Author: Mayne

One of the more hotly debated topics in veterinary medicine at the minute is the use of parasiticides to protect our pets both from parasites and the diseases that these parasites may transmit to our pets and ourselves. 

On one side of the debate, we have the parasitology experts who readily acknowledge that there is evidence that some of the products may be causing an environmental impact, and we should take care with their use, but point out we have a social obligation to be conscious of the impact that not treating for parasites may have.  Not only on the welfare of our pets, but also the impact they can have on other animals including farm animals, wildlife and disease risks to the more vulnerable members of the human population. 

On the other hand, those studying the environment are rightfully concerned that there is definite evidence that levels of the older generations of parasite drugs are building up in the environment and that these levels are having a negative impact on wildlife and the biodiversity of our planet.  They are also concerned that, while there is currently little evidence to support the argument that the newer generation of parasite products are having an impact, if we wait for that evidence to arrive, it may be too late to act.  As such we also have a social obligation to minimise the use of parasiticides wherever possible.

What we have tried to provide for you in this two-part article is a summary of what we know, what we suspect, and where we may need to gather more information.  Part One will look at how we have approached parasite treatment in the past, what we know about the build-up of these products in the environment and what information we need to seek moving forward.  Part Two will give more information about the parasites we would regularly treat in small animal medicine and the potential risks owners should be aware of when considering their personal treatment strategies.

A Quick Summary

As this is obviously a complex issue, we have started with a summary of the main three points:

1. We must stop using Fipronil and Imidacloprid products immediately

While the use of parasiticide drugs is under hot debate, there is little doubt from either side that these two drugs are causing real harm to the environment.  They are possibly not the only issue but are certainly the two that there is a significant amount of evidence to show there is a problem.  Their use in agricultural settings is already heavily regulated, however, there is significant evidence that their use in pet products is harming the environment.  The levels found in wastewater coming from households is considered to be high enough to be causing an impact, and the drugs survive sewage treatment to make it into water environments.  In addition to being found in our waterways, a new study has shown the levels of these drugs present in pet hair used to line nests may be causing a reduction in hatching of eggs in songbirds in the UK.  In the absence of better government regulation in this area, it is down to vets and pet owners to ensure we are no longer using these products.  Fipronil has been at the front line of treatment for fleas in dogs and cats for over a decade.  It is currently present in several different products on the market.  While these products are rarely prescribed in veterinary surgeries these days, Fipronil products are still one of the most popular “over the counter” products now available at pet shops and online without a prescription.  On the other hand, Imidacloprid is still present in some parasite treatments prescribed by veterinary surgeons although many will no longer advocate their use due to environmental concerns.

• If we want to reduce the amount of parasite products used, we will need to test more

For decades we have been using preventative treatment to reduce the risk of our individual pets catching parasites.  It has been cheaper for the owner, easier and safer for the pet to do so.  Now that we are moving away from the overuse of these drugs, it is important to realise there is a responsibility to ensure our pets are not infected.  The only way we can do that is by regular testing for disease.  The balance between regular testing and regular treatment is something that can be discussed with your vet to decide on an individualised parasite plan suitable to your pet.

• We need to become more comfortable with the understanding that a reduction in use of preventative treatment for our pets may increase the level of risk to our pets and the wider human population

There is no getting away from the fact that the parasites our pets carry can result in disease risks both to themselves, their owners and the wider community.  To be clear, these disease risks in the UK are low but the true level of their impact is hard to measure. It is important that any pet owner deciding on whether or not to treat their pet for parasites is clear on what these disease risks are, and how to minimise them.  This is covered more in second part of these articles.

The Detailed Article

With the summary done, if you want to know more, please read on… It’s not going to be a short story… (maybe sit down with a cup of tea!) but we hope it will give a clear and full explanation of the challenges faced in this topic.  This information is mainly considering the UK pet population and is a summary of where we are at in March 2025.

Where have we come from?: “Evidence based medicine” and “Do Least Harm”

Two of the tenants that form the foundation of responsible veterinary medicine are:

1. To make treatment plans based on all available evidence,
2. In the absence of sufficient evidence, to precede in a way that does the least harm.

