Vets advise ban on over the counter flea treatment for pets

Over the counter flea treatments which are used by pet owners in the UK should be banned, a panel of vets has told a parliamentary inquiry.

Some environmental scientists have flagged two parasiticides found in most spot-on treatments to kill fleas and ticks on cats and dogs, fipronil and imidacloprid, as toxic to wildlife.

Giving evidence to a House of Lords committee on Wednesday, the vets said they wanted to see an end to year-round preventative treatments and a ban on the sale of spot-ons containing these chemicals by anyone other than vets.

The industry body representing flea treatment companies defended the use of preventive flea treatments as important for animal health.

Pet owners across the country have been advised they should treat their cats and dogs as a preventative measure every month, known as prophylactic use - although many veterinary organisations have now updated their advice.

The Lords' environment select committee heard from three vets, who said there was growing awareness that fipronil and imidacloprid were causing environmental damage and many vets have already moved away from using them.

Dr Elizabeth Mullineaux, the senior vice president of the British Veterinary Association (BVA), said recent surveys of the BVA's 20,000 members showed 80% supported a ban on general sale and more than 70% agreed blanket preventative treatment should stop.

"We're using these products really routinely and I think if you ask most vets what they do with their own pets, we don't treat our own pets in the way some practices are selling these products," she said.