Taking Control of Flea and Tick

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Taking Control of Flea and Tick Flea and tick prevention begins with education By Laura Thill Flea and tick products today are readily available, and many agree they work better than ever before.

1 Taking Control of Flea and Tick Flea and tick prevention begins with education By Laura Thill Flea and tick products today are readily available, and many agree they work better than ever before. Why, then, do these parasites continue to present a problem for dogs, cats and their owners? Flea and tick control continues to be a nationwide problem for several reasons, according to experts: Climate change has led to a greater prevalence of parasites, as well as the movement of parasites to more areas of the country. As more wildlife migrates to suburban and urban areas, they bring with them more fleas and ticks. A lack of information leaves some pet owners in the dark when it comes to the importance of yearround prevention, as well as proper technique in applying products. There will always be fleas, says Michael Murray, DVM, MS, Dipl, ACVIM, technical marketing director for U.S.A. Pet Parasiticides, Merial Limited. Feral cats, possum, raccoons even the neighbor s pets are a source of infestations, he points out. A flea-infested feral cat sleeping under your deck each night can leave behind hundreds of flea eggs, he says. And when those eggs have developed into new, hungry fleas, a pet owner s dog can pick them up in seconds during a romp in the backyard. This same urban wildlife, as well as deer and birds, can also leave behind ticks. Products that kill both fleas and ticks are really targeting very different parasites that have one thing in common feeding on blood. Preventives are a form of insurance, note experts. However, it s a policy that some pet owners don t feel compelled to invest in. According to a 2012 Gallup study, It would be great if veterinarians could predict the weather for pet owners. But, they can t, and, if pet owners wait until they see fleas on their pet, it s probably too late. Michael Murray, DVM, MS, Dipl, ACVIM, technical marketing director for U.S.A. Pet Parasiticides, Merial Limited 54 January/February 2014»» Veterinary advantage

roughly half of pet owners treat all year long, while about one third of pet owners treat in-season flea and tick problems, and one of every six pet owners have the attitude that they ll only treat

There are many factors contributing to this, he points out: Pet owners try to save money by not purchasing flea and tick preventives, they have the preventives but get busy and forget to apply them,

2 roughly half of pet owners treat all year long, while about one third of pet owners treat in-season flea and tick problems, and one of every six pet owners have the attitude that they ll only treat flea and tick when they see a problem, says Doug Yoder, director of marketing analytics and insights, Bayer Healthcare. There are many factors contributing to this, he points out: Pet owners try to save money by not purchasing flea and tick preventives, they have the preventives but get busy and forget to apply them, or they don t apply them correctly. Indeed, about 17 percent of pet owners have scaled back on flea and tick protection, notes Paris Revoir, DVM, national training manager at Bayer Healthcare and the former owner of PetWorks Veterinary Hospital, citing a recent PetCareRx study printed in the Fountain Agricounsel newsletter. At the same time, about 300,000 cases of human Lyme disease are reported annually in the United States. When talking to pet owners in the Northeast, it s rare to find pets or their owners that haven t been impacted in some way by Lyme, he says. The perfect storm Year-round flea and tick control is especially important given that egg development is weather dependent, says Murray. And weather is unpredictable. Last summer, we had some high humidity and relatively cool temperatures, he recalls. This was ideal for the development and survival of flea larvae. Then, later in the summer it warmed up, and suddenly the fleas Pet owners were polled on flea and tick preventives: Roughly half of pet owners treat all year long One third treat in-season flea and tick problems, One of every six pet owners have the attitude that they ll only treat flea and tick when they see a problem were everywhere. Pet owners not only were battling the fleas that developed outdoors, but also the infestations in their home from the egg-laying fleas on their pets. It would be great if veterinarians could predict the weather for pet owners, he continues. But, they can t, and, if pet owners wait until they see fleas on their pet, it s probably too late. Those fleas have been laying eggs, which likely are in the pet owner s house by now! More than just a nuisance, in some cases this can be quite dangerous. A couple of years ago, there was a winter freeze in the South, he says. People turned up the heat, and the warm indoor temperatures caused flea eggs in their homes to quickly develop into hungry fleas looking for a blood meal. Some dogs were infested with hundreds of fleas and required blood transfusions. MeloxiMed TM (meloxicam) Injection 5 mg/ml solution for injection non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drug for use in dogs and cats only. anada approved by fda ndc benefits MeloxiMed TM can be administered intravenously or subcutaneously. One injection provides about 24 hours of pain and inflammation relief in dogs A single injection in cats provides pain & inflammation relief for about 15 hours. list no. unit PacKage case size 1mel x 10 ml 300 (30 x 10) indications dogs: For the control of pain and inflammation associated with osteoarthritis. cats: For the control of postoperative pain and inflammation associated with orthopedic surgery, ovariohysterectomy & castration when administered prior to surgery. caution: Federal law restricts this drug to use by or on the order of licensed veterinarian. Warning: Repeated use of meloxicam in cats has been associated with acute renal failure and death. Do not administer additional injectable or oral meloxicam to cats. See Contraindications, Warnings, and Precautions for detailed information. Veterinary advantage ««January/February

Weather watch Year-round flea and tick control is especially important given that egg development is weather dependent Similarly, tick development also is weather dependent, notes Murray.

