Advising on the safe and responsible use of parasiticides in companion animals goes right to the heart of the professional responsibility of SQPs.

Be Spot-On Aware

You may have seen that the Veterinary Medicines Directorate (VMD) has launched its ‘Be Spot-On Aware’ campaign, focusing on the correct use of flea treatments and the steps owners should take to protect their pets, themselves, and the environment. This campaign reinforces many of the principles you already apply every day: accurate product advice, clear communication, and ensuring treatments are used appropriately with advice on how to use them as safely as possible.

While the content on the front page of VMD’s campaign website is primarily aimed at pet owners, we would strongly encourage all SQPs involved in advising on companion animal ectos to visit and read through the excellent advice on the site, and think about how you can adequately inform the animal owners you are advising.
 
You may find the Campaign Resources helpful in ensuring those messages reach animal owners – and reinforce the value of getting your expert advice in protecting the health of their pets and the environment.

Remember…

As an SQP, you play a vital role in safeguarding animal welfare and promoting responsible medicine use. Your guidance helps owners avoid common pitfalls such as incorrect dosing, inappropriate product selection, and accidental misuse/misapplication of products that may pose risks to pets, the environment and wildlife. The VMD’s campaign is a timely reminder of how influential your advice can be in preventing harm and improving pet health outcomes.

Supportive CPD

To support you further, we wanted to use this communication to remind you of the selection of CPD modules on the AMTRA CPD Academy that align directly with the responsible use of parasiticides in companion animals. These resources are designed to strengthen your confidence, refresh your knowledge, and help you continue delivering the high standard of advice expected of AMTRA registered SQPs.

We encourage you to explore the CPD available, all of which is outlined below, and take advantage of the opportunity to deepen your expertise in this essential area of companion animal care. As an AMTRA-registered SQP, you have access to the AMTRA CPD Academy, the industry’s biggest and most popular CPD resource, offering a comprehensive range of high-quality learning to support your professional development.

• Advising pet owners on the responsible use of ectoparasiticides with Rose Perkins (Ref: A3588, points: 4)
• Risk based management with ectoparasite control in companion animals with Ian Wright (Ref: A3664, points: 6)
• VPS companion animal oral Isoxazoline parasiticides, with Andrea Tarr (Ref: A3572, points: 6)
• Effective and Responsible Flea control (Ref: A3368, points: 2)

Thank you for your continued professionalism and commitment to responsible prescribing.

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