Three Bears Vets will no longer be stocking or prescribing spot-on parasite treatments for dogs. We will continue to prescribe tablet versions (e.g. Nexgard Spectra; Bravecto).
There is increasing evidence that the active ingredients in spot-ons are causing environmental pollution (1,2), and are having a significant impact on aquatic wildlife (3,4).
As an example, it is estimated that if a big dog is treated with a spot-on and then swims in a large pond, 50% of the aquatic invertebrates in the pond would be dead within 48hrs (5). There are then knock-on effects up the food chain, impacting fish, birds and mammals.
For these reasons we would ask you to consider both the product you use on your dogs, as well as thinking about reducing your use of parasite treatments if possible. The indiscriminate, monthly, prophylactic use of anti-parasitic drugs is often unnecessary, and could be ecologically damaging.
If you have any questions or would like to discuss this further then please get in touch.
References:
1. Goulson D. An overview of the environmental risks posed by neonicotinoid insecticides. J Appl Ecol 2013;50:977–87
2. Hallman CA, Sorg M, Jongejans E, et al. More than 75 percent decline in 27 years in total flying insect biomass in protected areas. PLoS One 2017;12:e0185809
3. Yamamuro M, Komuro T, Kamiya H, et al. Neonicotinoids disrupt aquatic food webs and decrease fishery yields. Science 2019;366:620–3
4. Liebig M, Fernandez AA, Blubaum-Gonaut E, et al. Environmental risk assessment of
5. Little CJL, Boxall ABA. Environmental pollution from pet parasiticides. Veterinary Record 186, 97.