3 Weather watch Year-round flea and tick control is especially important given that egg development is weather dependent Similarly, tick development also is weather dependent, notes Murray. Because ticks spend the majority of their time off a host, they are very susceptible to temperature and moisture, he says. Cooler, wet summers tend to be followed by a bigger tick season in the fall. And, all it takes is one tick to spread a serious infectious disease, he adds. The rep s role Veterinarians know that fleas and ticks present a yearround problem, necessitating continuous treatment. Sales reps can help their veterinarian customers inform and educate their clients. Distributor sales reps should have an open-ended discussion with their veterinarian [customers], says Revoir. Reps should find out what the veterinarian s overall strategy is with regard to flea and tick control. And, while lunch-and-learns are a great means for reps to present new products and solutions, the staff can only retain so much information, he says. For this reason, brochures and written instructions can be very helpful, particularly when reps highlight key information for their customers. Veterinarians love to teach, and sales reps can help put them in a teaching mode, says Revoir. [When I was a veterinary practice owner], I would set the box of flea and tick control on the examination table after having the flea and tick discussion and say to my clients, This is what I recommend medically for your pet. Pet owners are more likely to say Yes to a product if their veterinarian makes it clear he or she supports its use, he adds. At the same time, veterinarians are always looking to control their inventory, he points out. Offering too many products or letting clients make the choice can confuse clients something sales reps should keep in mind when presenting solutions to their customers. Veterinarians are looking for truly unique products that provide good efficacy and value for their clients, adds Yoder. Veterinarians and their clients have more choices than ever before, experts point out, including collars that provide up to eight months of protection and better tasting oral preventives. By asking a couple of probing questions, distributor sales reps can zero in on the needs of their customers and their clients: Doctor, can you tell me about the types of flea and tick problems you see at your practice? What do you feel is important to you and your clients in the way of a flea and tick solution? Veterinarians, in turn, can ask their clients some probing questions as well: Do you ever see deer, feral cats or other wildlife in your yard? Do you take your dog to a dog park? Where else do you take your pet? Questions such as these can help veterinarians better understand their patients risk for flea and tick issues, notes Murray, adding that this is a much better approach than trying to convince clients to use a product simply because the veterinarian has it on his or her shelf. Once veterinarians understand their patients risks for flea and tick, rather than telling clients what not to do, they can educate them about protecting their pets. Rather than veterinarians telling clients, Don t take your dog to the dog park, they can say, Let s see how we can protect your dog, he says. Veterinarians should make this a collaborative effort with the pet owners. After all, if pet owners voluntarily bring their pets to the veterinarian, they are interested in learning how to ensure the health of their pet, he points out. When pet owners feel more involved in the decisionmaking process, it follows they will be more likely to comply. 56 January/February 2014»» Veterinary advantage

4 »» Trends Flea Control The time to begin flea control is before the problem emerges. Chances are, no one will notice the first few fleas their pet brings in this spring. But, within a month, their home can become something of a flea factory, and their pet undoubtedly will be miserable. Dogs and cats (as well as coyotes, raccoons and possum) are prime targets for one species of flea in particular, Ctenocephalides felis, the cat flea. Once the cat flea jumps on its victim, it immediately feeds on its blood and remains there for its entire life at least two or three months. Within 24 hours of landing on a cat or dog, fleas begin laying their eggs as many as 40 or 50 per flea each day. The smooth eggs fall off the dog or cat and stick in grooves of hardwood floors, mats, carpets, beds and more. The eggs hatch into larvae, which thrive in warm areas with moisture, such as carpets. In the following seven to 21 days, the larvae, which feed on flea droppings, spin their cocoons. Within two or three weeks (up to 150 days in colder temperatures), a new flea emerges and lands on the dog or cat, and the cycle begins again. At the very least, fleas create an annoyance to dogs and cats, who scratch at them. Some pets are better than others at removing the pests, which latch onto their hair follicles. Sometimes, they present more than just an annoyance. Many pets develop an allergy to flea bites, and when cats and dogs ingest fleas during grooming, they may be infected with tapeworms. And, puppies, kittens or smaller breeds risk developing anemia due to loss of blood. Clearly the time to attack this problem is before it occurs. How flea products work Modern flea products work by killing adult fleas and preventing new infestations by killing fleas before they lay eggs or killing the eggs. For these products to be effective, they need to be used according to their labels and all dogs and cats in the household must be treated. Flea products should be used year-round, because although people tend to think of them as a spring-summer problem, some of the worst flea problems can occur in the autumn and winter. Relatively cool and damp summers can create ideal conditions for flea development, followed by a fall flea surge. These fleas can leave eggs behind in the home, and when the winter cold arrives and pet owners turn on the heat or humidifier, a flea infestation can surge within the home. Pet owners sometimes complain that the flea product they have purchased from the veterinarian does not work because the pet keeps becoming infested with fleas. This does not mean the product isn t working. Typically this occurs because the pet may be acquiring fleas from a flea development hotspot outdoors, or there may be a flea hotspot in the home. Even after a flea product is used, the eggs, larvae and pupae in the home continue to develop. It can take several weeks for this flea biomass to run its course. In that time, pet owners may see even more fleas on their pet than when they first treated it, because of a surge of developing fleas in the home. It will help pet owners if the veterinary staff establishes proper expectations for results using flea control products. An elaborate discussion of flea biology is not necessary, but there will be fewer complaints if the pet owner understands that pets can acquire new fleas in seconds, and that these fleas may take a few hours to be completely killed. That said, they will be killed typically before they have a chance to lay eggs if the pets are treated according to the product label. Veterinarians should remind their clients to keep their pets on a flea product, even after indoor fleas have fully disappeared. One romp through an area trespassed by an infested possum or raccoon, and a dog or cat easily can bring home another round of fleas. How to sell Distributor reps can ask what flea products the veterinary practice s clients prefer. How does the clinic ensure that pet owners get the product they need? Do they discuss flea control with the pet owner, or wait until the pet owner asks for a product? By working closely with the manufacturer, reps can supply their customers with tools, such as literature and videos, to keep clients informed on the importance of flea prevention. Editor s note: Vet-Advantage would like to acknowledge the contribution of Merial (Duluth, Ga.). 58 January/February 2014»» Veterinary advantage