One of the major challenges with deciding on appropriate parasite treatment protocols has always been the lack of definitive evidence on localised parasite risks. For example, we know Lyme disease, a disease transmitted by ticks, used to be mainly located in areas including the New Forest, the west coast of the UK and the highlands of Scotland. However, there is now evidence of it being found in tick populations throughout the UK, but little specific data of how prevalent it may be in any given area. We also know that lungworm has become established in the UK, especially in the south of England, but we don’t know how prevalent it is in local pockets around our local environment.

Given the serious health consequences of developing some of these parasitic diseases and the risk to human health in some circumstances, we as veterinary professionals and pet owners have traditionally decided the “least harm” route is to treat our pets with preventative treatment against these parasites to reduce the possibility of disease developing. This choice has been exacerbated by the fact it is usually cheaper for the owner to give preventative treatment to treat for parasites, than it is to test for the presence of the parasites themselves. Further to this, to make this treatment easier for most owners to give, companies have developed products that aim to treat all parasites in one tablet or spot on which can lead to over-treating for parasites that aren’t necessarily a concern for the individual animal.

What has changed?

The environment around us!

Again, the arguments around this area are heated and often contradictory. What we do know is that studies have shown a dramatic drop in the insect population within the UK along with a reduction in the biodiversity in our waterways. In addition, there are studies showing the level of drugs contained within some of the parasite treatments we use in the pet population have been found in our waterways (mainly fipronil and imidacloprid).

Now it is important to clarify that fipronil and imidacloprid have both been used in the agricultural industry for some time and this would have a significant impact on the levels found in waterways, but there is also evidence of these drugs present in waterways that were not near treated farms. A further study done in 2022 summarised that there was currently no clear evidence that parasiticides used in our pets were having a negative effect on the environment, but strongly stressed that this may be due to lack of evidence and called for in-depth regulatory investigation of the environmental risks of these drugs. A single study in 2017 also found moxidectin in waterways, and one Dutch study has shown evidence of flulaner in a water environment following a swim test with a dog that had been treated with that drug. Ultimately, a lot more research needs to be done to assess whether these drugs are truly having an impact on the environment.

We also need to see changes in the regulations surrounding what drug companies publish about their effects. While the use of parasiticides in agriculture are heavily regulated with regards to their environmental impact, there is less regulation regarding their use in pets. The argument being that the treatment of one dog or one cat has negligible effect on the environment, not taking into account the millions of pets being treated across the UK. This is something we believe needs to change.

So what to do next?

So while the cogs slowly turn in the regulatory bodies of the government and pharmaceutical industry, the question remains, what should we as pet owners be doing next?

Consider our individual household risk:

While the debate rages on as to whether and how much impact the use of parasite treatment used in the pet population has on the environment. It would seem prudent to reconsider the way we approach its use. We need to shift our thinking from simply “do least harm to the pet in our house” to also include “and do least harm to the environment around us” while also considering any potential health risk to the people living in our households and the local area.

However, this involves some difficult decisions and will ultimately come down to owners’ personal preference. There are risks that owners who chose to reduce their pet’s parasite prevention strategies should be aware of. Many of those risks are low, but again, it is an area that is hard to fill with absolute facts or figures.

With regards to discussing these risks, we have tried to summarise them as clearly as possible in Part Two of this article. Our goal has been to provide the information as clearly as possible, without being too alarmist! Our suggestion would be for you to read the information available, discuss it further on a one to one basis with your veterinary surgeon, and devise a parasite control strategy that you feel is best suited to your household.

Gather more information:

I suspect if you’ve read this far, you would agree that the most frustrating aspect of looking at the use of parasite treatments in pets is the persistent lack of information. We lack reliable information on:

• how many cases of human illness derived from pet parasites are seen in the UK every year;
• we lack data from the drugs companies about how these drugs are excreted into the environment and in what form (which they are currently under no legal obligation to research or provide);
• we don’t have enough information about the prevalence of these diseases in our local environment.

