Equip pet owners with these tips to keep their pets safe during the summer months and free of intestinal parasites
Summer is here, which means warm weather, picnic food, traveling, and on one particular night, fireworks. ƒkeyu
While summer festivities are fun, they can spell certain trouble for pets. It can be helpful to inform pet owners of tips that can help keep their pets safe during the dog days of summer — especially when it comes to parasite prevention.
Summer Travel Tip to Give Pet Owners — Parasite Prevention
Whether families and their pets travel cross-country, cross-city, or across the street, all travel exposes pets to new parasites specific to that particular region. Pet owners need to realize the risk of parasites and understand the need for parasite prevention, especially when traveling.
In a recent article, the Companion Animal Parasite Council (CAPC) looked at a study conducted by The American Animal Hospital Association (AAHA) that studied pet owner compliance to veterinarians’ recommendations. CAPC stated that “the reported levels of compliance — even with measures as widely publicized as heartworm prevention — are below 50 percent.”
These findings showcase the need to proactively educate pet owners on the importance and impact of preventive care, especially when it comes to parasites.
If you need guidance on how to talk to pet owners about the importance of parasite protection, visit this Companion Animal Parasite Council (CAPC) article, Parasite Protection: Compelling Clients to Comply.
Intestinal Parasite Prevention — KeyScreen® GI Parasite PCR
With all the travel, parks, and beaches that pets visit during the summer, having a comprehensive and simple intestinal parasite screening solution for your clients can make a big difference.
GI parasites are no walk in the park, but finding them just got easier. Antech’s KeyScreen GI Parasite PCR is the most advanced test for gastrointestinal parasite screening. It uses a very small sample volume that is easily collected by pet owners or a practice team member. KeyScreen GI Parasite PCR screens for 20 intestinal parasites including hookworms, roundworms, whipworms, protozoa, Giardia, coccidia, and tapeworms.
Additionally, KeyScreen GI Parasite PCR identifies A. caninum benzimidazole resistance in hookworms and determines the zoonotic potential of Giardia.
Being able to efficiently screen for GI parasites this easily, with such a small fecal sample, benefits the pet, the pet owner, and the veterinarians — easier sample collection, faster diagnosis, and more accurate results.
Discover how Antech is pioneering the most comprehensive GI Parasite screening solution and how KeyScreen GI Parasite PCR can protect pets — and their families — from the summer’s most common intestinal parasites.
7 More Summer Tips to Give Your Furry Patient’s Owners
Below are a few simple tips to give pet owners that can make a significant impact on their pet’s safety and health.
- Update pet’s ID tag and microchip info, and take a current photo.
- Keep pets away from toxins such as bug spray, sunscreen, lighter fluid, etc.
- Keep food scraps and trash picked up during outside gatherings and picnics.
- Never leave your pet in the car, even on a pleasant day. Temperatures in a parked car with the windows rolled down can exceed 100 degrees within 10 minutes. Check out this video by Ernie Ward, DVM, as he sits in a parked car on a hot day for 30 minutes.
- Consider anti-anxiety medication during the Fourth of July for particularly stressed pets.
- If hosting summer gatherings, encourage pet owners to be extra careful about pet safety – post signs about keeping pets inside/closing doors/etc., and ask guests to keep an eye on your pets, so they don’t run away.
- Be cautious of ponds and other stagnant water that could contain various water-borne parasites such as Giardia, Coccidia, Leptospira, Campylobacter, and Cryptosporidia —all of which can lead to serious illness.
These dog days of summer are just beginning. Your dedication to pets and their owners makes such a significant impact on their health and wellbeing. We couldn’t be more thankful for all the work veterinarians and their teams do daily for the pets we love.
Stay cool out there!
If you are interested in discovering how Antech is furthering the veterinary industry with innovative diagnostic solutions, we would love to talk!
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