Trends in the flea and tick segment

The market for flea and tick products, which was valued at over $5.8 billion in 2021, is expected to reach $16.4 billion by 2031, according to Transparency Market Research (TMR). Such market forecasts make this a promising sector for companies interested in growing their market share.

Market opportunity

A dog or cat scratching and itching itself is a warning sign for pet parents. After all, owners are worried about fleas or ticks which might impact their pet’s health or pass on a parasitic disease. Such concerns about pet health are an opportunity for the industry to launch products aimed at fighting off ticks and fleas.

To protect both pets and humans from ticks and fleas, there are already hundreds of pesticides, repellents and growth inhibitors available in the market.

Protecting against ticks and fleas

The products on offer range from oral solutions, such as pills and chews, to collars, sprays, dips, shampoos, powders and ‘spot-ons’ (liquid products squeezed onto a dog’s or cat’s skin, usually in the area between the shoulder blades).

Of all these products, the 2 most common treatments for warding off ticks and fleas are topical spot-on treatments and oral chewable tablets – the latter providing long-lasting protection against ticks and fleas from within.

In January of this year, Zoetis received approval from the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) to produce Simparica Trio, a once-a-month chewable tablet that protects pets against parasitic diseases.

According to the company, Simparica is the first and only combination product demonstrated to prevent infections that may cause Lyme disease.

“This efficacy claim provides a new tool to veterinary teams who understand that healthy pets mean happy people, and who work every day to provide the best care for our dogs,” according to Jen Sheehy, Medical Lead for Parasitology at Zoetis.

Easy application equals less stress

In May last year, Elanco announced the launch of Credelio Plus and Credelio Cats, a broad-spectrum oral parasiticide for the control of fleas, ticks and worms in dogs and cats. This is a once-monthly tablet, that comes with the promise for cats, that the treatment kills fleas within 6 hours.

Paris-based Vetoquinol earlier this year launched Felpreva, its new spot-on parasiticide for cats. It treats both internal and external parasite infections – including tapeworms – for up to 3 months in a single dose. The company claims the product is active for 13 weeks against fleas and ticks. The new medication is available in France, Germany, the United Kingdom, Austria and Italy.

“The need for a straightforward, cat-friendly endectocide solution like Felpreva has never been more critical. Time-pressed vets are faced with increasing numbers of feline patients, whilst owners continue to struggle with the stress of treating their cats,” explains Juliana Carrer, International Range Manager at Vetoquinol.

Long-term effectiveness at an affordable price

US-based Wondercide recently announced a new lineup of plant-powered products, including shampoo for dogs and cats, a water-resistant collar, and a spot-on treatment. The collar protects pets for up to 4 months and the spot-on repels parasites for at least 30 days.

To help pet owners cope with the higher costs of these treatments, subscription pet care company Pet Friendly provides subscriptions for safe and affordable flea and tick treatments for cats and dogs. Prices start at $12 per pet. Recently, the company also introduced Multi- Pet Pricing in order to help families keep all their pets protected at an affordable price.