I’ve had pets for as long as I can remember and for most of that time our family has had dogs. Our dogs have become part of the family and we always do our best to look after our pets, ensuring their care is top notch.
We’re not animal care specialists though and so it’s quite possible to simply not be aware of an issue which could put your dog and even your family at risk.
Most dog owners would feel the same as us; they would be devastated if they lost their pet. However, a new survey indicates we might be putting their health and our families at risk from parasites.
Pet Parasite Action surveyed over 1000 dog owners nationwide and found that while 85% of us happily hug our dogs, nearly a third have also found pet parasites on ourselves or our children and most of us don’t know which parasites are the most risky for our pets or our families. I must admit I have no idea!
There seems to be an understanding of the dangers of lungworm for our dogs, but most parasites such as ticks and roundworms are underestimated as disease risks to pets and people.
The campaign has gained the backing of TV presenter Jenni Falconer and it aims to raise awareness of the need to treat dogs for parasites,
Photos: Jenni Falconer and her dog Alfie
“As a dog owner and a mum I want to be sure I do the best thing for my pet and my family. During the Pet Parasite Action campaign I’m encouraging all pet owners to visit their vet for a simple way to help protect their pet against parasites inside and out, including those that might be harmful to rest of the family. Let’s act now to protect all the members of our family, furry or otherwise.”
The survey found that the majority of people let their pet sleep on their bed, sit on their sofa or lap and even lick their faces and give them kisses. A few respondents go one step further, letting their pet lick the family’s plates and sit at the dinner table. Over a third of people surveyed say they never think about the parasites their pet might be hosting, despite the potential risks.
74% of people are worried by the dangers of lungworm, while 82% of dog owners are able to correctly identify that lungworm could be fatal to their pets, 43% said they think dog lungworm is the parasite that poses the greatest risk to human health, when actually it’s harmless to people. A huge misconception.
Here are some other findings from the survey;
- 36% say they are worried about ticks
- Just 48% realise that ticks can cause fatalities in dogs because of the diseases they transmit.
- Only 28% recognise that ticks (as a transmitter of Lyme disease in people) are a risk to human health.
- 15% say they were worried about roundworms
- 7% correctly say they think roundworms could threaten human health. Yet if accidentally eaten, eggs from the roundworm Toxocara pose a significant threat to human health, potentially causing blindness or neurological disease, especially in children.
- 25% don’t realise their pet could have parasites but they might not be visible, as is often the case with lungworms, hard to find ticks and roundworms and the microscopic eggs they produce.
- 16-17% say that it’s been about a year since they last treated their pet for ticks, lungworm or roundworm.
- 23% say that they don’t know when their pet was last treated for lungworm despite concerns about its affects.
The survey also went on to show that most dog owners avoid certain actions following treating their pet against parasites. 61% avoid bathing their dog or letting it swim, 41% avoid them or their children having contact with their dog and 33% avoid letting their dog on the sofa or bed. However, there are now oral chews available to treat several parasites, which means there is no need to avoid these actions and they could continue interacting with their dogs as normal post-treatment.
“It’s very easy to enjoy the benefits of pet ownership and give your dog all the love they need, while also helping to protect them and the rest of your family from parasites. Dog owners should visit their vet for a simple treatment against parasites inside and out”. Vet Janet Winter
The survey has highlighted that while we absolutely want to do the best for our dogs, we are sometimes not fully protecting them. The campaign will seek to educate us pet owners and encourage us to act to help protect our pets (and our families) against harmful pet parasites by visiting the vet for advice and appropriate treatment.
More information about pet parasites and a participating practice locator is available on the Pet Parasite Action website petparasiteaction.co.uk.
Disclosure: This is a collaborative post
1056 dog owners responded to the survey which was carried out in February 2017