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Empowering Pet Parents for Effective Parasite Prevention

This is Part Three of a three-part series on effective parasite prevention and preserving the human-animal bond through the entire process.

Parasite infestations are more than a gross nuisance. In addition to increasing the risk of vector-borne diseases for pets and pet parents, the complications that come with fleas and ticks can potentially compromise the human-animal bond, significantly impacting the emotional wellbeing of both pets and owners.

Client education and empowerment can shine a much-needed light on this rising concern and ensure pet parents and their pets enjoy uninterrupted comfort, health, and companionship.

The emotional toll of parasite infestations

Flea and tick infestations can disrupt daily life and create significant fear and stress for pets and their owners. While health-related concerns such as vector-borne disease transmission, allergic reactions (such as flea allergy dermatitis), and pet discomfort are the priority, negative impacts on the pet and pet parent’s emotional wellbeing must also be considered and addressed. These include:

  • Behavior changes — Affected pets may be more irritable and restless or seek isolation. Such uncharacteristic changes can be frightening for the pet and stressful for the owner, especially when the underlying cause goes undiagnosed.
  • Altered routines — After an infestation is discovered, pet treatment and environmental eradication measures can disrupt the household routine.
  • Physical distance between pet and owner — Owners may change how they interact with their pet, including new sleeping arrangements or avoiding close contact. This can create apprehension and uncertainty for pets and decrease the sense of comfort and security previously provided by the human-animal bond.
  • Guilt and worry over the pet’s condition — Parasite infestations can cause pet parents to feel shame and guilt over their pet’s condition. Watching the pet struggle with discomfort or associated disease can lead to pronounced worry and fear, which can heighten the pet’s already stressful state.

Knowledge gap: Pet parents and parasiticide awareness

Despite the availability of numerous safe and effective parasiticide products, many pet parents remain unaware of how easy it is to protect their pets from flea and tick infestations and related diseases. To help pets and owners avoid unnecessary suffering, veterinary teams should address common knowledge gaps, such as:

  • Risk — Pet parents may not understand that a clean home or indoor-only living arrangement doesn’t preclude their pet from parasitic infestation. They also may not realize that it takes only one flea or tick to cause suffering, illness, infestation, or zoonotic risk.
  • Prevention—Pet parents may not know that year-round preventives don’t merely keep fleas and ticks away; they can also prevent harmful disease transmission from fleas and ticks.
  • Product efficacy and safety — Pet parents may not understand the significant differences between over-the-counter, “all-natural,” and prescription-only products. Educating pet parents on the value, safety, and quality of research-backed and FDA-approved products, including how they work and proper administration techniques, can ensure greater protection, health, and peace of mind.

Client education and creating a Fear Free experience

Educating the pet parent can alleviate parasite-related fears by raising awareness about parasitic diseases and prevention. By building trust and confidence, pet parents can take a more proactive role in their pet’s care, knowing how to identify, address, and prevent fleas and ticks. The veterinary team can further empower pet parents and drive parasiticide compliance by promoting a Fear Free approach to parasite prevention. This includes:

  • Determining product preferences — Matching the right preventive type to each patient and client can increase compliance by decreasing administration-related stress. For example, pets who are fearful about topical applications and associated handling and restraint may readily accept a chewable tablet.
  • Understanding product administration and use — Talking clients through the process and letting them see the preventive and how it is administered can increase confidence and comfort when they handle the product themselves.
  • Creating positive associations with parasite prevention tasks — Parasite-related pet care tasks such as medicating the pet, checking for fleas and ticks, and removing parasites from the skin or coat can trigger fear and anxiety and create barriers to compliance. Coach pet parents on how to pair these tasks with something the pet loves, such as a special treat, toy, or experience, through classical conditioning. Remind them that repetition and consistency are key to ensuring better cooperation and a positive, lifelong result.

Despite their tiny stature, fleas and ticks can have an enormous impact on the physical and emotional health of pets and owners, including the all-important human-animal bond. Comprehensive protection begins with effective client education and empowerment. This ensures that pet parents not only understand the need for appropriate preventive actions but know how to provide them in a way that strengthens their pet’s defenses as well as their shared love and trust.

PM-US-24-1348

This article was reviewed/edited by board-certified veterinary behaviorist Dr. Kenneth Martin and/or veterinary technician specialist in behavior Debbie Martin, LVT.

