Dermatology-based problems are the most frequently encountered diseases in cats and dogs. Within these diseases, the highest incidence rate belongs to skin problems of ectoparasitic origin. Toxic chemicals and drugs are used in the prevention and treatment of dermatoses caused by ectoparasites such as lice, fleas, and mange commonly seen in cats and dogs, in terms of animal health and environmental contamination.
There are 14 million pets in Turkey; 3.6 million cats and 1.2 million dogs are kept as pets. The pet market in our country has a volume of 1 billion dollars and an annual growth rate of 18%. Specifically for the healthcare market, the annual expenditure is 400 million dollars, and 28% of this market (112 million dollars) consists of antiparasitic products. This project aims to develop a portable, cold atmospheric plasma-based device, different from chemical methods, for the prevention and treatment of ectoparasitic dermatoses occurring in cats and dogs.