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Paws for thought

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Paws for thought

More and more people are relying on OTC products to ensure the wellbeing of their pets. Learn more about this golden opportunity for pharmacy

The UK is a nation of animal lovers. At last count, we were the proud owners of no fewer than 7.8 million dogs, 9.5 million cats and one million rabbits. Yet despite the best intentions of pet owners, a lack of awareness and misinformed choices means that many vets and animal charities are concerned about pet welfare.

Recent studies suggest a shift in preventative healthcare as fewer pet owners visit vets and more rely on OTC treatments to keep their furry friends fit and well. This presents an excellent business opportunity for pharmacies which, according to Elaine Pendlebury, senior vet at the People’s Dispensary for Sick Animals (PDSA), should work with vets to improve pet welfare. “It’s the same advice as for people,” says Elaine. “Pharmacies and doctors liaise, as should pharmacies and vets.”

Although Elaine stresses that veterinary treatment is critical for any serious or first time-occurring conditions, she also believes that pharmacies should play a role in maintaining pet health. “Pharmacies can display leaflets, stock everyday products such as food or OTC products, and advise customers when to speak to a vet,” says Elaine. “Pharmacies should act as a point of reference.”

Animal welfare

The 2006 Animal Welfare Act introduced a ‘duty of care’ for all pet owners to meet their pet’s welfare needs:

  • Environment – the need for a suitable place to live
  • Diet – the need for suitable food and water
  • Behaviour – the need to express themselves
  • Companionship – the need to live with, or apart from, other animals
  • Health – the need to be protected from pain, suffering, injury and disease.

Yet according to the latest PDSA Animal Wellbeing report, only 38 per cent of owners are familiar with the act – that’s a decrease of seven per cent since 2011. Reassuringly, 91 per cent of pet owners think that regularly monitoring pet wellbeing is important. The report also found, however, that six per cent have reduced the amount they spend on preventative healthcare because of the current economic climate, which could have an impact on nearly one million pets.

A spokesperson for the British Small Animal Veterinary Association (BSAVA) says: “Undertaking research before getting a pet is essential. When a person takes on a pet they become responsible for meeting its welfare needs. The owner needs detailed information about the needs of the animal, as well as the resources in terms of time and money to provide for them.”

While pharmacists are not qualified to diagnose pet health conditions, with around 500,000 pet owners visiting community pharmacies in the UK every day, pharmacy staff are well placed to advise on preventing common ailments and recommending OTC treatments when customers know what their pet is suffering from. The BSAVA says: “We strongly recommend that companion animals are treated regularly against parasites in the interests of animal health and welfare, and in the case of zoonotic infections, to minimise the risk to human health.”

So what are the primary pet peeves affecting cats and dogs at the moment?

Fleas

Fleas are a common pet parasite, which feed on the blood of their host. Around one in five cats and one in 10 dogs in the UK are infested with fleas, yet many owners are unaware of the problem. The trouble is, the warm temperatures and humidity of our homes provides the optimum microclimate for multiple flea life stages, allowing them to live for up to 140 days. During this time, females can lay thousands of eggs, which pets may pick up and drop wherever they go.

Signs of an infestation include skin inflammation and excessive scratching, biting and grooming. Fleas or flea dirt may be visible on the pet’s coat and owners may notice bites on their own skin. Customers can do the ‘white paper test’ by combing the pet’s coat and collecting any debris on a damp piece of white paper or cotton wool. Flea dirt will dissolve to give red-brown swirls or patches.

Flea infestations can disrupt the general wellbeing of animals, causing itching, redness and hair loss. In severe cases, they can cause blood loss and lead to life threatening anaemia in kittens and puppies, as well as flea allergy dermatitis, and the transmission of tapeworms and bacterial diseases. Treatment should begin at the first sign of an infestation because scratching increases the risk of secondary bacterial infections. Fipronil is a topical insecticide that acts on the central nervous system of fleas and can provide protection for up to five weeks in cats and two months in dogs. It should be applied to the back of the animal’s neck, from where it spreads across the skin, rather than entering the pet’s bloodstream.

Fipronil is only effective against fleas during the adult stage, but customers can encourage hatching by vacuuming regularly and turning up the heating in the home. Cats and dogs should be treated for fleas throughout the year, regardless of whether they have an infestation. Pet owners should also be advised to wash bed linen above 60ºC and spray household insecticides around the home to help prevent the spread of fleas.

