A new national awareness campaign has been launched to highlight the environmental impact of spot-on treatments, commonly used to protect cats and dogs, on water quality.

Two chemicals — fipronil and imidacloprid — have been detected in UK waterways at levels that could harm aquatic insects.

Abigail Seager, chief executive of the Veterinary Medicines Directorate (VMD), said: “Flea and tick spot-ons are an important way to protect both human and animal health, but these substances are reaching our waterways.

“Today we are giving people the practical information they need to get the most out of their pet’s treatment while helping protect our waterways. We are proud to be working with partners across the veterinary and retail sectors to spread that message as widely as possible.”

Environmental monitoring by the Environment Agency has found that the chemicals, which are commonly used in flea and tick treatments, are entering rivers and streams.

Research from the VMD has identified wastewater and natural water sources as routes of exposure, including when treated pets swim in natural bodies of water.

The chemicals could harm mayflies, dragonflies, and other aquatic insects.

The campaign urges pet owners to follow three simple steps to help limit environmental impacts while continuing to protect animal health; Plan, Apply and Protect.

Plan

• If you need to wash your pet then do it in the days before applying the medicine, rather than afterwards.
• Pick a time to apply the medicine when you won’t be in close contact with your pet, for example at night or before you go to work.

Apply

• Read instructions or visit Veterinary Medicines Directorate’s Product Information Database to understand how to apply it right.
• Part your pet’s fur at the application site(s) until you can see the skin, apply directly to the skin not the fur.

Protect

• Don’t touch the application site until it is dry.
• Do not let your pet swim for at least 4 days after application. Try to limit swimming and washing of your pet in the weeks after application.
• Bin used pipettes – don’t rinse them down the sink or recycle.
• Ask your medicine supplier about returning unused or expired medicine.
• Put pet fur from treated animals in the bin, don’t leave it out for nesting birds

Gwyn Jones, chair of RUMA Companion Animal & Equine, said: “RUMA Companion Animal & Equine welcomes this campaign and its focus on helping pet owners use flea and tick spot-on treatments responsibly.

“We believe that promoting awareness of responsible use of parasiticides amongst pet owners is a real priority and are proud to support this important initiative.”

Professor Jason Weeks, chair of the Pharmaceuticals in the Environment Group, said: “This campaign is an important step in helping pet owners understand how small changes in how flea and tick spot-on treatments are used can make a real difference for our environment.

“It supports the government’s wider Pharmaceuticals in the Environment roadmap by promoting responsible use while ensuring these medicines continue to protect animal and human health.

“It is encouraging to see practical action being taken, alongside ongoing work to strengthen the evidence base and consider how these products are supplied and used.”

The campaign is part of the government’s wider work to address pharmaceuticals in the environment.

This is led by the cross-government Pharmaceuticals in the Environment Group, which published a roadmap of actions to address the presence of chemicals from flea and tick treatments in our waterways.

The VMD is also reviewing how medicines containing fipronil and imidacloprid are distributed, considering whether professional advice should be required at the point of sale.