We are collectively trying to navigate a sensible solution to the treatment of our pets while dealing with some significant information gaps. Now some of these measures are out of our hands. We need a clearer national (human and pet) disease monitoring systems; we need legislation changes for the drug manufacturers to publish more information about how these drugs are excreted; and we need continued environmental research into whether the use of these drugs are impacting the environment and to what level. Monitoring of parasiticide levels in waterways are still on going, but as far as we are aware, there is no testing being done on soil.

Test not treat:

However, the only way we can learn more about the prevalence of disease in local area is by testing our pets. This will take a shift in the mindset of pet owners and veterinary professionals alike. For example, it has been far cheaper for us to treat for intestinal worms rather than to test for them, so that is what we have generally suggested, and what clients have happily embraced. Similarly, we know that lungworm tends to exist in pockets in local areas, but it is only by testing our patients and forming a database of where pets have been, that we can start to form a map of where those pockets are.

Ultimately, the cost of these tests would need to be borne by the pet owners themselves. In an environment where the costs of providing veterinary medicine have escalated heavily in the last 4 years, we appreciate that the discussion of increased costs for veterinary care won’t be welcome to many. However, it is worth looking at the UK horse population as a good example of how positive change can be achieved.

Twenty years ago, horses were routinely treated for intestinal worms, but horse owners often struggled with accurately weighing and dosing their horses correctly. This led to a situation where horses may have been treated too often and with dosages of medications that were too low. We know that under dosing of parasite treatment can lead to the development of resistance and we were certainly seeing a developing issue in the horse population at that time. However, the industry responded very well and there has been a clear shift from “regular worming treatments” to “regular worm egg counts”.

This has subsequently led to appropriate dosing only when necessary which is not only beneficial to the horses themselves, but also to the reduction of developing resistance. While we would need to be more careful replicating this system in the pet population as there is a greater risk to people that are exposed to eggs produced by intestinal worms from our pets than those from intestinal worms in horses, a switch to regular worm counts rather than medicating could be possible if done correctly.

In summary

We need to consider making some major changes from funding of studies and regulatory changes from the government, right down to the way we discuss parasite treatment in our consult rooms and in our households with our pets. In the absence of concrete information, a lot of these decisions will come down to our personal assessment of risk. There are no right or wrong answers, but we would encourage you all to read the information provided, (avoid the misinformation found online!) then come and discuss your personal situation with a member of our vet team.

In mean time, please click here to find Part 2: What are the Risks?

Further information

Among other sources:

To Flea Or Not to Flea: survey of UK companion animal ectoparasiticide usage and activities affecting pathways to the environment

Rosemary Perkins and Dave Goulson

https://sussex.figshare.com/articles/journal_contribution/To_flea_or_not_to_flea_survey_of_UK_companion_animal_ectoparasiticide_usage_and_activities_affecting_pathways_to_the_environment/25133792?file=44374835

Pet dogs transfer veterinary medicines to the environment

N.J. Diepens, D. Belgers, L. Buijse, I. Roessink

https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0048969722066499

1. https://unsplash.com/photos/brown-horse-on-green-grass-field-near-trees-during-daytime-pqX8m4ME5yw ↩︎

With the sudden growth in “anaesthesia-free” dental cleaning offered by groomers and other non-veterinary professionals, it is important to understand the health risks involved within these procedures and why they have been banned by the Royal College of Veterinary Surgeons with support from the British Dental Veterinary Association and the European Veterinary Dental College.

What is anaesthetic free dental cleaning?

As the name suggests, this is the act of cleaning a pets teeth without the benefit of anaesthesia. Often with the use of sharp tools or an ultrasonic scaler. Just like in humans, this process requires the pet to sit still and not move their mouth during the procedure; an act that many humans find stressful enough, never mind our pets who don’t understand what is going on and why. At the end of the procedure you may end up with a pet with teeth that superficially look clean and shiny on the outer surface, but there are many potential problems to consider when assessing dental disease and the “shiny clean teeth” are most likely hiding the problem!

What can go wrong?

