FDA approves shot that protects dogs from fleas and ticks for 8-12 months
The U.S. Food and Drug Administration has approved a new shot that protects dogs six months or older against fleas and ticks.
Merck Animal Health's Bravecto Quantum is officially the first FDA approved drug that protects dogs from fleas and ticks for eight months to a year, the agency announced on Thursday, July 10.
Licensed veterinarians may now administer the parasiticide injection, monitor for adverse reactions and determine the appropriate treatment interval based on each dog, according to the FDA, which prohibits anyone without proper licensing and professional expertise to perform the shots.
Christine Royal, Director of Merck Animal Health's Veterinary Professional Services, said the FDA approval sets a new standard offering dog owners a safe and effective option for flea and tick protection.
"We take great pride in our company’s leadership in long-acting preventative parasiticides and are excited to offer a convenient option that gives dogs year-round comprehensive protection from fleas and ticks in one easy injection they can receive from their veterinarian," Royal said in a news release.
What is Bravecto Quantum?
Bravecto Quantum is an injectable medication for dogs six months or older that can protect against fleas and ticks for eight to 12 months.
The drug uses a unique type of fluralaner that can maintain effectiveness for up to a year, according to Merck Animal Health.
The research company encourages dog owners to check with a veterinarian to stop fleas and ticks, which can pose health risks to both animal and human health as some transmit diseases. Fleas, which can live in both warm and cold climates, also cause severe allergic dermatitis in dogs and cats, Merck Animal Health warns.
When will Bravecto Quantum be available?
Bravecto Quantum is expected to be available at veterinary clinics and hospitals across the U.S. as soon as August 2025, Merck Animal Health announced.
The drug was first approve in Australia and New Zealand in 2023. Last year the European Union followed suit and now its approved in more than 50 nations globally.
FDA urges dog owners to check with veterinarian first
The FDA is urging pet owners to ask a veterinarian is a safe and effective option for their dogs.
Bravecto Quantum contains the ingredient fluralaner, which falls under the antiparasitic drug class known as isoxazolines. The FDA states that while isoxazolines have proven to treat and control fleas and certain ticks in pets, their effectively typically lasts for one month.
The FDA also warns that some isoxazoline products have been associated with neurologic adverse reactions in dogs and cats such as muscle tremors, ataxia and seizures.
More human ER visits caused by ER visits then years past
Halfway through 2025, emergency room visits prompted by tick bites peaked to the highest rate in five years nationwide, according to new Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) data.
In the Northeast tick bites accounted for 283 ER visits per 100,000 during the peak month of May, up from 209 around the same time last year, the CDC's Tick Bite Data Tracker shows.
By July 6, the CDC reported that emergency department visits for tick bites already surpassed nearly a decade of July records, with 92 visits per 100,000 reported nationwide. The most common ER visitors included children ages 0 to 9 and people over the age of 70.
Contributing: Mary Walrath-Holdridge, Paste BN