Continue learning through Part One & Part Two of this series.

Want to learn more about Fear Free? Sign up for our newsletter to stay in the loop on upcoming events, specials, courses, and more by clicking here.

Tick-Tock: Comparing Speed and Duration of Tick Treatments

This is Part Two of a three-part series on effective parasite prevention and preserving the human-animal bond through the entire process.

The prevalence of tick-borne diseases is increasing across the United States, endangering canine and human health and the dog-owner bond. While year-round use of tick protection products, diligent visual checks, and environmental management can reduce tick exposure, these methods may still leave pets and people vulnerable to tick attachment, disease transmission, and associated stress and anxiety.

Although isoxazoline-based products are generally considered effective against ticks, a head-to-head study revealed significant differences in two critical categories: speed of tick* kill and duration of efficacy.1 Understanding the differences, and why they matter, may help reduce tick-borne disease transmission in dogs while preserving the closeness of the human-animal bond.

Understanding isoxazolines

Four isoxazolines are currently approved to treat and control ticks in dogs, including lotilaner, afoxolaner, and sarolaner.1 Isoxazolines work by selectively binding to the calcium channels in muscles and nerves, blocking the transmission of neuronal signals, and causing tick paralysis and death. 2

Tough target: Tick* species

While multiple tick species carry concerning pathogens, the lone star tick is considered more difficult to kill because of its reduced sensitivity to isoxazoline treatment, making it an ideal subject for the comparison study.3

Speed matters: Speed of kill and disease transmission

Disease transmission time frames vary by pathogen and are influenced by a variety of factors, but may begin as early as 3 to 24 hours after tick attachment, emphasizing the necessity for a rapid speed of tick kill.4,5 In the study, 32 participant dogs were infested with 50 lone star ticks, which were allowed to attach and feed.1 At 48 hours after tick* application, dog groups were treated with either lotilaner, afoxolaner, or sarolaner.1 The control group received no

treatment.1 Credelio® (lotilaner) demonstrated the fastest speed of tick* kill among all three products and was twice as fast as the two competitive products.1

Duration of effect

Credelio also demonstrated a consistent and sustained effect, providing an initial significant reduction in live ticks* compared to the untreated control group at every 12-hour evaluation.1 At every 24-hour evaluation, only the Credelio-treated group achieved ≥90% efficacy. Credelio was also shown to have a longer half-life than its competitors, providing consistently high efficacy and a rapid speed of kill throughout the 30-day period to ensure protection against ticks* and tick* reinfestation.1

Impact for pet parents

Credelio’s fast, reliable, and effective tick control can provide far-reaching benefits for pets and owners alike, protecting the pet’s health and preserving the human-animal bond. Advantages include:

Reducing pathogen transmission — Rapid speed of kill may lessen the likelihood of tick-borne disease by eliminating ticks before they can feed, aiding in a better quality of life for the dog.

Controlling infestation-related discomfort and stress — Whether two ticks or two hundred, tick infestations create discomfort and anxiety for dogs and owners. Recognizing and reactively addressing a tick infestation requires thorough grooming, cleaning, treatment, and close observation, all of which can heighten stress for pets and create emotional or physical distance between a dog and their owner.

Providing peace of mind — Pet parents can feel confident that their dog’s effective tick control can provide comprehensive protection against ticks they may have overlooked while checking their pet. Additionally, because many tick-borne diseases present with subtle or intermittent changes, owners don’t have to fear that they are missing their pet’s early warning signs.

Promoting convenient, comfortable administration — Medicating pets is a common cause of fear, anxiety, and stress in dogs and their owners. The chewable formulation of Credelio (lotilaner) could potentially help minimize medication-related stress by making the process a mutually positive and rewarding experience.

Providing steady coverage — Consistent efficacy throughout the treatment period can provide greater peace of mind if clients forget to give their dog’s dose on time.

In the battle against tick-borne diseases, speed of tick kill and duration of effect play a critical role in providing steady protection and enhanced peace of mind. Credelio demonstrates key features that stop the clock on ticks* and their impact on the pet-owner bond.

