Vets need to stop “profiteering” by giving dogs and cats preventive flea treatments that are wiping out insects and songbirds, according to a well-known scientist.
The standard practice in the UK at present is to advise that customers take a preventative approach, treating their pets every couple of months even if they don’t have fleas.
But flea treatments include powerful insecticides that have been found to leach off pet fur – and the hands of their owners – into waterways. A recent study also found that songbirds are inadvertently killing their young by making nests out of contaminated pet fur.
There is growing concern about the impact these treatments are having on biodiversity. Imidacloprid and fipronil, for example, are powerful insecticides: one monthly flea treatment for a large dog contains enough imidacloprid to kill 25 million bees.
Dave Goulson, professor of biology at the University of Sussex, where the songbird study was carried out, said: “Given the scale of environmental contamination it is causing, prophylactic use of flea treatments on family pets cannot continue.
“Defra [Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs] and the veterinary profession need to take responsibility for development of a sustainable alternative, but an obvious first step is to stop treating animals for fleas if they don’t have fleas.
“After all, we don’t treat our children against nits if they don’t have them. Promoting prophylactic, monthly treatment is simply profiteering.”
The UK government is drawing up plans for a total ban on imidacloprid in agriculture but not for pet treatments.
Fleas can also be prevented by using a flea comb and washing pet bedding regularly.
“I’ve felt really pushed, and a bit patronised, by our vets for not subscribing to their monthly programme to receive monthly flea and worm treatment (and vaccines),” said Helen Hedges, a nurse who has two dogs.
“I’ve moved to an independent vet who are better and more open to discussing alternative options. Why do I need to apply chemicals to them if they don’t actually have fleas?! I never did this to my childen – I only treated them for nits when they had nits, not monthly to prevent them.
“Even this has its downfalls though as vets can’t prescribe flea treatment if they haven’t seen a dog for six months, so the only time my dogs had fleas in the last two years cost nearly £200 for the consultation and treatment for both dogs.”
The British Veterinary Association (BVA) is calling for more research into the impact of the pesticides and said vets should use them responsibly.
The BVA president, Elizabeth Mullineaux, said: “Parasiticides play an important role in preventing and treating parasites in animals, which if left unaddressed can lead to bigger health and welfare issues in both animals and people.
“Rather than blanket use, we strongly encourage vets and owners to take a risk-based approach to prescribing or recommending these medicines, reflecting an animal’s exposure to parasites.
“Owners should speak with their vet about their animal’s needs and how to responsibly use and dispose of these medicines to minimise environmental contamination.”