There are many concerns with anaesthesia free dental cleaning but the main three are:

1. Damage to teeth and gums: The periodontal tissue attaching teeth to gums is very delicate and can be easily damaged, especially if the patients moves their head while conscious during scaling with sharp or ultrasonic instruments. Damage to this tissue may lead to further dental disease or tooth loss.
2. Is the periodontal pocket being reached?: One of the most important areas of teeth to assess is the periodontal pocket. This is an area below the gum line that is the most impacted by dental disease. Assessment and cleaning of this pocket is a vital stage of any dental cleaning. It is not possible to do this effectively in a conscious pet. Cleaning and assessing this periodontal pocket below the gum line is considered to be an act of veterinary surgery and, as such, it is illegal for a non-veterinary surgeon to do, or to advertise this service.
3. What is being missed?: It is vital to remember that “cleaning” the teeth is only a small part of a dental scale and polish performed at a veterinary surgery. Many oral problems from dental disease through to early detection of oral tumours can only be diagnosed during complete general anaesthesia. Some even require the use of dental x-rays. While anaesthesia-free cleaning may result in clean looking teeth, it will also most likely delay the diagnosis of these diseases which may limit treatment options.

So why can I still see this service being advertised?

While the governing body of the veterinary profession, the RCVS, has powers to tackle and punish Veterinary Surgeons and Registered Veterinary Nurses that are acting in a way that is not in the best interest of the health and welfare of our patients. They have limited power to act on non-veterinary professionals advertising and performing acts of veterinary surgery illegally. Technically this would come under the remit of the Trading Standards, but they are notoriously slow to act within the veterinary field.

One of the hopes within the veterinary profession is that the CMA investigation may lead to updated legislation to improve the powers of the RCVS and close some of these loopholes. However, The RCVS and their standards committee have advised members of the public offering these services that they should be aware it is illegal for a non-veterinary surgeon to perform acts of veterinary surgery such as include cleaning under the gum line or tooth extraction. They are also reminding pet owners considering non-anaesthesia dentals that they have a responsibility under the Animal Welfare Act to avoid doing so.

More information on the RCVS stance on this can be found here: (https://www.rcvs.org.uk/document-library/a-statement-on-anaesthesia-free-dental-procedures-for-cats-dogs/)

What does a dental assessment at Mayne Vets involve?

When you book your pet in for a dental assessment with us, your pet will need to be placed under general anaesthesia, so the dental procedure can be performed far more safely and effectively. A dental assessment includes:

• Full mouth dental x-rays
• A dental assessment, to include probing, charting of the teeth and gums
• Scale and polish of ALL surfaces of the teeth

These x-rays and dental charting will be assessed by one of our Veterinary Surgeons, who will then be able to provide feedback and advice on whether treatment, such as tooth extraction, is required.

If the dental assessment reveals that multiple or deep rooted teeth need to be extracted we will arrange this to be done as a second stage procedure. Doing this as a second stage procedure is better for:

– The patient as it reduces the anaesthetic risk for your pet by splitting the procedure over two shorter anaesthetics rather than one longer one.

– The owner as, following the assessment, they have a clearer understanding of what needs to be done, and why and at what cost before the second stage procedure has been started

– The veterinary team as it allows us to plan ahead for all the requirements for the anaesthesia but also, for the dental procedure itself, which can involve complicated and timely extraction of teeth in order for it to be done safely and correctly.

This February we are offering our clients 20% of dental assessments, spaces are limited to don’t forget to give us a call to get your pet booked in. Should your pet need to have a second stage procedure, Pet Health Club members get 10% off if booked in by the end of April.

As part of ‘National Pet Dental Month‘ we are offering our patients a FREE dental check with our wonderful Veterinary Nurses.

What will be included in the nurse dental check?

During a nurse dental check we can discuss with you the signs of dental disease, along with the treatment we are able to provide to treat it. More importantly we can discuss what steps you can start putting in place to prevent the dental disease returning, which we can then help you introduce with follow up checks if further treatment is needed.

Should they be recommended to book in for a dental assessment, we are offering 20% off throughout the month of February.

What if I am recommended to book in a dental assessment?

In order for us to carry out this assessment, your pet will need to be placed under general anaesthesia. A dental assessment includes:

• Full mouth dental x-rays
• A dental assessment, to include probing, charting of the teeth and interpretation of x-rays
• Scale and polish of the teeth

We are offering 20% of dental assessments throughout February, so get yours booked in before the offer runs out!