*Lone Star Tick (Amblyomma americanum)

Sources:

  1. Elanco Animal Health. Data on file.
  2. Ramesh C., et al; Isoxazoline Toxicosis in Animals – Isoxazoline Toxicosis in Animals (2002). Merck Veterinary Manual.
  3. McTier, T. L., et al (2016). Determination of the effective dose of a novel oral formulation of sarolaner (Simparica™) for the treatment and month-long control of fleas and ticks on dogs. Veterinary Parasitology, 222, 12–17.
  4. Fernández-Ruiz, N., et al (2023). Passive collection of ticks in New Hampshire reveals species-specific patterns of distribution and activity. Journal of Medical Entomology, 60(3), 575–589.
  5. Kidd L., Breitschwerdt E.B (2003). Transmission times and prevention of tick-borne diseases in dogs. Compendium on Continuing Education for the Practicing Veterinarian, 25(10), 742-751.

CREDELIO INDICATIONS

Credelio kills adult fleas and is indicated for the treatment and prevention of flea infestations (Ctenocephalides felis) and the treatment and control of tick infestations [Amblyomma americanum (lone star tick), Dermacentor variabilis (American dog tick), Ixodes scapularis (black-legged tick) and Rhipicephalus sanguineus (brown dog tick)] for one month in dogs and puppies 8 weeks of age and older and weighing 4.4 pounds or greater.

CREDELIO IMPORTANT SAFETY INFORMATION

Lotilaner is a member of the isoxazoline class. This class has been associated with neurologic adverse reactions including tremors, ataxia, and seizures. Seizures have been reported in dogs receiving this class of drugs, even in dogs without a history of seizures. Use with caution in dogs with a history of seizures or neurologic disorders. The safe use of Credelio in breeding, pregnant or lactating dogs has not been evaluated. The most frequently reported adverse reactions are weight loss, elevated blood urea nitrogen, polyuria, and diarrhea. For full prescribing information see Credelio package insert.

Credelio, Elanco, and the diagonal bar logo are trademarks of Elanco or its affiliates. Other company and product names are trademarks of their respective owners.

©2024 Elanco or its affiliates. PM-US-24-1345

This article was reviewed/edited by board-certified veterinary behaviorist Dr. Kenneth Martin and/or veterinary technician specialist in behavior Debbie Martin, LVT.

Continue learning through Part One & Part Three of this series.

Want to learn more about Fear Free? Sign up for our newsletter to stay in the loop on upcoming events, specials, courses, and more by clicking here.

4 Ways to Talk to Clients About Vaccines

By Kim Campbell ThorntonWhen clients think about vaccinations for their pets, they often associate them with their own feelings about needle-sticks. And most people don’t have positive associations with vaccinations or blood draws. As a veterinary professional, though, you know that vaccinations are essential to your patients’ good health. The conversation you have with clients can not only address the importance of protecting dogs and cats against disease, but also explain why vaccinations don’t have to be the painful experience that they think it will be for their pets.

Here are four conversation starters to help clients see the benefits of vaccinations, not only for their pets’ good health, but also how vaccinations can contribute to a positive and Fear Free experience in the clinic.

The risk of contagious diseases hasn’t gone away.

Canine parvovirus, canine distemper, and infectious canine hepatitis are highly contagious and frequently life-threatening.1 In cats, herpesvirus, calicivirus, panleukopenia, chlamydia, and feline leukemia are all widely distributed diseases that cause significant morbidity and mortality.2 Rabies is fatal in both species. Young animals are at highest risk, but any unvaccinated pet can acquire them. All of these diseases are preventable with vaccinations, and multiple combination vaccines are available for any protocol.

Combinations Are Key to Comfort

To prevent anxiety, reduce stress, and keep visits Fear Free for patients and clients, you can offer combination vaccines that contain only half the volume of most vaccines. That means not only fewer needle sticks but also shorter duration of the injection. For clients who are familiar with Fear Free techniques, those things are important.

Disease risks are changing.

Bacterial diseases such as Lyme disease and leptospirosis are increasingly seen in urban and suburban dogs and in areas where the infections were previously not considered to be a problem specific to leptospirosis.3 The Companion Animal Parasite Council reports that tick-borne diseases4 such as Lyme are spreading across much of the United States, in particular to the South and West, carried by deer, rodents, and migratory birds. A warmer climate, contributing to longer periods for tick reproduction, is also a factor. Adult ticks are active year-round any time the temperature is above freezing.

