|
There are many facets to keeping puppies and kittens healthy into adulthood and then into their geriatric years. Zoonotic diseases and parasites are infections and organisms that infected animals that can be spread to human beings. Protection and prevention of diseases in humans starts with protecting and preventing the diseases and parasites in our pet populations. Vaccinations are usually in the form of shots, and dewormings are usually in the form of liquid, pill or capsule. Vaccinations generally protect against viral diseases that are deadly to the pet. The most common zoonotic disease prevented by vaccination is Rabies. Fecal exams of all cats and dogs help identify intestinal worms that can be zoonotic. Regular fecal exams and preventing intestinal worms via monthly heartworm pills that include dewormers not only protect the pets but also the humans, primarily children. Children are at the highest risk due to their exposure to contamination from playing in the sandboxes, dirt and not washing hands after touching places on the pet and in the environment. Worms that live in the pets’ intestinal tract can infect the children through their skin and their mouths and then migrate in the skin (cutaneous larval migrans) and internal organs (visceral larval migrans).
The following are some facts provided by Novartis Animal Health.
-The estimated number of humans that had been exposed to roundworms in the United States during the last study was 2.8%.
-The Centers for Disease Control (CDC) estimate that 15 million people test positive for exposure to zoonotic parasites annually. Exposure does not mean disease but that is still a very high rate!
-The infection rate for children under 11 years old is estimated to be 4.6-7.3%, the highest risk group.
-The CDC estimates 10,000 cases of visceral larval migrans (roundworms) occur in people each year and 750 cases of blindness in children due to ocular larval migrans (roundworms). This means that the worms have infected the people and attacked their internal organs such as their liver, brain and eyes.
-Nationally one in five dogs is infected with one or more of the following parasites: Roundworms, Hookworms or Whipworms. A 1996 study indicated that the prevalence of unprotected and untreated dogs in Raleigh to be: roundworms 31%, hookworms 69% and whipworms 25%.
Intestinal worms are easily preventable. Have a fecal exam done on your pet 2-4 times a year depending on the risk factors (which you can discuss with your veterinarian.) Keep your dogs and cats on monthly heartworm preventions with built in intestinal dewormers. For dogs, Heartgard, Iverhart, Interceptor and Sentinel deworm for Roundworms and Hookworms. Interceptor and Sentinel also help deworm against Whipworms. For cats, Heartgard, Interceptor and Revolution (topical) will deworm monthly for roundworms and hookworms. Proheart and Revolution in dogs will not protect against Visceral or Ocular Larval Migrans and your dog should have much more frequent fecal examinations. Bringing fresh (within 12 hours old) samples with you for your pet’s examinations will help you, your pet and the veterinary staff. The amount of fecal material that can be acquired during an office visit may not be of sufficient quantity to do an accurate test. Being covered in cat litter or grass will not affect whether the veterinarian can run the floatation examination.
|