Your pet will have x-rays taken of their whole mouth, an anaesthetic allows for us to do this safely and facilitate positioning for x-rays to be taken. The machine is positioned at a specific angle near your pet’s mouth, and an x-ray film is placed inside their mouth to capture the images. The process is painless and a full mouth series takes around 20 minutes to complete. Your pet will then have their teeth scaled and polished and a thorough dental assessment, involving charting, probing and scoring all surfaces of the teeth and gums. These x-rays and dental charting will be assessed by one of our Veterinary Surgeons, who will then be able to provide feedback and advice on whether treatment, such as tooth extraction, is required.

What if my pet requires a second stage procedure?

If the dental assessment reveals that multiple or deep rooted teeth need to be extracted we will arrange this to be done as a second stage procedure. Doing this as a second stage procedure reduces the anaesthetic risk for your pet by splitting the procedure over two shorter anaesthetics rather than one longer one. It also allows us to plan ahead for all the requirements for the anaesthesia but also, for the dental procedure itself, which can involve complicated and timely extraction of teeth in order for it to be done safely and correctly.

And finally as an owner, following the dental assessment, you will have a much clearer idea of what teeth need to be removed in that second stage dental and why, along with a far clearer estimate of what the cost of the procedure will be.

To help with these costs we are offering our Pet Health Club members a further 10% off their dental procedure should a second stage be required, if it is booked in before the end of April.

We all love to treat our pets, whether it’s with a frothy puppacino or even a new toy this Christmas season. We have to work out ways we can live more thoughtfully and deliberately to create a better world for the future. Next time you dive in your bag for your wallet, have a think about the environmental impact of what you are about to buy, could it be substituted for something else more sustainably made or sourced, be bought second hand, be home made, or even not purchased at all?!

I want to treat my pet to something new…

Many toys, beds, leads, outfits and plastic will end up on landfill. We all know that globally there is an issue with plastic pollution. A great swap this Christmas time would be to consider purchasing sustainable and responsibly produced products for your pets (and human family members), or buying locally. As mentioned above, how about not even making that purchase in the first place and give them something enriching and homemade. Who doesn’t love receiving a thoughtful, homemade gift?! This Christmas at Mayne Vets, we are spreading some sustainable Christmas joy. Secret Santa gifts are to be either homemade, second hand or re-useable.

Here are some ideas on some homemade and simple presents for your furry friend this festive season. How about getting crafty and making a snuffle mat for your dog or a wand toy for you cat! Or even getting your GBBO chef hat on and baking your pawesome pet some biscuits!

Enrichment doesn’t have to be complicated, your pet will appreciate something as simple as a scatter fee or treats hidden in a cardboard box with scrunched up paper. Have a look online there is so much out there, we will also share some ideas with you on our Facebook page over December.

Even these simple swaps will have a positive impact on the planet:

• biodegradable cat litter (clay based litter containing sodium bentonite are often mined through a destructive process, do not decompose and can contain chemicals)
• biodegradable poo bags
• shampoo bars rather than bottles

Pet food and packaging:

Some traditional pet food comes in tins, which we have been able to recycle for a number of years through our local councils. There are some great initiatives which have been set up for previously non-recycled pet food packaging. Many Pets at Home stores have the facilities to recycle your wet food sachets and dry food bags. If not, visit the Terracycle website to find a collection point local to you.

Waste is tangible and visible and it’s a lot easier to understand when we are talking about the impact on the environmental. However, sustainability is more than just the packaging and recycling of the pet food we choose. The ingredients used and the transportation of pet food actually has a greater impact on the environment, than the materials used in its packaging. Stay turned for our blog post on ‘Sustainable Pet Ownership – pet food and it’s carbon footprint’ in the new year!

We hope you’ve been enjoying out ‘Pet Owner Sustainability’ series, stay tuned for more insightful, educational and thought provoking information soon. We will you all a very merry Christmas.

Image 1: https://unsplash.com/photos/white-and-brown-cat-on-red-and-white-floral-textile-FDjHs2Uv8MQ