Cat and dog owners are being urged to safely use flea and tick spot-on treatments as part of a new national campaign helping to protect UK waterways from contamination.
Spot-on treatments are used to protect the UK’s 21 million pet cats and dogs from fleas and ticks, but there are concerns that these medicines are not always used in line with the instructions in the product leaflet, which can cause harm to the natural environment, News Cover reports, citing the UK government's official website.
Monitoring by the Environment Agency has detected fipronil and imidacloprid, two active ingredients commonly used in flea and tick treatments, in UK waterways at levels that could harm aquatic insects such as mayflies and dragonflies. Research funded by the Veterinary Medicines Directorate (VMD) shows these substances can enter waterways through wastewater and when treated pets swim in natural bodies of water.
It’s important to use these treatments safely and correctly so they continue to work effectively, protect pets and people from parasites and the diseases they can carry, and reduce potential harm to the environment.
Pet owners are encouraged to follow three simple steps when using flea and tick spot-ons to help limit environmental impacts while continuing to protect animal health.
