Responsible Use Of Parasiticides In Companion Animals

What does Elanco consider the responsible use of parasiticides in companion animals to mean?

Starting from One Health principles, giving consideration to the patient being treated, the people around it, and the wider planet.

Bringing these together to make an informed decision about the most appropriate:

Making these recommendations on an individual basis whenever possible.

To truly prescribe responsibly, a typical practice must have a range of parasiticides to meet the needs of their different patients – one size does not fit all.

: Move away from a 'blanket' treatment approach
Consider offering a choice of options, based on the lifestyle of your client base. Consider addition of faecal testing to health plans to help understand local risk and owner compliance.
Engage the clinical team with parasitology
The risks and science are ever changing. ESCAAP is a great reference point.
Educate owners to follow the product label, and dispose of faeces correctly.
Make sure you have read the data sheets for the products you are dispensing, so you can advise owners on:
Safe handling of product be aware of any risks to the person applying the product, and follow guidance for safe application (eg wearing gloves, keeping the pet away from other members of the household).
Correct application: For example, how and where to apply the product, any time restrictions on entering water, any restriction on how long you can use the product for. Consider adding key information to printed label for prominence.
: MyPet Persona is a new parasite-risk profiling tool developed by Elanco as part of our Healthy Purpose commitment to make responsible parasiticide prescribing easier.
The tool allows vets to offer owners personalised advice on parasite protection that matches their pet's behaviours and lifestyle, and best protect the people in their household - helping make the best use of clinical time.
MyPet Persona has been co-developed with specialist and first-opinion UK vets by and is aligned with both the BVA and BSAVA position on responsible use¹, ESCAAP guidelines^2,3 and One Health principles.
Vets can find more about MyPet Persona here. If you are a pet owner, please speak with your vet for more information.
: Veterinary professionals should always take a risk-based approach to prescribing medicines, including parasiticides. They should avoid blanket treatment, and instead risk assess use of parasiticides for individual animals, taking into account animal, human and environmental health risks, in addition to lifestyle factors. See the BVA 5 Point Plan.

We support the need for increased client education on the use of parasiticides, a risk-based approach and the need for more research. See the ESCCAP site.

NOAH fully agrees that vets should always take a proportionate, targeted and responsible approach to the use of small animal parasiticides and carefully weigh up all risks and benefits before prescribing or recommending treatment. It is important that vets take into account all the relevant scientific evidence as well as the existing and carefully thought through guidance from leading parasitologists. See the NOAH site.
: Here at Elanco, we have a global approach to ESG and sustainability – Elanco’s Healthy Purpose™. This is a framework of commitments and actions built on four interconnected pillars: Healthier Animals, Healthier People, Healthier Planet and Healthier Enterprise – which represent the areas we believe are most important to our customers, employees, investors and other stakeholders. We’re driving a Healthier Enterprise by managing our environmental footprint and integrating the management and oversight of ESG issues throughout our operations. This includes achieving the Investors In the Environment Silver award.