Veterinary Medicines
The pesticides used in tick and flea treatments that are bad for freshwater bugs…
Generally, when we think of pesticides, we picture crops being sprayed and other outdoor, agricultural or horticultural scenarios. However, pesticides banned in outdoor agricultural use because of the harm they cause in the natural environment, are commonly used for tick and flea treatments on pet cats and dogs. The collective, large-scale use of pesticides in veterinary medicine is equating to pollution across waterways in the UK with knock on effects to freshwater invertebrates and ecosystems.
Love Your Pet, Not Pesticides
The UK is a nation of pet owners (there are approximately 23 million dogs and cats in the UK). Veterinary medicines are essential for animal health and can also help to safeguard humans. Many owners are unaware that some popular treatments contain pesticides including fipronil and the neonicotinoid, imidacloprid, infamously linked to colony collapse disorder in bees. Imidacloprid and fipronil are known to cause significant harm to aquatic invertebrates.
These chemicals are not removed by wastewater treatment plants or septic systems, allowing them to enter rivers, potentially contributing to major declines in freshwater invertebrates such as dragonflies, mayflies, shrimps and damselflies.
A recent Welsh river survey linked high concentrations of imidacloprid, fipronil and diazinon to over a 90% decline in invertebrates. In 2022, fipronil was the highest-ranked organic contaminant in English ground and surface waters, and in 2023, imidacloprid posed the greatest risk across the Greater London catchment, highlighting the scale of severity of the risks these pesticides cause to freshwater invertebrates.
How are these pesticides getting into waterways?
Pesticides can reach waterways through dogs swimming, moulted fur, and washing pets and their bedding and even residues from pet owner hand washing after petting. One survey found 100% of wash-off samples from treated dogs contained both chemicals.
How big is the problem?
Buglife’s desk-based review found both pesticides pose significant risks to freshwater invertebrates, disrupting food webs and ecosystem functions, with potential knock-on effects for fish and birds.
What can be done?
To protect freshwater life, Buglife is urging the Government to act fast. Recommendations include:
- Reclassifying all veterinary products containing fipronil and imidacloprid as prescription only.
- Improving guidance on environmental risks.
- Prohibiting the online sale of all veterinary products that include harmful pesticides.
- Ensuring a rapid transition to risk-based treatments.
- Revising veterinary package offerings and promoting alternatives.