Pharmacies can display leaflets, stock everyday products such as food or OTC products, and advise customers when to speak to a vet

Ticks

Ticks are another parasite that can be easily picked up by dogs and cats, particularly in heathland and woodland, and increasingly in urban parks and gardens. Following their meal of the animal’s blood, female ticks drop off their host and die – but only after laying as many as 3,000 eggs. A tick infestation causes localised skin irritation and can be a portal for the transmission of diseases such as Lyme disease, tick paralysis and tick borne encephalitis.

If ticks are found, they should be removed with special tick tweezers as soon as possible by grasping the tick close to the skin and pulling upwards with a steady, even pressure. Fipronil can also be effective against ticks.

Ticks pose a risk to human health as they can transmit Lyme disease, a serious condition that can affect the heart, joints and nervous system. Public Health England estimates that there are between 2,000 and 3,000 cases of Lyme disease in England and Wales each year, and the recent damp summers and mild weather have allowed tick populations to thrive. Initial symptoms of Lyme disease may include a circular rash, fatigue, headaches and joint pain.

As well as monitoring pets for ticks, customers should check themselves daily and remove ticks as soon as possible. Covering up with clothing and sticking to designated footpaths can help dogs and dog walkers to avoid these nasty parasites.

 

What do ticks mean for humans?

Ticks pose a risk to human health as they can transmit Lyme disease, a serious condition that can affect the heart, joints and nervous system. Public Health England estimates that there are between 2,000 and 3,000 cases of Lyme disease in England and Wales each year, and the recent damp summers and mild weather have allowed tick populations to thrive.

Initial symptoms of Lyme disease may include a circular rash, fatigue, headaches and joint pain. As well as monitoring pets for ticks, customers should check themselves daily and remove ticks as soon as possible. Covering up with clothing and sticking to designated footpaths can help dogs and dog walkers to avoid these nasty parasites.

Worms

Tapeworms and roundworms can affect both cats and dogs. Tapeworms can reproduce in various intermediate hosts, including fleas, which can then transmit infection, while roundworms establish if an animal ingests infectious eggs or larvae from a dead animal or contaminated faeces. Infested puppies and kittens may develop diarrhoea or vomiting. Most adults are asymptomatic, but some suffer from a dull coat and occasional vomiting, or in severe cases a weakened immune system because of excessive blood loss, which can result in anaemia or even death.

As worms aren’t always apparent, pets should be wormed at least every three months with a dual wormer, while puppies and kittens require more frequent treatment. Pet owners should also clean and disinfect pet bowls regularly, and wash their hands thoroughly after touching their pet and before eating. Lungworm is an increasing concern for dogs in the UK. The larvae are carried by slugs and snails, which are commonly eaten when dogs eat grass or drink from outdoor water bowls. Infected foxes and dogs spread the parasite in their faeces, while frogs can also carry the larvae.

Older animals often have no symptoms, but they can develop breathing problems, poor blood clotting, changes in behaviour and general ill health, such as weight loss. Regularly disinfecting water bowls, cleaning up faeces and not leaving dog toys outdoors can help to reduce transmission. Owners should seek urgent vet advice if they suspect infection. Vets can also supply preventative treatments for lungworm.

Lice

Lice are parasites that live on the skin of animals – most commonly cats and dogs. They are less common than fleas and are associated with unsanitary environments. Symptoms include excessive itching, a dull coat, hair loss, and anaemia in puppies and small dogs. Lice are easy to detect and appear as small white dots on individual hair shafts. An insecticide such as fipronil is an effective treatment. To prevent reinfection, owners should wash all bedding and clean their home thoroughly – particularly carpets, furniture and areas where their pets like to sleep.

NB: For all treatments mentioned, customers should follow the manufacturer’s instructions carefully to ensure the correct dosage is administered for the animal’s species, size, age and weight.

 

Pet practice

As vet visits decline, pharmacies offer a convenient place for speedy pet advice. “Engaging with local vets and building up a synergistic relationship is a way of increasing awareness of accessibility of veterinary medicine in pharmacy,” says an NPA spokesperson. “This can lead to positive business growth for both parties via mutual referrals.” The NPA advises stocking products according to location. For instance, a rural pharmacy could stock a wider range of pet products than a city pharmacy, and possibly include equine products alongside those for cats and dogs.

Pet products generally recommended for pharmacy include:

  • Dual wormers
  • Flea treatments
  • Household insecticides
  • Food, toys and accessories

“This will ensure that customers have a choice of products and will return to the pharmacy for further supplies,” adds the NPA. NPA members can access guidance and support on promoting pet services within their business via the NPA pharmacy services team.

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