Pet owners know that they derive great benefits from their furry friends, including companionship, love, fun and happiness. However, we may not always realise that our pets’ health and well-being can impact on the safety and health of our families. With pet ownership comes the responsibility of ensuring that the well-being of these animals is in our hands, not only for their sake, but for the sake of our families too.

Let’s look a little more closely at the way humans can get sick from animals.

Zoonosis

This refers to the various animal diseases that can be transmitted to humans. They are known as zoonotic diseases. If this sounds a bit frightening, take comfort from the fact that there are easy ways to ensure that your pets, you and your family, remain healthy. The first, and most important, step is to take your pet to the vet regularly to assess him/her and to carry out any preventative treatment, where necessary.

Prevention: Vaccinations

When assessing your furry friend, your veterinarian will draw up a plan according to your specific pet’s needs, regarding vaccinations. Your vet will take your pet’s species, breed, lifestyle, where you live and places you might visit, into account. Your pet may be exposed to microorganisms, like viruses and bacteria, on a daily basis, which can cause infectious diseases, some of which can be contracted by humans. Vaccinations, like those created by Nobivac®, are designed to prevent the most common of these e.g. Rabies and Leptospirosis. When your pet is vaccinated, he/she and your family will then be protected against these illnesses.

The Main Culprits

Parasites

These unwelcome visitors are small, living beings which live off our pets. Parasites can be found on the outside (external parasites) or inside (internal) of our pets’ bodies. They can transmit diseases to them and, subsequently, to us.

Remember that parasite risk varies from country to country and from region to region. Visit your vet to find out the best preventative solution to protect your pet, and you. Bravecto® has a range of pest protection treatments that require just 4 doses per year (or less) to keep your pet tick and flea-free.

External Parasites

• Ticks

These creatures feed on other animals’ blood, possibly irritating our pets’ skin and, even worse, transmitting diseases, such as Biliary. It used to be the case that pet owners could rely on the weather to predict the presence of these beasties, but climate change has meant that we can no longer assume that our pets are safe from ticks in the winter. They may be present now year-round, so our pets need to be protected the whole year by using the treatment recommended by your vet, such as Bravecto® – just 1 dose a season for year-round protection.

• Fleas

Like ticks, fleas live on the host (your pet), sucking their blood and possibly transmitting diseases. The flea’s eggs, larvae and pupae (95% of the flea population) live in the environment, while the adult fleas, which jump to reach their target host, live on the animal.

They are especially fond of a warm house, which is the ideal place to start their families. So they catch a ride on our pets, or on us, into our houses, which is flea paradise for starting an infestation.

Clearly, we need to get rid of them by choosing a product recommended by our vet, which will protect against the adult fleas. These pests bite our pets and lay the eggs that propagate the infestation. Quarterly preventative measures are essential to ensure that our animals, and we, are protected.

Internal Parasites

Obviously, these represent another problem because they are not visible and may not cause any symptoms, especially in the early stages of infection. These may include a parasite called Toxocara, which can affect dogs, cats and humans and which contaminates the environment with its eggs.

We need to take steps to reduce environmental contamination by regularly using a deworming product, recommended by our vet. For cats, try Bravecto® Plus which treats for intestinal parasites (worms), ticks and fleas. Animal faeces may also contain the eggs of these parasites, so it should be picked up daily. In this way, you are taking steps towards keeping your pet healthier and also towards protecting other animals and humans, especially children, from being contaminated by these parasites.

To sum up:

The health and welfare of your beloved pet, you and your family, are linked. Ensuring that your furry friend is happy and healthy may impact on the well-being of your family.

For your pet, regular visits to your vet, a balanced lifestyle and careful hygiene practices, reduce the risk of contracting zoonotic diseases and allergies for your pet and for your whole family. They may also reduce the risk of accidents and behavioural issues.

These practices also help to strengthen the bond between your furry friend and your family, ensuring a happy and harmonious home for all. between your furry friend and your family, ensuring a happy and harmonious home for all.

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