Many of the millions of customers who visit UK pharmacies each day are pet owners, so there's huge potential for pharmacy teams to expand their offering of pet health products and advice

According to the Pet Food Manufacturer’s Association, around 11 million UK households have a pet, with 24 per cent owning a dog and 15 per cent owning a cat. There are also millions of households with fish, rabbits, guinea pigs, reptiles and indoor birds.

Julia Powell from Paydens Pharmacy, which offers pet medicines online and in store, says pet health is currently only a minor category for community pharmacies, but there is potential for growth. “The advantages of pharmacies offering the service include their locations, the lack of need for an appointment and long opening hours,” she says. “Pharmacies also offer more choice of distribution routes for customers, meaning the public are more likely to use a wider range of veterinary medicines – either on the grounds of cost or, more probably, the convenience associated with easy accessibility. Unless a pet has a chronic condition, most pet owners only visit a vet when their pet needs vaccinations or for acute conditions. Pharmacy is ideally placed to provide ongoing care in a number of areas.”

Pet medicines

Over half of UK animal medicine sales, by value, are for pets or ‘companion animals’, according to the latest figures from the National Office of Animal Health. POM-V medicines, which account for 75.7 per cent of animal medicine sales, are the equivalent of human prescription medicines and can only be prescribed by a vet. POM-VPS medicines are also prescription-only medicines and can be prescribed by a vet, pharmacist or other suitably qualified person (SQP). These account for 17.1 per cent of sales. NFA-VPS – the equivalent of P-medicines – account for 6.1 per cent of sales, and AVM-GSL – GSL medicine equivalents – for 1.1 per cent. Pharmacies can also stock a wide range of other pet products, from nutraceutical supplements to grooming products and accessories. 

Pharmacy teams must be trained to deal with animal medicines in the same way that they advise on human equivalents, and be familiar with the products they supply. “Pharmacists must treat NFA-VPS products like any other P-medicine and ensure they ask the right questions and offer appropriate advice to animal owners,” says Rob Morris, chair of the Royal Pharmaceutical Society (RPS) Veterinary Pharmacy Forum and Veterinary pharmacy consultant at Roma Consulting. “It’s essential that they check whether the owner can competently use the medicine, the weight of the animal and whether there could be any contraindications.”

There are various courses and distance learning tools available so that pharmacists and pharmacy support staff can extend their pet health knowledge. Training, for example, is available through the RPS Veterinary Pharmacy Education Programme (VPEP.net), in collaboration with Harper Adams University, in the form of a Companion Animal Certificate.

If pharmacies wish to improve their pet product range, they need to decide how much space they have available. “Pharmacies need to be competitive and look at local pet stores,” says Rob. “They could offer a small amount of AVM-GSL products, which can be placed out on the pharmacy shelves, and prescription diets. Place dummy packs of NFA-VPS medicines on the shelves so customers know they can go to the pharmacy counter.”

Everyday health

Parasites and worms are two of the most widespread pet health problems in the UK. Julia suggests stocking worming, flea and tick treatments initially, before expanding into other areas. “There should be an emphasis on the advice rather than the product – for example, how often cats should be wormed,” she says. “Half of the seven to eight million cats in the UK appear not to be wormed. Of those that are, few are being wormed four times a year, as recommended.”

Andrew Bucher, chief veterinary officer at internet retailer MedicAnimal, believes that community pharmacies can do a lot to improve general awareness of parasite treatments. “According to a recent study, only a third of owners consider parasites a risk for their pet and 65 per cent of owners don’t use a parasite treatment regularly,” he says. “There are a number of factors that need to be considered when choosing the right treatment, including species – some products are toxic if used for the wrong species – any medical conditions, life cycle of the parasite, and where the animal lives. Normally, pets should be wormed at least four times per year, but in some cases, such as kittens, puppies or cats that hunt and eat mice, the frequency can be increased. The treatment will be tailored to the pet according to its lifestyle. It’s important to have a competent team that understands how to advise customers and when to refer to the vet for serious conditions.”

Some flea and worming products are POM-V, which means that by law they require a prescription signed by a vet. However, others can be recommended by an SQP or pharmacist and sold over the counter. Most flea and worming treatments are given by a liquid spot on the back of the animal’s neck, but some are available in tablet or collar form. 

