Are Your Pets Safe From Parasites? Here's What You Need To Know

Protect your beloved pets from Lyme disease, heartworm and ehrlichea with one simple click

April 18, 2017

From the LifeMinute team

There are roughly 78 million dogs and 85 million cats in American households today, and most are treated as a part of the family, which is why owners are turning to vets and parasitologists to inform them about the dangers of parasite exposure. Here, veterinarians Karen Fling and Rick Marrinson of the Companion Animal Parasite Council fill us in on what we can to to keep our beloved pets healthy and parasite-free.

Pet-Friendly Map

Forecast maps are compiled using detailed data, says Marrinson. "Temperature, humidity, populations, and reported positive tests are fed into a complicated mathematical algorithm that generates maps. The science is like what we use to predict hurricanes but in this case we are predicting the incidents of parasite diseases," he says. Some diseases include tick born diseases such as Lyme disease, anoplasmosis, ehrlichia, and these affect not only dogs but cats as well and some including limes can effect humans.

Year-Round Protection

They are also talking about heartworm disease. "It's a big year for heartworm. We have had an environment that is very conducive to mosquitos which carry the disease from dog to dog, cat to cat. It's very important that you have your pet tested and protected so that they remain on parasite protection all year round," he adds.

Hidden Dangers

Very often people have the misconception that they would know if their pet was sick. If they have an indoor dog or cat they think they are not at risk for parasites but they reality is that so often the outdoors comes in and you can't tell if your pets are affected just by looking at them. So seeing family vet is an important step annually.

Stay Safe On The Road

Don't forget about traveling with your pet. If you will be on the road with your animal be aware of what is going on in the area. You can go to petsandparasites.org for information about diseases both in your area as well as nationally, plus information about how to protect your animals anywhere in the country.

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