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Spring is the time of year when many cat and dog owners think about ectoparasite treatments and some may even ‘stock up’ with what they believe is a sufficient supply to cover their pet during the perceived risk period. In fact, the Simplyhealth Professionals team has been highlighting a study showing that most pet owners tend to treat for only four to six months a year.*
Those on a practice pet health plan have parasite control included in their plan making adherence to their vet’s recommendation on frequency of treatment affordable, accessible and correct. Client adherence is likely to be seven times greater when the client receives a clear and distinct recommendation, written summaries and reminders from the clinic.* The health plan can form the framework for all of these steps.
Practices are able to choose the level of parasite control they offer in their health plan to reflect environmental risk in their area or can gauge it to the life-stage of the pet with specific puppy or kitten plans.
Simplyhealth Professionals’ Head Veterinary Officer, Gudrun Ravetz, says “With many ectoparasites posing a risk year round to pets and owners, it is vital that pets are protected with effective and appropriate treatment plans devised by their local veterinary team.”
Head of Sales at Simplyhealth Professionals, John McAviney agrees that this is a great time of year to inform pet owners about the practice pet health plan, “When pet owners are already focused on the need to treat for parasites, veterinary staff have an opportunity to present their health plans as a way to access services and products at a fixed price point. They can then be reaping the benefits for the rest of the year. Every day our Business Development Consultants are talking to practices about setting up health plans in the best way or refining the plan so it really works for them and their clients. I’d encourage all practices to be thinking quite seriously about their health plan at this time of year – whether it’s just ensuring it’s offered at the point of purchase when people buy their parasite treatments or refining their offer so it really reflects what clients want and what their pet needs, in the face of local parasite risk."
Practices can talk to the Simplyhealth Professionals team to find out how they can be supported to set up a health plan or refine their current offer in line with pet health risks or based on what has worked for other practices, by calling 0800 587 2581 or visiting www.simplyhealth.co.uk/professionals/vets.
* Lavan at al (2017) Assessment of dog owner adherence to veterinarians’ flea and tick prevention recommendations in the United States using a cross-sectional survey, Parasite Vectors 10:284 https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC5460448/