The best treatment

Nicolet Muir of Johannesburg writes

I know it’s important to protect my dog and cat from ticks and fleas, but I can’t stand the pipettes used to administer the treatment; do chewable alternatives work?

Dr Michelle Enslin, Boehringer Ingelheim’s resident vet, replies To chew or not to chew, that is the question. Unlike Hamlet in William Shakespeare’s play, our pets’ answer to life’s greatest contemplation is a definitive yes. With the understanding that most pets are food-driven animals, it’s logical to presume that chewable parasiticides might be better received than other applications.

Are they as effective? Yes, and they have additional benefits.

There’s no difference in efficacy levels as they’re tested alongside other treatments and work in the same way. What does differ, however, is how pets will receive them.

The experience of receiving medication can be traumatic for pets. They might run away or fear that they’re being harmed if a pet owner tries to grab them to administer a parasiticide. A bad experience could have a negative effect on the human-pet connection.

A treatment such as NexGard Spectra for dogs, for example, comes packaged as a treat, so it’s much easier to convince a dog to eat it as they believe they’re getting a snack.

However, cats might not be as receptive to a chewable; they’re far more sensitive than dogs and experience high levels of stress if they feel threatened. A spot-on such as Broadline for cats, for example, is a broad-spectrum application that has all the treatments in one, and it’s easier to apply once off.

Combining treatments Should pet owners combine anti-parasitic treatments such as a chewable and spot-on application, especially if the pet is struggling with a breakout or infestation of parasites? There are various factors to take into consideration and only a vet or qualified professional will be able to make the best recommendation for a course of treatment that is safe and effective.

An owner’s responsibility is to provide the best possible life for their pets and protecting them from parasites is part of this. While no one likes to take (or be given) medicine, it’s entirely possible to make the treatments less stressful for our pets.

CONTACT boehringer-ingelheim.com