Leigh Hofmeister, DVM, provides a short history of flea and tick challenges before the modern-day preventatives hit the marketplace. She compares oral and topical forms and reinforces the need for clients to use them to protect their pets.
Let’s try to keep the flea and tick wars between brands and not return the battleground to the environment versus the pet. Reports in Central Missouri indicate the ticks are VERY ACTIVE as the weather warms. Fleas will wake-up soon if they haven’t already.
Source: INSIGHT, Patterson Vet, April 2020, Page 30. Link. From topicals to orals, we have more options than ever to prevent and control fleas and ticks. Pet owners need to understand their preventatives and why they need to administer them on a regular basis.
Educating clients and providing solid recommendations will eventually win the war against parasites!”
INSIGHTS: Use a multi-faceted approach to flea, tick and heartworm preventatives this year. Use social media, newsletters and make outbound calls to pet owners based on clinic records. Consider moving preventatives to a home-delivery service that complements individual pet owner compliance. Some platforms are made to be proactive with reminders and messages, in addition to home delivery.