12 reasons to consider year-round parasite prevention medication
December 4th, 2008 Posted in Uncategorized12 Reasons Why Your Pet Should be on Year Round Parasite Prevention
1. 17% of children in a Halifax study (1) were seropositive for toxacara canis (roundworm).
2. Roundworm, hookworm and whipworm eggs have been shown to overwinter (2) at much lower temperatures than were originally thought possible, creating a persistent environmental hazard in your yard and potential for parasite infection in you and your pet.
3. 2 fleas, 2 days, 200 eggs, 2 months, 2000 fleas.
4. There are approximately 300 cases of heartworm disease diagnosed in Ontario (3) every year. Heartworm is fatal to dogs, and is 100% preventable.
5. Treating dogs that are positive for heartworm requires consecutive injections with an arsenic agent that has a low margin of safety. (4)
6. A dog infected with intestinal roundworms will often defecate more than 20 000 eggs/day, and although we work to clean up our yards, eggs remain behind.
7. Racoon roundworms can be easily transmitted to dogs and can be extremely dangerous to people as the larvae of these worms tend to travel to the central nervous system and cause severe brain damage and, in some cases, death.
8. Fleas are a nuisance parasite that can infest your home. Eggs, larvae and pupae live in the environment and bury themselves into dark quiet spaces including the base of your carpet, tile cracks and crevices, baseboard edges and places where your pet lies (including your furniture).
9. Flea eggs and larvae are microscopic, and appear only as “salt and pepper grains” to the naked eye… so you may not see them until they are really a problem.
10. Mosquitos that go dormant in the winter months carrying heartworm, wake up in warmer, more humid conditions carrying heartworm creating an uninterrupted lifecycle. (7)
11. The Companion Animal Parasite Council (2) and the American Heartworm Society (8) advocate for year round parasite prevention. These expert groups advise that 12 months of prevention has been proven to best protect your pets and your family from the risk of the most common parasites.
12. 12 months of broad spectrum parasite prevention is a key component of a lifelong wellness approach to veterinary care, just as important as annual exams and appropriate vaccinations.
References:
1. Seroepidemiologic survey of Toxocara canis infection in urban and rural children. J. Embil et al., Public Health, vol 102, March 1988, Pages 129-133.
2. www.capcvet.org.
3. www.vita-tech.com.
4. IMMITICIDE® (melarsomine dihydrochloride) Sterile Powder, Merial Canada, Inc.
5. Schantz PM, Stehr-Green JK, 1988 Toxocaral larva migrans. JAVMA 192: 28-32.
6. www.cdc.com.
7. Dwight Bowman, personal communication.
8. www.heartwormsociety.org.
Information courtesy of Novartis
