Bravecto Plus Topical Solution for Cats 13.8-27.5 lbs (6.25-12.5 kg)

Description

Bravecto Plus Topical Solution for Cats 13.8-27.5 lbs (6.25-12.5 kg) contains 500 mg fluralaner and 25 mg moxidectin per tube, the highest-dose variant in the Bravecto Plus cat range, formulated for larger-bodied cats requiring full labeled coverage across ectoparasites and endoparasites in a single bi-monthly application. Cats over 27.5 lbs should be administered the appropriate combination of tubes; a veterinarian should determine which tube combination covers the cat’s actual body weight at the minimum dose of 40 mg/kg fluralaner and 2 mg/kg moxidectin.

Recommended for

Cats and kittens weighing 13.8–27.5 lbs (6.25–12.5 kg) from 6 months of age and older.

Indication/Coverage

For cats suffering from, or at risk from, mixed parasitic infections, the complete labeled indications for Bravecto Plus Topical Solution (13.8–27.5 lbs) are as follows:

• Heartworm prevention: Prevention of heartworm disease caused by Dirofilaria immitis larvae; moxidectin acts systemically after transdermal absorption, with dosing required at 2-month intervals to maintain continuous larval coverage.
• Flea treatment and prevention: Treatment and prevention of flea infestations (Ctenocephalides felis, adults); laboratory studies confirm 100% flea kill within 12 hours and greater than 99% reduction in live flea counts sustained throughout the 2-month dosing period.
• Black-legged tick control: Treatment and control of Ixodes scapularis infestations for 2 months; controlled laboratory studies demonstrate 98.1% or greater effectiveness at 48 hours post-treatment or infestation.
• American dog tick control: Treatment and control of Dermacentor variabilis infestations for 2 months; effectiveness exceeds 90% at 48 hours; label data do not support efficacy claims beyond the 2-month interval.
• Asian longhorned tick control: Treatment and control of Haemaphysalis longicornis infestations for 2 months; laboratory data confirm 98.1% or greater effectiveness at 48 hours post-treatment or infestation.
• Gulf Coast tick control: Treatment and control of Amblyomma maculatum infestations for 2 months; 100% effectiveness demonstrated at 72 hours; effectiveness beyond 2 months has not been established in controlled studies.
• Intestinal roundworm treatment: Treatment of Toxocara cati infections at 4th-stage larval, immature adult, and adult life stages.
• Intestinal hookworm treatment: Treatment of Ancylostoma tubaeforme infections at 4th-stage larval, immature adult, and adult life stages.

Key Benefits

The following are based on Merck Animal Health’s prescribing information and controlled laboratory data specific to this formulation and weight range.

• Highest-dose cat variant: At 500 mg fluralaner and 25 mg moxidectin per tube, this variant delivers the minimum labeled dose of 40 mg/kg fluralaner and 2 mg/kg moxidectin to cats at the lower boundary of 13.8 lbs (6.25 kg), maintaining therapeutic plasma concentrations consistent with the product’s efficacy data.
• Eight-parasite coverage in one application: A single tube addresses fleas, four tick species, heartworm larvae, intestinal roundworm, and intestinal hookworm, removing the need for a concurrent monthly oral endoparasite preventative.
• Transdermal systemic mechanism: Fluralaner and moxidectin both absorb through the skin and circulate systemically; fluralaner inhibits arthropod GABA-gated and glutamate-gated chloride channels, while moxidectin binds to the same channel types in parasitic nematodes, producing paralysis and death.
• Rapid flea elimination: In controlled laboratory studies, Bravecto Plus reduced live flea counts by 100% within 12 hours of treatment and maintained greater than 99% flea count reduction within 12 hours of treatment or re-infestation for the full 2-month period.
• 2-month single-dose interval: One application covers all labeled indications for 8 weeks, replacing the monthly administration schedule required by most feline parasite products and reducing the frequency of handling for large cats that resist restraint.
• Larval and adult worm coverage: Moxidectin targets Toxocara cati and Ancylostoma tubaeforme at larval, immature adult, and adult stages, limiting the window during which re-establishment of intestinal burdens can occur between doses.
• Spot-on format eliminates oral resistance: Topical application removes the compliance problem presented by oral chewables in cats that refuse, spit out, or cannot be adequately restrained for tablet dosing.
• No absolute contraindications on the approved label: The FDA-approved prescribing information identifies no known contraindications; cats with neurologic history nonetheless require veterinary assessment before administration due to the isoxazoline class association with tremors, ataxia, and seizures.

Caution

Hazards to Humans

Not for human use. Keep out of reach of children; do not allow children to contact the application site for at least 2 hours after dosing. Avoid skin and eye contact during handling; flush eyes thoroughly with water if exposure occurs and seek immediate medical attention if contact lenses are worn. Wash hands and any exposed skin with soap and water promptly after use. The product is highly flammable.

Hazards to Domestic Animals

Bravecto Plus is for topical use in cats only and must not be swallowed. This tube is formulated for cats weighing 13.8–27.5 lbs (6.25–12.5 kg) that are at least 6 months old; cats outside this weight range or below the minimum age should not receive this variant. Safety has not been established in breeding, pregnant, or lactating cats; a veterinarian should evaluate whether treatment is appropriate for these animals. Fluralaner belongs to the isoxazoline class, associated with neurologic adverse reactions including tremors, ataxia, and seizures, even in cats without prior neurologic disease; cats with such history require veterinary clearance. Heartworm-positive cats should be assessed by a veterinarian before administration.

Possible Side Effects

Monitor your cat closely for at least 48 hours following each application; post-approval adverse event data indicate this is the period of highest reported reaction incidence.

The reactions below are compiled from the controlled U.S. field study (135 cats over 120 days) and post-approval adverse drug experience reports submitted to FDA/CVM, listed in decreasing frequency of occurrence:

• Application site alopecia: Localized hair loss restricted to the dosing site; recorded in both the field study and post-approval reporting; resolves without treatment in most cases.
• Hypersalivation: Arises when cats access the application site through self-grooming or inter-cat grooming before the solution has fully absorbed; caused by the formulation’s taste, particularly diethyltoluamide, rather than systemic toxicity.
• Vomiting: Reported in 5.9% of Bravecto Plus-treated cats in the field study versus 12.2% in the active control group; typically transient and self-limiting.
• Lethargy: Identified in 3.7% of treated cats during the 120-day field study, compared to 9.8% in the control group, indicating the rate is not substantially higher than background incidence.
• Diarrhea: Occurred in 3.7% of treated cats versus 7.3% in the active control group across the same observation period.
• Elevated ALT: Alanine aminotransferase values exceeding twice the upper reference range (100 IU/L) were recorded in 3.0% of treated cats, with concurrent mild AST elevation; no clinical signs of liver disease were documented in affected animals.
• Neurologic signs (rare): Tremors, ataxia, and seizures have been reported in cats receiving isoxazoline-class medications, including cats without a prior neurologic history. Stop use immediately and contact a veterinarian if any neurologic sign appears.
• Post-approval foreign market reports (within 48 hours): Behavioral changes including aggression and hyperactivity, periorbital swelling, erythema, excessive grooming, mydriasis, pyrexia, and alopecia have been reported voluntarily following administration.