Preventing parasites in pets is the safest solution

The proverb "better safe than sorry" goes back to the beginning of the seventeenth century, but even before, the idea was well known. In the mid-thirteenth century, a Latin saying said that "it is better and more useful to solve a problem in time than to seek a cure once the damage has been done." This concept is a simple and universal truth.

It is well recognized that it is very helpful for owners to prevent pet problems instead of waiting for them to get sick and try to treat them. The two main areas of preventive medicine are, on the one hand, the prevention of infectious diseases by vaccination and, on the other hand, the prevention of parasites by regular administration of drugs. I've already discussed vaccines, so this week is the turn of anti-parasite drugs.

In most cases, it is safer and more effective to regularly administer medications to your pets to prevent parasites: this can mean tablets, stain-resistant products, sprays or impregnated collars, and it may be necessary to repeat them monthly, every two months or every three months, depending on the situation. Most veterinarians are happy to advise pet owners on the best preventive approach for their pet, and this type of personalized advice is undoubtedly the best solution.

All young animals – puppies and kittens – should receive regular anti-deworming treatment as they almost always catch their mother's worms. Typical recommendations are a dose of worm every two weeks up to three months, and then once a month up to six months. Parasites in adult animals are more complicated. The best approach is to identify the risk and then take the appropriate action.

First, ticks. If your dog or cat only takes a tick once or twice a year, rather than using a continuous dose of anti-tick medication on your pet for such a low risk, it may be more appropriate keep an eye on ticks, and remove them with the help of a tick removal tool (such as O 'Tom Tick Remover).

On the other hand, if you live in an area where your pet comes back with several ticks a week, then it is quite sensible to use a tick control product, that it is table , stain or collar. Modern drugs of this type are safe and very effective. Why expose your pet to a permanent challenge with ticks? Is there a simple answer?

Second, the chips. If your dog or cat spends most of its time indoors and seldom meets other animals, the risk of picking up fleas can be very small. In such cases, it may be acceptable to simply monitor them, and if they start to be itchy, or if you see traces of fleas in their coat, then only you will need to perform a potent flea treatment.

If you are considering this approach, you should invest in a flea comb, using it to regularly check their coat, or to find flea traces (small black spots of dried blood in the coat that the fleas leave behind: know as "flea dirt".)

On the other hand, if your dog or cat spends time outdoors and regularly chats with other pets, there is a high risk that they will catch fleas for bring them home. And once the fleas have arrived home, they multiply and lay in your carpets and upholstery. At this point, it will be more difficult to get rid of: besides the treatment applied directly to your pets, you will need to spray your house with a special environmental spray to kill fleas and prevent egg laying.

You can see why the idea of ​​applying a simple monthly bottle, a quick spray every two months or a tablet every 1 to 3 months is so appealing. It is simply easier and faster to prevent major flea problems by using ordinary products like this one.

Third, the worms. Again, if your dog or cat is a domestic animal that rarely comes out of the house, does not hunt at all and does not engage with other animals, the risk of a significant burden for worms is very high. low. You must, however, be careful of the low risk that your animal may be carrying worms that can affect humans. For this reason, it is always wise to administer the usual dose of the worm every three months or so, using a product that kills roundworms. You can buy these products over the counter.

However, if your pet spends time outdoors, you will need to pay attention to other worms.

For cats, if they hunt small rodents and frogs, they probably catch worms like tapeworms, which can be detrimental to health. There is no point waiting that they do not feel well (tapeworms can cause weight loss, a black and dry coat and a general lack of vitality). Instead, it is a good idea to give a medicine once a month (again, as a tablet or stain), making sure it covers roundworms and tapeworms.

For dogs that spend time outdoors, the most important risk is the lungworm, which can prevent blood from clotting, rarely causing sudden death from internal bleeding. Dogs can feed them by eating slugs or snails: they can do this accidentally by chewing grbad or licking bowls on the outside. So, if your dog has this type of habit, it is imperative to give him a monthly product to treat the lung worm, in tablet or stain form.

The best rule is simple: talk to your own veterinarian about the risks to your pet. Different parasites develop in different areas. Personalized, localized advice is the safest answer.

Wicklow people