New Product May Cut Pet Healthcare Costs

This week, the pet pharmaceutical company FidoPharm and the ASPCA joined forces to unveil PetArmor™, a new EPA-approved generic version of the popularly prescribed flea and tick protection product, Frontline®. According to ASPCA and the makers of PetArmor™, the product is going to revolutionize pet healthcare and in turn pet ownership by providing necessary flea and tick protection for dogs and cats at an affordable cost for consumers.

Petside had the opportunity to catch up with Dr. Jennifer Lander, Director of Medicine for the ASCPA Adoption Center, and talk about the new product and the importance of pet healthcare.

What does the launch of PetArmor™ mean for the pet owning community?

Dr. Lander: So our understanding is that in this product, the main ingredient is fipronil. Fipronil has been proven over the years to be excellent for flea and tick control and prevention in dogs and cats. So this is basically a generic form of fipronil-based product that will be available at about half of the cost of the original non-generic product. Basically, pet owners will be able to get the same quality of healthcare for roughly half of the cost.

Why is it so important that this product is approved by the EPA?

Dr. Lander: So there are a lot of pesticides out there that will kill fleas and ticks and other parasites, but they don't always do so safely for the host animal, which in this case is dogs and cats. A big concern for the EPA and the ASPCA is that there are some products that are not approved for use in dogs and cats, and having some of those products that are unsafe for cats out there makes it easier for pet owners to misuse it. And cats do get very sick or can even die from misuse of these products.

From a medical standpoint, why is it so important for our animals to be protected from parasites like fleas and ticks?

Dr. Lander: Fleas and ticks are not only a health hazard to animals, but they're also a health hazard to pet families. Right now, Americans are enjoying very close relationships with their cats and dogs, animals that go outdoors and animals that stay inside. So keeping these animals parasite-free keeps them healthier, because there are very dangerous things that cats and dogs can get. It also keeps their families healthier as well, because fleas and ticks can be dangerous and irritating to humans, too.

In recent economic times, with rising costs, has animal healthcare gone to the back burner?

Dr. Lander: There has been some indication that pet ownership has declined a little bit, maybe because of the economy, and they think that when people sometimes have to make compromises, that pet care may be one of those things that gets compromised. It's very important for us to, when we have the opportunity, give pet owners education and let them know what it takes to take care of their pets.

In that vein, what are your thoughts on pet insurance?

Dr. Lander: I think pet insurance is a very unique and personal decision for a pet owner to make. Pet insurance can be great for a lot of different problems that your pet may have, especially catastrophic injury or illness. But it is an extra expense, and usually up to the pet owner to make the decision whether that type of reassurance is right for them. The ASPCA does have an insurance resource for those interested on its website. But in speaking of reassurance, its always important to remember to take your pet for wellness checks, which are the best way to screen your pet for any issues they may have and make sure that they are taken care of.

Image Source: ASPCA