-on version, which is great for those dogs who can’t or won’t take tablets (no matter how palatable they are!). Bravecto also offers a spot-on version for cats, which makes it a winner for those households with both cats and dogs.
Having said this, Simparica does have an advantage over Bravecto in that it protects against 5 species of tick rather than just 4, and it can also be used in smaller dogs and puppies than Bravecto can.
It is important to mention that both Bravecto and Simparica are highly effective treatments, and each may have its own advantages over the other for different pets and different pet parents. Always be guided by your veterinarian when it comes to choosing the best parasite treatment for your furry friend, as every dog is different.