5 Tick Control Ticks can present a year-round problem for pets, and a year-round opportunity for reps to help their veterinarian customers. Several species of ticks are native to the United States, and more than one species may gravitate to any one region or climate. Ticks feed on many animals, including deer, small rodents, opossums, raccoons and birds. As the habitat and number of wildlife have expanded, so has the geographic distribution of ticks. Ticks generally thrive in warmer weather, but one winter thaw can lead to a new surge when pet owners least expect it. For instance, the black-legged tick, which can infect dogs and people with Lyme disease, will be active and searching for a host on which to feed once the ambient temperature rises above freezing. No matter what time of year they emerge, however, ticks are known to transmit diseases that are life threatening to both pets and humans. Lyme disease tends to be the best known of these diseases, but ehrlichiosis, Rocky Mountain spotted fever and anaplasmosis are among other common ticktransmitted diseases. Virtually every area in the country is at risk for at least one of the tick-transmitted diseases. How it works Ticks feed on animals, including dogs and cats, for only a few days. Ticks are found in more places than ever today, and pets can be exposed not only in wooded areas but in their yard, neighborhood and parks as well. So, tick control is highly important, especially since one tick alone can transmit a serious disease. Commercial products containing DEET are toxic to animals; therefore pet-owners should stick with solutions specifically designed for pet use. Tick control products are available in topically applied liquids, collars and recently, in an oral product. The important thing is whether a product effectively kills ticks and, if so, for how long. While some products are appropriate for both dogs and cats, others may be toxic for one or the other, and reps need to be aware of the varying implications of the products they carry. Because ticks can thrive all year long, controlling ticks is a continuous challenge for pet owners. Typically, spring, summer and fall are the heavy tick seasons. Ticks decrease their activity as temperatures soar in the summer, but re-emerge as the weather cools off. Therefore, the Companion Animal Parasite Council recommends administering year-round tick prevention to dogs and cats, particularly in areas in which Lyme disease is endemic. How to sell Distributor reps can work with the manufacturer to acquire a greater understanding of the tick risk for each area or practice they work with. In addition, they must work with their customers to learn how pervasive the tick problem is for their patients. If two clinics in the same area are experiencing different degrees of tick problems, reps may need to explore this further to ensure that one clinic is not overlooking something. It is not unheard of for veterinarians to underestimate the reality of the threat of ticks. Reps should ask their customers what their practice recommends for tick control. In some cases, vets may be hearing from their clients that a product is not working well. This is a function of the number of ticks on a dog, rather than an ineffective product. If a tick product kills 95 percent of ticks, and the dog is infested with 100 ticks, a pet owner will notice five engorged ticks. Also, some clients may not realize it takes longer to kill ticks than it does to kill fleas. Reps can remind their customers that even the best products can take some time to eradicate a tick problem. Preventing the issue, rather than trying to end it once it develops, is always the best approach. Editor s note: Vet-Advantage would like to acknowledge the contribution of Merial (Duluth, Ga.). 60 January/February 2014»» Veterinary advantage

KILLS FLEAS AND TICKS WITH THE POWER OF 3

KILLS FLEAS AND TICKS WITH THE POWER OF 3 www.frontline.com THE POWER OF 3 IN ACTION. EASY-TO-USE APPLICATOR 1 EFFECTIVE Kills adult fl eas, fl ea larvae, fl ea eggs and 4 common species of ticks 2 FAST