How to talk to clients about isoxazolines

Christopher Lee, DVM, MPH, DACVPM, DACVM (Parasitology), warns that indoor pets are not isolated from vectors. He explains that his preferred approach is to explain to clients that cockroaches, flies, and mosquitoes can bring pathogens into the home and that year-round isoxazoline protection for dogs and cats both reduces ectoparasite burdens and lowers risk to people.

Transcript

Note: The following transcript has been lightly edited for written clarity.

Christopher Lee, DVM, MPH, DACVPM, DACVM (Parasitology): I think people assume that an indoor cat or a dog that is almost always indoors is completely protected from the outside world. Nature has its own DoorDash and that includes cockroaches and flies. These pests bring a long list of organisms right to our door.

Our world is smaller than we think and parasites should always be on your differential list. With global warming we are seeing more invasive species and movement of vectors such as mosquitoes. In places like Florida and Southern California we have had people test positive for Zika virus even though they never left the state. Mosquitoes carry many diseases, and they are a growing concern.

Even if you are not worried about mosquito-borne disease, who wants a pet that is constantly itchy? Keeping animals on an isoxazoline year round turns them into little bug zappers. These products will kill more than 99 percent of mosquitoes that come in contact with treated pets, even near the end of the dosing interval. By keeping dogs and cats on isoxazolines you protect pets and reduce risk for people.

Having worked for many biopharma companies I could not always say those claims on label, but now I can share the message and I try to spread the word because it is important. For example, clients who say their pet lives indoors and therefore does not need heartworm or flea protection often change their minds when I explain that indoor pets still get exposed through cockroaches, flies, and mosquitoes. Once clients understand their pets can act as a bridge to the outside, they are much more likely to agree to year-round protection. That protects both the animals and the people in the household.

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