Robert P Lavan, Robert Armstrong, Dorothy Normile, Dongmu Zhang and Kaan Tunceli
Background: Fluralaner is a potent acaricide and insecticide effective against flea and tick (F/T) infestations on dogs and cats. Fluralaner for dogs can be administered orally as a flavored chew with up to a 12-week redosing interval, about three-fold less frequently than monthly F/T medications. This study surveyed dog owners who currently administer fluralaner to their dogs to determine their level of satisfaction with the product and its perceived benefits compared to monthly medications, including the potential for on-time administration compliance.
Methods: In the period April to June 2016, dog-owner clients from 25 veterinary practices in 16 U.S. states completed a 10-item survey questionnaire (n=559) that asked respondents about their experience with fluralaner and monthly medications. In multivariate analyses, predictors of treatment satisfaction and predictors of preference with fluralaner have been estimated by an ordered logistic regression and a logistic regression, respectively.
Results: Seventy-three percent of survey respondents had used monthly F/T medications prior to fluralaner. Respondents identified convenience (74%), the 12-week dosing interval (69%), and less-frequent dosing (68%) as the three most important benefits of using fluralaner. Sixty six percent were very satisfied and 30% were satisfied with fluralaner and 89% preferred fluralaner versus monthly F/T medications. Pet owners who used monthly F/T products, 65% thought that they were more likely to give the next fluralaner dose on time compared to doses of monthly F/T products, and 88% said that giving repeat doses of fluralaner was more convenient than giving monthly F/T products. In multivariable models, “12 weeks dosing/convenience” and “female gender” were positively associated with treatment satisfaction and preference with fluralaner (p<0.05).
Conclusions: Overall satisfaction with fluralaner and preference for fluralaner compared to monthly F/T medications were high. The most significant factor predicting satisfaction and preference was perceived benefit with 12 weeks dosing or convenience.
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