By Heidi Dixon, Chimes Veterinary Surgery,

As a groomer working at The Chimes Veterinary Surgery I would like to try and redress any confusion that may have arisen on the use of ectoparasiticides. Firstly I would like to point out that permethrin, pyrethrins and piperonyl butoxide are not all organophosphates. They are, along with amidines, avermectins and milbemycins, carbamates, nitroguanidines, phenylpyrazoles, synthetic pyrthroids and organophosphate compounds all ectoparasiticides*. Parasiticides are by their very nature lethal, they are produced to kill insects, without this lethal attribute they would only be of value as insect repellents.

The comments concerning paracitisides and their use from our American colleagues comes across as somewhat alarmist. Let us take some comfort in the fact that we have different legislation in this country and OPs are far more restricted in their use. It should be noted that all the groomers admitted to misuse of the products and had not followed the instructions. Appropriate precautions should always be taken when using these products particularly if other members of staff are exposed to them. The Health and Safety Executive (HSE) sets out the employer’s responsibilities regarding the Control of Substances Hazardous to Health COSHH (1994), legislation that all professionals should be familiar with.

Being employed at a veterinary practice I am frequently treating dogs with mange washes, more so than the non-veterinary groomer. I restrict the number of animals that I am treating in a day and always ensure good ventilation in the working environment. I wear protective clothing and most importantly READ THE LABEL AND COMPLY WITH THE INSTRUCTIONS. By following these simple precautions I have avoided any adverse affects from either acute or chronic exposure.

Although Mr Chimes MRCVS cannot comment on the diagnosis or treatment of particular animals he would like to take this opportunity to try and allay the fears of any readers in respect to flea treatments. The most common, although certainly not the only cause for skin conditions in animals is due to parasites. Mange and Flea Allergic Dermatitis (FAD) are amongst the most severe parasitic conditions and veterinary attention must be sought. The dosages for flea treatments are carefully calculated in accordance with the species, weight range, age, coat length and thickness, temperament, sensitivity to flea-bites and the health status of the animal. If there is any possibility of any product causing an adverse reaction in either animals or humans by law, the vet, manufacturer and/or pharmaceutical company must report it to the licensing authority. Drugs and their performance are strictly monitored and no company wants to run the risk of having their licence revoked. The Veterinary Medicines Directorate also provides a Suspected Adverse Reaction Surveillance Scheme (SARSS) and at the end of the day, the veterinary profession is in the business of providing for the well being of animals, keeping them and their owners happy, safe and healthy.

If you are not confident of the diagnosis or treatment of your pet you can seek a second opinion or ask your vet for a referral to a specialist, particularly if your pet is insured. The two market leaders in pet insurance will even cover your pet for complementary therapies, i.e. acupuncture, homeopathy and physiotherapy if carried out by a veterinary surgeon.

Veterinary practices now account for 60% of the sales of flea products. Most of these are classified as Prescription Only Medication (POM). This ensures that the appropriate product is dispensed, safety issues and toxicity concerns can be addressed, proper application and correct customer compliance can be adhered to. In the salon I do not use any flea shampoos, although they provide immediate knockdown, the effect only lasts for 48 hours. I am in the fortunate position of being able to use veterinary shampoos on the animals unless they are treated with a prescription shampoo. I am pleased to say that we have not had one case of allergic reaction since we have been grooming. If any animal has a flea infestation the client is advised accordingly and a suitable treatment dispensed. There are some excellent treatments on the market which permit the animal to be bathed up to 4 times between treatments without loss of effectiveness. It is important to stress to the owner that they do not apply the treatment for two days before or after shampooing otherwise the efficacy of the product is compromised. This is because the ‘new breed’ of treatments are absorbed subcutaneously and concentration occurs in the sebaceous glands and spreads along the hair shafts (see diagram in Agnes Murphy’s excellent article in the Autumn issue).

Treating the animal is only the tip of the iceberg, 95% of the infestation will be in the animals environment and it is important to ensure that the home is treated with an environmental spray. Again the vet can prescribe a suitable non-organophosphate spray tailored to client needs.

I hope this will go some way to reassure any worried readers. If you have a pet showing any signs of FAD, mange or any other skin condition please do not hesitate to advise your client to seek veterinary attention. Most pharmaceutical companies do have help lines and are happy to answer any questions that you may have.

THE CHIMES SURGERY WOULD LIKE TO WISH EVERYONE A HAPPY AND FLEA FREE CHRISTMAS!

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Last modified: January 13, 2001