Annual Prevention: Once-yearly shots protect against fleas, ticks, and heartworms
- Dallas Duncan
- Sep 30
- 3 min read
A new dog medication has joined the line-up of preventatives offered at Comer Veterinary Hospital. Now, with the addition of Bravecto Quantum, dog parents have the option to consider annual injectable preventions against heartworm disease, fleas, and ticks.
Comer Vet has offered ProHeart 12, a yearly injection that prevents against heartworm disease, since 2023. Bravecto Quantum, an annual shot that prevents fleas and ticks, released in July and has been available at Comer Vet since late August.
“We wanted to take some responsibility from the owner so they do not have to remember monthly prevention,” says Jessica Morris, vet tech and practice manager at Comer Vet. “Seeing flea and tick resistance, and heartworm disease that is resistant to other monthly preventions, Bravecto Quantum and ProHeart offer a different type of medication to offer more protection.”
Prior to launching Bravecto Quantum, the original Bravecto chewable flea and tick prevention lasted for three months. Knowing there was a possibility the active molecule could last longer was a major driver for manufacturer Merck in pursuing the new injectable, per the company.
Bravecto Quantum kills fleas and ticks when they bite and take a blood meal from a dog. The fleas and ticks ingest the drug’s active molecule, which kills them, therefore preventing them from laying eggs and increasing any infestation.
ProHeart came about because Zoetis wanted to have a product that would avoid lapses in heartworm protection, according to the company. Being late with a monthly chewable means that a dog could contract heartworm disease in the interim period between doses. Per Zoetis, ProHeart works by injecting moxidectin that is stored in a dog’s adipose, or fat, tissue. The molecules degrade over time, immediately killing any of the larval heartworms — called microfilaria — that come into contact with the dog.
Comer Vet receptionist Melissa Hegwood uses both ProHeart 12 and Bravecto Quantum on her dog Kovu, and her dog Delilah receives ProHeart.
“Delilah has been getting the ProHeart for a few years now and it has been great,” she says. “I could not wait for Kovu to get old enough to get the ProHeart when he turned a year old. Then, as soon as I heard there was a similar prevention for fleas and ticks coming out, I told my vet team to sign me up.”
She says both her pups spend lots of time outside, which puts them at risk for mosquito contact and therefore diseases like heartworm.
“I am really bad about remembering to give them their monthly prevention. Even with a reminder on my phone, I would often be giving it to them a week or more late,” Hegwood says. “Missing the oral doses left them at risk, so this keeps them better covered. Kovu has received the Bravecto injection and it has really eased my worry about missing the orals and him bringing fleas and ticks into the house. Delilah has not had Bravecto yet, but I will be discussing that with the vets at her yearly exam next month.”
Hollie Stamey, a vet assistant at Comer Vet, is in a similar boat with her dog. For now, she opted to continue using the oral flea and tick preventative he’s been on, which has worked well for him, but he has been on ProHeart for two years.
“I have a Great Dane. It’s a lot easier for him to just get the shot versus getting two different chewable tablets to fit his weight range,” she says.
Hegwood says it’s been an easy transition process for her dogs, though she still has a reminder set for her cats. At this time, there are no similar injections on the market geared toward felines.
“Once the injection is done, you don’t have to worry about it for a whole year,” she says. “No more monthly trips to pick up doses, no more fighting with the packaging, no more forgetting and feeling guilty about leaving my dogs unprotected — and it is actually more cost-effective than buying them every month.”
Comer Vet pet parents will receive a reminder from the clinic when it’s time to schedule their next annual vaccinations for ProHeart and/or Bravecto Quantum.
“I definitely recommend other dog owners to contact us about these injections,” Stamey says. “It does make life easier when it comes to remembering preventions.”
To see if your dog is a candidate for Bravecto Quantum and/or ProHeart 12 at Comer Vet, please give us a call at 706-783-5111 or request an appointment through our online form.
