Flea and tick protection: attitudes of pet parents around the world

The majority of pet owners around the world buy products aimed at stopping biting insects from affecting their cats and dogs, but where they make their purchases, what kinds of products they use and when they apply them varies. The findings of a survey published earlier this year by Yummypets, powered by Loop, provide some useful insights.

Purchasing frequency

The survey was conducted among 2,926 pet owners in 6 countries: Brazil (734), Canada (340), France (460), Mexico (530), the UK (360) and the US (502). France was the only country where a majority of the sample was made up of cat owners (61%). In the other 5 countries, two-thirds of the respondents were dog owners.

The frequency with which pet owners treat their pets with protective flea and tick products varies. Brazil has the highest usage rate of the countries surveyed, with 90% having bought a product within the last 12 months. France is just behind that, with 88% saying they made a purchase in the past year. For Mexico this was 84%, while pet parents in the US and UK reported 72% and Canadians just 56%.

At first glance, this suggests a strong market for this industry segment in Latin America and France, with softer demand in anglophone countries. However, in the US, UK and Canada, those pets who do receive flea and tick prevention tend to be given it more frequently.

Monthly use or less

Some 61% of US dog owners who buy a product use it on their pet monthly. The same is true for 44% of US cat owners. In Canada, 53% of dogs and 30% of cats get their treatment once a month, and in the UK, 54% of dog owners and 53% of cat owners give treatments monthly.

Non-English-speaking countries seem to treat their pets less often. In France, just 24% of dog owners and 23% of cat owners do this monthly. Latin American countries have strong purchasing frequency rates, but lower use frequency rates. In Brazil, 17% of dog owners and 15% of cat owners use treatments monthly, while in Mexico this figure is 11% of dog owners and 9% of cat owners, with most pets receiving treatment 1-3 times a year.

Comparing retail channels

Yummypets also asked pet owners where they buy their flea and tick treatments. The findings reveal that the US is the only country where online shopping comes out on top, although this channel is also popular in the UK and Brazil.

The second most popular place to buy pest protection is a vet clinic, with this the preferred option in Canada and Mexico, particularly among Mexican dog owners. Pet retailers come in third. They are the first choice for Brazilian pet parents, but the least popular in France where many consumers buy these kinds of products at pharmacies.

Favored types of protection

The types of products used varies widely, but spot-on treatments are the most popular in every country surveyed. The second most used treatment is the pill form, which is particularly popular in France (58% of pet owners) and Brazil (49%).

The use of collars and shampoos is also widespread, with the latter relatively popular among Mexicans (44%) and Brazilians (40%), but not often chosen in France (9%).

In the US and Brazil, chews are very popular, among 37% and 41% of pet owners respectively. Dog-owning US respondents are particularly heavy users of chewable treatments (55%). This form of prevention is yet to make major inroads in the UK (9%) or France (3%).

Ease of administration

Across the board, pet owners say they find it quite easy to administer their chosen pest protection treatment, though in general people have an easier time treating their dogs than their cats.

Pet parents in France, where pill use is high, have the most trouble with their dogs, while owners in the UK often have problems with their cats.