Despite herculean efforts over more than two decades, a new study reveals 72 percent of pet owners don’t research flea and tick prevention. Only half say they treat their pets year-round.
Source: Pet Product News, May 9, 2018. Link. A new consumer study, conducted by The Harris Poll on behalf of Merck Animal Health, reveals that there are knowledge gaps among U.S. pet owners related to the identification, prevention and treatment of fleas and ticks. Many pet owners may not be as knowledgeable, or as prepared as they think. In fact, one third (33 percent) say that they do not give their pets regular flea/tick medication and nearly half (48 percent) don’t bring their pets in for routine exams to protect against these parasites.
INSIGHTS: Studies like this are alarming. Animal health pros must take these results as a call to action. Just because we have discussed flea, tick, and heartworm 15 times a day for months on end does not mean that pet owners understand the risk. In fact, many animal health pros are not compliant with their own pets. Come on folks! We must model the behaviors we expect from animal owners with our own.