In North Wales & North West England
Herbal and Homeopathic Vet in North Wales & NW England
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Natural Pet Care

Natural Parasite Control

Why should you avoid the overuse of modern anti-parasitic drugs?



Is there a problem with them after all ticks or the disease they carry can cause disease in people and dogs and lungworm can kill so there is a potential risk in not treating for these parasites is there not


First read this informed piece by my colleagues Dr Mark Elliot a leading Holistic Vet from the UK discusses the implications of the use of pesticides and insecticides in pets and of course farm animals and introducing the marketing pressures on vets and pet parents from the Pharmaceutical Companies. He writes well and saves me looking up all the references…


Peticide A systemic destruction of health and the environment?


His criticisms are many with Neonicotinoid Insecticides such as imidacloprid which is still widely used in veterinary practices and widely marketed by Bayer to treat/prevent lungworm in dogs. However more recently the Neonicotinoids are being replaced by a new group of drugs which are even easier to give, longer lasting and 'work' even better the Isoxazoline compounds Fluralaner and others.

These are monthly or quarterly chewable tablets possibly having less affect on the environment but a recent study in the USA has shown an alarming rate of Adverse Events (AE) reported to the FDA

This has been investigated in a frightening report published in the Veterinary Medical Science Journal this summer (Palmenieri et al Vet Med Sci 6-2 Aug 2020)

A tick arrgh
parasitic worm
bees are being killed
This group of drugs based on the Isoxazoline compound which was being developed in human medicine as a anti-thromolytic drug (it worked to well causing bleeds) in a neurotoxic compound affecting GABA receptors. It is particularly toxic to insects but less so to mammals.
But as these adverse event reports show there are still a large number of really serious AEs in pets and even 2.8% mortality. They are just not safe enough to give the risk is worse than the one they prevent.

Even the milder symptoms of lethargy or diarrhoea for a day or two is that really what you want to see

Read more

Jean Dodds Blogs

Iris Edge MRCVS on CAM for animals external parasites & worming

Imperial College briefing paper

Mark Elliot Bugs Life on BAHVS website
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Dr Graham R Hines MRCVS
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Flintshire, CH5 4AY

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