Improving compliance is often key to successful treatment. PDSA vet Chris Wright says that customers can insert tablets into soft treats, although some newer tablets are specifically formulated to be more palatable. “Cats can be particularly difficult, and it may require more than one person to administer the medicine,” he explains. “Wrap the cat in a small towel so they feel more secure and remain calm. Flea and worming treatments need to be used regularly to ensure the protection is maintained. In the digital age, it’s easy to have reminders on a smartphone or even an old-fashioned calendar system. Some vet practices and manufacturers also have their own digital reminder system, with email or text reminders.”

Tick bites

In April 2016, the PDSA reported a more than six-fold rise in cases relating to Lyme disease among UK pets in the last six years. PDSA vet Vicki Larkham-Jones warns that the figures were likely to be “just the tip of the iceberg” as many cases go unreported. Lyme disease cases have been rising in the UK for some time, probably driven by climate change and warmer winters.

Cats and dogs can be infected with Lyme disease for more than a year before showing any symptoms. This is because they don’t get the same distinctive rash that’s seen in humans. The first sign in cats and dogs is often generalised joint pain, which can lead to permanent arthritis if it’s left untreated. The pet may also be off their food and have a fever. Caught early on, the disease can be effectively treated with long-term antibiotics, so it’s important that pet owners remain vigilant and take precautions.

Ticks are found in grassy, wooded and sandy areas, especially in thick vegetation. “A lot of spot-on flea treatments have anti-tick properties that stop ticks attaching themselves in the first place,” says Chris. “If a customer sees a tick, they can use a special tick remover or visit a vet or veterinary nurse, who can remove the tick carefully and safely. It’s important not to use fingers. If they are taking their dog for a walk, they should avoid long grass and undergrowth, and check the dog and themselves for ticks afterwards, especially around the dog’s face and chest area.” 

Lungworm infection

Canine lungworm infection used to be confined to parts of Wales and Southern England, but over the last few years, it has spread to many other areas of Britain. The parasitic worm is carried by slugs and snails, although it can also be ingested when dogs eat grass, drink from puddles or outdoor water bowls or play with outdoor toys. 

“Dogs can be easily infected after eating slugs or snails that carry the lungworm larvae,” explains Andrew. “Lungworm larvae grow in the body of the pet, move through the blood vessels and become adult. Then after 28 days, they start producing their own larvae.”

Lungworm can cause weight loss, difficulty breathing, a chronic cough and difficulty exercising. It can be fatal, but once diagnosed and treated, most dogs make a full recovery. A regular de-worming programme with appropriate products is an effective preventative measure.

Allergies

Just like humans, pets can develop allergies to their surroundings, but it can be a challenge to avoid the most common triggers. “Dogs may feel itchy on exposure to grass pollen,” says Chris. “They may develop ear infections, a red belly or even red eyes. After going for a walk, it’s important to limit pollen exposure by wiping them down. Skincare supplements such as omega-3 and 6 may help to reduce allergy symptoms in the long-term. Cats are more likely to be allergic to flea bites than pollen. Fleas are a year-round problem and can be controlled with a suitable flea treatment,” Chris adds.

Preventative measures

As with human health, preventative measures are essential when it comes to avoiding certain chronic pet conditions, and customers should be encouraged to take their pets to a vet at least once a year for a check up. Pharmacies can also stock various products to help maintain pet health in physical as well as behavioural terms.

Some products, for example, can be used to help pets cope with stressful situations, such as travelling in a car, moving home and fireworks, or to prevent unpleasant behaviour, such as scratching and spraying in cats. Maintaining healthy teeth and gums is also crucial, and pet toothbrushes and fluoride-free pet toothpastes are available for pharmacy teams to recommend. 

“The use of supplements in pets has become much more common of late,” says Andrew. “They are generally used for animals that don’t have a balanced diet or to improve mild health conditions. They are not intended to treat medical conditions, but rather to help prevent certain conditions or support the health of the pet. They may contain vitamins, minerals or active ingredients used to strengthen joints, protect gums and teeth or improve behaviour.”

It’s important to have a competent team that understands how to advise customers and when to refer to the vet