FDA expands Bravecto Quantum tick label in dogs

The FDA has approved an expanded label for Merck Animal Health’s Bravecto Quantum, adding 12-month treatment and control claims in dogs for the Asian longhorned tick (Haemaphysalis longicornis) and Gulf Coast tick (Amblyomma maculatum). Merck announced the update on March 18, 2026, building on Bravecto Quantum’s original July 10, 2025 approval as the first FDA-approved long-acting flea and tick treatment for dogs, delivered as a single subcutaneous injection by a licensed veterinarian. The product remains labeled for 12 months against fleas, black-legged tick, American dog tick, and brown dog tick, while lone star tick coverage remains limited to 8 months. (merck-animal-health.com)

Why it matters: For veterinary professionals, the label expansion broadens species-specific coverage at a time when tick geography is shifting and clinicians are seeing more concern around emerging and regionally expanding parasites, including the Asian longhorned tick. The approval may make Bravecto Quantum more relevant in practices managing long-duration parasite prevention plans, but it also reinforces the need for precise counseling: dosing intervals still vary by tick species, and FDA labeling says veterinarians must determine whether 8- or 12-month retreatment is appropriate based on likely exposure. Isoxazoline class warnings also still apply, including the risk of neurologic adverse reactions in some dogs. (cdc.gov)

What to watch: Watch for how practices update parasite protocols, and whether Merck’s marketing language changes further as its “once-a-year” messaging remains under challenge over the product’s 8-month lone star tick interval. (bbbprograms.org)