Ovitrol® X-Tend™ Helps Take The Bite Out Of Peak Flea Season With Donation To Homeless Pets

PHOENIX, Oct. 21, 2014 /PRNewswire/ -- Fall marks the peak season for fleas, evidenced by a 70 percent increase in flea prevalence over the previous season[1]. To help stop the spread of fleas and ensure pets are protected this season and all year, Veterinary Products Laboratories (VPL), the makers of Ovitrol^® X-Tend™ Flea & Tick Spot On^® products for Dogs and Cats, has donated $15,000 worth of the flea and tick treatments to five animal shelter organizations located in regions known for having a high prevalence of fleas year-round; a total donation of $75,000. The donation will supply each shelter with enough product to protect 120 pets from fleas and ticks for an entire year.

Shelter organizations work tirelessly to ensure the humane treatment of animals and to find homes for thousands of homeless pets. To help scratch the itch of pesky parasites and prevent flea infestation this fall, five shelter organizations each received donations of 1,440, one-month doses of Ovitrol^® X-Tend™ Flea & Tick Spot On^® products for Dogs and Cats.

Ovitrol^® X-Tend™ Product Donation Recipients:

• Arizona Humane Society (Phoenix, Ariz.)
• Humane Society of Greater Miami (Miami, Fla.)
• Humane Society of Charlotte (Charlotte, N.C.)
• Seattle Humane Society (Seattle, Wash.)
• The Greater Birmingham Humane Society (Birmingham, Ala.)

"We are passionate about helping our shelter partners by protecting pets against fleas and ticks while relieving the expense of preventive care," said Betsy Watkins, director of the VPL division. "Providing comfort and protection to animals in need is humbling and we thank each shelter partner for the hard work and time they devote to ensuring the well-being of every pet they help."

Fleas are the most common external parasite found on untreated cats and dogs, and become even more prevalent during the fall; biting and feeding on the blood of their host. Fleas can consume 15 times their own body weight in blood and may lay up to 40-50 eggs each day, leading to rapid infestation of both the host and its environment if left untreated. Flea infestation on pets can cause severe irritation and itching, which can lead to hair-loss, inflammation and secondary skin infections. Severe cases of infestation, like those often seen by animal welfare professionals, can result in serious blood loss, anemia and possible death of the pet.

"Fleas are more than just an itchy nuisance to pets as they can cause severe distress, and more importantly, can transmit diseases such as tapeworm and the bacteria that cause cat scratch fever," said Dr. Tom Kennedy, parasitologist. "Topical treatments have proven successful to eliminate fleas and prevent subsequent re-infestation, offering animal welfare organizations and pet owners an easy solution to protect their pets."

Ovitrol^® X-Tend™ Spot On^® products for Dogs or Cats offer pet owners a powerful and affordable solution to eliminate fleas and ticks. As a fast-acting, topical prevention and control method, Ovitrol^® X-Tend™ topicals start killing fleas on dogs and cats within 15 minutes, while also killing mosquitoes. The effective formula is administered through an applicator, specifically designed to make application easy for pet owners, without mess. Each dose protects for an entire month. Ovitrol^® X-Tend™ topical is available through licensed, practicing veterinarians for a suggested retail price of $29.99 for each 3-pack. 

For more information about Ovitrol^® X-Tend™ Flea & Tick Spot On^® products for Dogs or Cats call 1-888-241-9546 or visit www.Ovitrolxtend.com.

About Veterinary Products Laboratories
As the veterinary division of Central Garden & Pet Company, Veterinary Products Laboratories (VPL) partners with manufacturers and veterinary distributors to promote and provide animal care products to veterinarians and their clients. Product brands include leading-edge therapeutics, surgical suite products, complete flea and tick control and top quality medical devices that enhance the quality of life for animals and the people who care for them. In collaboration with other divisions of Central Garden & Pet Company, as well as entrepreneurial business partners, VPL develops products with innovative delivery systems to enhance client compliance and therapeutic success. Through distributor partnerships, VPL reaches veterinary clinics across the United States. For more information, call 1-888-241-9545, or visit www.vpl.com.

Ovitrol and Spot On are registered trademarks of Wellmark International.  All other trademarks are property of their respective owners.

[1] http://www.chicagonow.com/steve-dales-pet-world/2011/10/no-foolin-fall-is-prime-flea-season/

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SOURCE Veterinary Products Laboratories

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