This study aimed to compare the use of ectoparasiticides between the preventive medicine and dermatology department at a veterinary teaching hospital. Between September 2022 and June 2023, dog owners presenting to the dermatology or preventive medicine departments at Alfort Veterinary University Hospital Centre for pets (ChuvA-AC) were asked to complete a standardized questionnaire assessing their use of and satisfaction with ectoparasiticides. The collected data were subsequently compiled and analyzed. A higher proportion of owners in the dermatology department reported using oral ectoparasiticides (59.6%) compared to those in the preventive medicine department (45.8%) (p-value = 0.007). No significant difference was observed between the two groups regarding compliance with the Summary of Product Characteristics (SPC) of the ectoparasiticide used (p-value = 0.202). However, owners whose dogs were receiving follow-up care in dermatology were significantly more likely to follow the SPC than those attending a first dermatology consultation or any consultation in preventive medicine (p-value = 0.004). Owners whose dogs are followed in dermatology appear to adhere more closely to the recommended use of ectoparasiticides, as described in the SPC, compared to owners presenting for first-time dermatology consultations or preventive medicine visits. Moreover, dermatology clients seem to favor oral formulations, whereas those attending preventive medicine consultations tend to prefer topical treatments. These findings suggest that improved owner awareness of the role of ectoparasiticides in canine health may lead to more appropriate and consistent use of these products.
Collomb et al. (2026) studied this question.