Duration of annual canine flea and tick protection provided by dog owners in Spain

Armstrong²,

Tunceli

et al. 2018

Parasites Vectors

Self Cite

BackgroundVeterinary clinic transaction records from the USA were examined to determine dog owner purchase patterns for three prescription ectoparasiticides. In-clinic purchases of formulations of fluralaner (with 12-week duration per dose) were compared with dog owner purchases of afoxolaner and spinosad (both with 4 week duration per dose) in a population of 231,565 dogs over a 12 month period. Prior studies in human and animal medicine have suggested that patients more closely adhere to prescriber dosing recommendations when they receive a longer-duration medication.ResultsVeterinary clinic transaction records were examined for the period June 2014 through March 2017 using records from approximately 650 veterinary clinics. Ectoparasiticide purchase patterns were compared for two products (afoxalaner and spinosad) with monthly dosing and one product (fluralaner) with an extended (12 week) dosing interval. The average dog owner who obtained fluralaner purchased significantly more months of flea/tick protection (5.7 months) over the 12-month study period than the average dog owner that selected either afoxolaner (4.6 months) or spinosad (3.3 months). The proportion of dog owners who obtained only one dose of ectoparasiticide per 12-month period was 42% for fluralaner, 30% for afoxolaner and 37% for spinosad. The proportion of dog owners who obtained 2 doses or less per 12-month period was 67% for fluralaner, 52% for afoxoalaner and 67% for spinosad. Owners that obtained fluralaner were significantly more likely to obtain 7.0–12.0 months of flea and tick protection and significantly less likely to purchase 1.0–6.9 months compared with dog owners who purchased afoxolaner or spinosad.ConclusionsDog owners who obtained a flea and tick medication with a longer duration of action acquired significantly more months of protection in a year than dog owners who obtained shorter duration (1 month) products. Dog owners were better able to adhere to veterinary recommendations on ectoparasites control with a longer-acting flea/tick medication.

Section: Discussionsupporting

confidence: 91%

Dog owner flea/tick medication purchases in the USA

Armstrong²,

Tunceli

et al. 2018

Parasites Vectors

Self Cite

“…Dog owners purchased fewer doses and obtained longer flea and tick treatment coverage per year from fluralaner compared with monthly medications. Similar results were reported in a large-scale European study comparing owner-purchased canine flea and tick medications, comparing oral fluralaner and several monthly oral or topical products [ 31 ]. Dog owners in Spain purchased fewer fluralaner doses per year compared to monthly oral or topical medications but obtained significantly more flea and tick coverage.…”

Section: Discussionsupporting

confidence: 84%

“…Prior studies comparing dog owner flea and tick medication purchases have shown that owners obtain more months of coverage when they buy an extended duration product [ 26 , 31 ]. This study confirms that cat owners similarly will obtain more annual months of flea and tick coverage compared to owners that obtain products with a monthly retreatment interval.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Adherence to veterinary recommendations for ectoparasiticides purchased by cat owners in the USA

Armstrong²,

Normile³

et al. 2020

Parasites Vectors

Self Cite

Background Safe and effective flea and tick treatment options for cats are important in companion animal practice because of feline ectoparasite infestation prevalence and the potential for parasitic disease transmission. Retrospective cat owner purchasing transactions at United States of America (USA) veterinary clinics were obtained for three topical feline flea and tick ectoparasiticides. One medication, fluralaner, had a 12-week redosing interval, while two other medications (fipronil/s-methoprene/pyriproxyfen; imidacloprid/pyriproxyfen) were approved for monthly redosing. The annual number of doses purchased by cat owners was determined for each of the three medications and then compared between medications. The objective was to evaluate whether 12-week retreatment intervals resulted in a different duration of coverage compared to monthly treatments for ectoparasiticide products. Methods Study results were obtained by analyzing the transactional records from a commercial database derived from veterinary practice management software. The study database consisted of cat owner purchasing records from January 2017 through June 2019 from 671 veterinary practices representing 41,630 cats. Results Cat owners purchased an average of 1.5 doses of fluralaner per year which, based on a 12-week redosing interval, provides 4.2 months of treatment coverage. Cat owners who used monthly flea and tick medications respectively purchased 3.6 months (fipronil/s-methoprene/pyriproxyfen combination) and 2.8 months (imidacloprid/pyriproxyfen) annually of each of the two medications. Average yearly cat owner purchases of fluralaner provide a significantly longer duration of coverage than for cat owners purchasing fipronil/s-methoprene/pyriproxyfen (17% more) or imidacloprid/pyriproxyfen (50% more). Conclusions Cat owners who obtained a flea and tick treatment with a 12-week redosing interval (fluralaner) protected their cats for up to 17% or 50% longer duration each year, respectively, compared to the duration of protection obtained by cat owners who used a medication re-dosed monthly. Cat owners should increase their duration of flea and tick coverage to come closer to achieving veterinary recommendations.

“…Prior studies comparing dog owner ea and tick medication purchases have shown that owners obtain more months of coverage when they buy an extended duration product. 25,30 This study con rms that cat owners show a similar behavior and that when they purchase a ea and tick medication with a 12-week retreatment interval they will obtain more months of ea and tick coverage compared to owners that obtain products with a monthly retreatment interval. Cat owners purchased up to 50% longer duration of ea and tick protection per year when they purchased uralaner, compared with owners who purchased monthly ea and tick medications.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 62%

“…Similar results were reported in a large-scale European study comparing owner-purchased canine ea and tick medications, comparing oral uralaner and several monthly oral or topical products. 30 Dog owners in Spain purchased fewer uralaner doses per year compared to monthly oral or topical medications but obtained signi cantly (P < 0.0001) more ea and tick coverage. Collectively, these studies con rm that pet owners obtain a relatively longer duration of ea and tick control by use of longer duration ea and tick treatments.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 92%

Adherence to Veterinary Recommendations for Ectoparasiticides Purchased by Cat Owners in the United States.

Armstrong

Normile

et al. 2020

Preprint

Self Cite

Background: Safe and effective flea and tick treatment options for cats are important in companion animal practice because of feline ectoparasite infestation prevalence and the potential for parasitic disease transmission. Retrospective cat owner purchasing transactions at U.S. veterinary clinics were obtained for three topical feline flea and tick ectoparasiticides. One medication, fluralaner, had a 12-week redosing interval, while two other medications were approved for monthly redosing. The annual number of doses purchased by cat owners was determined for each of the three medications and then compared between medications. The objective was to evaluate whether 12-week retreatment intervals resulted in a different duration of coverage compared to monthly treatments for ectoparasiticide products. Methods: Study results were obtained by analyzing the transactional records from a commercial database derived from veterinary practice management software. The study database consisted of cat owner purchasing records from January 2017 through June 2019 from 671 veterinary practices representing approximately 46,700 cats.Results: Cat owners purchased an average of 1.5 doses of fluralaner per year which, based on a 12-week redosing interval, provides 4.2 months of treatment coverage. Cat owners who used monthly flea and tick medications purchased 3.6 months (fipronil combination) and 2.8 months (imidacloprid combination) annually of each of the two medications. Average yearly cat owner purchases of fluralaner provide a longer duration of coverage than for cat owners purchasing fipronil combination (17% more) or imidacloprid combination (50% more). Conclusion: Cat owners who obtained a flea and tick treatment with a 12-week redosing interval (fluralaner) protected their cats for up to 50% longer duration each year compared to the duration of protection obtained by cat owners who used a medication re-dosed monthly. Cat owners should increase their duration of flea and tick coverage to come closer to achieving veterinary recommendations.