Spring has finally sprung!
Our windows are open, our walks are longer, and … the parasites are out!
While I am here to tell you that, in Kingsville, we should not completely forget about parasite prevention in the “colder” months (with days in December, January and February above freezing), spring is certainly the time when it usually hits everyone’s radar.
Fleas, ticks, mites, internal parasites … great dinner talk. (Well, at least at my house it is!)
It is important that you discuss your dog or cat’s parasite prevention plan with your vet, as lifestyle will dictate what type of prevention program you will need. It may sound a bit strange to consider your pet as having a “lifestyle” but they do! Generally, this mirrors their owners’ lifestyle, of course — i.e., do they live in a high-rise apartment or on a farm? do they spend weekends camping and hiking or at the city park?
While cats generally come in two varieties — the indoor and the outdoor kind (with some exceptions – see “Adventure Cat” here and here for an interesting internet rabbit hole) — dogs’ lives tend to be much more varied. I have patients who are mostly “indoor dogs,” 100% outdoor farm dogs, hunting dogs, lap dogs, and everything in between!
The Canadian Parasitology Expert Panel recommends considering the following questions when designing a parasite prevention plan:
1) Are any of these people in your house and in regular contact with your pet?
a. Young people
b. People with compromised immune systems
c. Pregnant women or women who could be pregnant
2) Is your pet a service animal?
3) Does your pet often have contact with highly contaminated environments such as dog parks and kennels?
4) Does your pet have access to wildlife like rodents, rabbits, and birds, or carcasses of livestock or deer?
5) Does your pet ever roam freely?
6) Do you feed your pet raw meat or organs?
If you answered YES to any of these questions, your dog is likely to have a “high risk” lifestyle.
I have been replaying the lines of one of my daughter’s favourite bedtime stories in my head a lot lately. It was one of those personalized books where their name is embedded in the text: “No Isabo is the same. Not a bit, not at all. They come in all different shapes and sizes” — which is just like parasite prevention plans!
Your pet’s lifestyle will be incredibly relevant for your vet — for both preventative medicine (there is no “one-size-fits all” parasite prevention plan or vaccine protocol) but also for diagnosis and treatment of medical conditions. An outdoor cat, for instance, is more likely to get a cat-bite abscess or a hunting dog more likely to get tapeworm or a puncture wound.
You see, vets don’t just typecast by breed. (No, really! it’s part of our training to know that Pekingese are more likely to get proptosis — don’t google that — Anything-doodle is more likely to have base-narrow canines, Westies to have skin conditions, and so on.) We also typecast by lifestyle. It can help us arrive at a diagnosis, and get appropriate treatment started as soon as possible.
Remember that your pet’s healthcare is a discussion. Ask questions, and make sure your vet is aware of your pet’s particular lifestyle. Not only will it “help them help you” make sure your pet is adequately protected, but it will also aid in their treatment should they get ill.
Internal Parasites In Dogs | VCA Animal Hospitals (vcahospitals.com)
How to Hike With Your Cat, According to Actual Adventure Cats | BeChewy
Meet the Canadian cat that hikes the Rocky Mountains | CTV News
Lifestyle Vaccines: What Are They and Which Does Your Pet Need? | PetMD