Does pet helminth prophylaxis increase the rate of selection for drug resistance?

There is a growing tendency to control helminths in pets by the prophylacti c use of broad-spectrum drug combinations (Allwormers), some of which are o f low efficacy. If similar treatment regimes were applied to livestock, par asite strains resistant to chemotherapy would be expected to evolve. The ra te of selection for resistance depends significantly on epidemiological par ameters and strategic recommendations based on experience with farm animals might not be applicable to pets without critical examinations. Also, the r outine use of Allwormers reduces the level of interaction between veterinar ians and pet owners and the valuable contribution by veterinarians towards educating pet owners about animal and public health issues in addition to p arasite treatment.