Small steps. Big Impact.
Flea and tick spot-ons are an important way to protect your pet’s health but how you use them really matters.
The way these medicines are applied can affect how well they work and whether they end up in our waterways and wider environment.
What you can do
Plan – Apply – Protect
Plan
If you need to wash your pet then do it in the days before applying the medicine, rather than afterwards.
Pick a time to apply the medicine when you won’t be in close contact with your pet, for example at night or before you go to work.
Apply
Read the product instructions or visit the Veterinary Medicines Directorate’s Product Information Database to understand how to apply it right.
Part your pet’s fur at the application site(s) until you can see the skin, apply directly to the skin not the fur.
Protect
Don’t touch the application site until it is dry.
Do not let your pet swim for at least 4 days after application.
Try to limit swimming and washing of your pet in the weeks after application.
Bin used pipettes – don’t rinse them down the sink or recycle.
Ask your medicine supplier about returning unused or expired medicine.
Put pet fur from treated animals in the bin, don’t leave it out for nesting birds
Seek professional advice from your vet or medicine supplier about your flea and tick control if the above steps prove difficult for you and your pet, or if your medicine appears to not be working.
Buying products safely
Always buy flea and tick treatments from a reputable source: your vet, an SQP-registered retailer, or a registered online pharmacy. The VMD has published a list of registered online retailers.
Counterfeit and unlicensed products do exist and may not work as intended or could harm your pet. If a product seems unusually cheap or arrives without proper packaging and labelling, treat this as a warning sign.
The VMD and Intellectual Property Office have issued guidance for pet owners on how to spot fake flea and tick treatments and what to do if you have suspicions, this includes reporting to the VMD.
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