FIVP is encouraging independent practices to take part in the Veterinary Medicine Directorate (VMD) Spot-On Aware campaign.
‘Be Spot On Aware’, which has been welcomed by RUMA Companion Animal & Equine, calls on pet owners to follow three simple steps any time they use a spot-on treatment:
Plan
If owners need to wash their pet, they should do it in the days before applying the medicine rather than afterwards. They should pick a time to apply the medicine when they won’t be in close contact with their pet.
Apply
Read the medication instructions or visit the VMD’s Product Information Database for detailed instructions. Owners should part the pet’s fur at the application site so they are applying medicine directly to the skin and not the fur.
Protect
Owners should not touch the application site until it is dry. Pets should not be permitted to swim for at least four days after application, and washing should be limited in the weeks after application. Any pet fur from treated animals must be binned, not left out.
Used pipettes must be binned, and not rinsed or recycled. If possible, practices should support pet owners with disposing of unused or expired medicine.
The Initiative
The initiative has been launched after Defra reported dangerous levels of fipronil and imidacloprid in the UK’s waterways. VMD-funded research revealed that these chemicals had entered waterways through wastewater and when treated pets swam in natural bodies of water.
The VMD says that it is vital treatments are used safely and correctly. This ensures medicines remain effective, prevent parasites and disease, and reduce harm to the environment.
RUMA CA&E, which runs its annual Animal Medicines Amnesty every November, has welcomed the VMD’s new initiative.
A spokesperson said: “RUMA Companion Animal & Equine welcomes this campaign and its focus on helping pet owners use flea and tick spot-on treatments responsibly. We believe that promoting awareness of responsible use of parasiticides amongst pet owners is a real priority and are proud to support this important initiative.”
The campaign resources can be found here.
