National Pet Month: The best medicine for pets and planet is prevention

Here at Agria, every sustainability decision starts with one simple question, what's best for the pet? It turns out that question and what's best for the environment are usually the same answer.

"The health of people, animals, and the environment are all closely connected. Keeping our pets healthy and happy also supports healthier people and a healthier planet." Dawn Howard, Chief Executive of NOAH.

The hidden footprint of treatment

Emergency treatment is expensive. It's also costly from an environmental perspective. Diagnostics, anaesthesia, medications, specialist referrals, multiple return visits - all of it carries a carbon footprint that adds up quickly. A pet that stays healthy through good preventative care generally needs less medical intervention.

This isn't a reason to avoid the vet, it’s quite the opposite! Regular check-ups are how you catch things early, build a picture of your animal's health over time, and make sure that when something does change you're not starting from scratch. A routine appointment is a very different thing, in cost, stress, and environmental terms, from an emergency one. It also helps your pet build a relationship with the veterinary team, and is a great excuse for a treat and a pat!

Agria is already working on this at a deeper level. As part of our Scope 3 emissions work, we're actively measuring the environmental footprint of veterinary claims and using those insights to support greener options across the supply chain. "We're working towards a system that enables low environmental impact and high quality welfare outcomes, for pets, owners, and the planet."  Janet Hughes, Commercial Director and UK Sustainability Lead. Preventative care is a big part of how we get there.

Weight, food and waste

Obesity is one of the most common and most preventable health problems in pets, and it tends to get normalised because, just like us, it happens gradually. Overweight dogs and cats face higher risks of joint disease, diabetes, heart conditions and a shorter lifespan. They also need more medication and can cost more to treat across the board.

Keeping your pet at a healthy weight means feeding the right amount, which also means less food waste. For dogs, regular walks are good for them in ways that go beyond the physical. A dog that gets enough exercise and mental stimulation is far less likely to develop the stress-related conditions that end up needing treatment, and the daily walk does most owners as much good as it does the dog. Fresh air, movement and time outside have well documented health benefits for owners too.

Parasite control

Parasite prevention is essential, but how we do this is very important too. Certain flea treatments have been found in UK rivers and streams at levels harmful to aquatic invertebrates. It's not a reason to stop treating, but it is a reason to be careful. Keep treated pets away from water for at least 48 hours after topical treatment and always dispose of packaging properly,

Feet and teeth

Regular farriery and dental care are crucial for our horses. Neglect either and you're potentially looking at lameness, poor condition and a much bigger treatment down the line. The same goes for dogs and cats. Dental disease is extremely common, often painful, and very preventable.

Our commitment

At Agria, we're not just insuring pets. We're investing in the world they live in. We have been carbon negative since 2020, with Net Zero targets independently validated by the Science Based Targets initiative, and we are proud to support over 500 animal welfare organisations across the UK and beyond. Our sustainability work spans everything from how we run our business, to the verified climate projects we fund around the world, as we know pet welfare and planetary health are directly linked.

Find out more about our sustainability work at https://www.agriapet.co.uk/sustainability/