Climate change and increasing human and domestic animal contact with carrier wildlife have contributed as well to a greater incidence of leptospirosis. Dogs who previously were considered to be at low risk for these diseases, in particular city dogs and dogs weighing 15 pounds or less, are now the ones more likely to be exposed to them.

Lyme disease is spreading rapidly, and leptospirosis is now found in most areas.5 A combination Lyme and lepto vaccine provides protection with a single injection and less vaccine volume.

In addition to vaccinations, be sure to provide client education about vector control and exposure risk reduction through topical or systemic insecticides.

Clients with indoor cats may believe their pets don’t need vaccination for feline leukemia virus, but a single unsupervised escape outdoors can lead to exposure to the disease. All kittens should receive vaccination(s) for FeLV, followed by a booster when they are one year old.6 They can receive a lower volume 1/2mL FVRCP-FeLV combination for a more comfortable vaccination experience.

Vaccinating cats against FeLV has contributed to a decrease in the prevalence of the disease. Test for FeLV prior to vaccination so that cats who test positive aren’t vaccinated unnecessarily.

Technology designed to reduce the likelihood of vaccine reactions.

Unwanted proteins are associated with injection-site pain and swelling. Highly purified 1/2mL Ultra vaccines, using Purefil Technology, are designed to decrease vaccination reactions associated with unwanted protein and debris, reducing proteins by up to 75%. Their efficacy and safety have been demonstrated extensively in real-world studies.

This article was reviewed/edited by board-certified veterinary behaviorist Dr. Kenneth Martin and/or veterinary technician specialist in behavior Debbie Martin, LVT.

Kim Campbell Thornton is content manager for Fear Free Pets and is an Elite Fear Free Certified Professional. She has been writing about dogs, cats, wildlife, and marine life since 1985 and is a recipient of multiple awards from the Cat Writers Association, Dog Writers Association of America, and American Society of Journalists and Authors. When she’s not writing or editing, she’s snuggling with Sparkles, her Cavalier King Charles Spaniel.

TruCan, TruFel, Elanco and the diagonal bar logo are trademarks of Elanco or its affiliates.  Other company and product names are trademarks of their respective owners. ©2023 Elanco or its affiliates. PM-US-22-2260

References

1 2022 AAHA Canine Vaccination Guidelines. https://www.aaha.org/globalassets/02-guidelines/2022-aaha-canine-vaccination-guidelines/resources/2022-aaha-canine-vaccinations-guidelines.pdf Accessed on December 13, 2022.

2 2020 AAHA/AAFP Feline Vaccination Guidelines. https://www.aaha.org/globalassets/02-guidelines/feline-vaccination-guidlines/resource-center/2020-aahaa-afp-feline-vaccination-guidelines.pdf Accessed on December 13, 2022.

3 White, A., et. al. “Hotspots of canine leptospirosis in the United States of America.” The Veterinary Journal, 222 (2017), 29-35. https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S109002331730059X Accessed on December 13, 2022.

4 Companion Animal Parasite Council (CAPC) 2022 Pet Parasite Forecast. https://capcvet.org/about-capc/news-events/companion-animal-parasite-council-releases-2022-annual-pet-parasite-forecast/ Accessed on December 13, 2022.

5  Smith, Amanda M., et. al. “Potential Drivers for the Re-Emergence of Canine Leptospirosis in the United States and Canada.” Tropical Medicine and Infectious Disease (2022).  https://www.mdpi.com/2414-6366/7/11/377/htm Accessed December 13, 2022.

6 Little, Susan, et. al. “2020 AAFP Feline Retrovirus Testing and Management Guidelines.” Journal of Feline Medicine and Surgery, Vol. 22, Issue 1 (2020). https://journals.sagepub.com/doi/full/10.1177/1098612X19895940 Accessed December 13, 2022.

This post is brought to you by our sponsor, Elanco, the maker of TruFel Ultra Vaccines.

Why FeLV and FIV Don’t Have to Be Death Sentences for Cats

By Kim Campbell ThorntonTwo infectious retroviral diseases are often thought of as a death sentence for cats, but they don’t have to be. One is feline leukemia virus, and the other is feline immunodeficiency virus.

Apprehension about transmission and preconceptions about how they can affect a cat’s quality of life or adoption potential often leads to routine euthanasia for shelter cats who test positive for either disease. And some veterinarians may recommend against adopting a cat with FeLV or FIV particularly if clients have other cats in the household.

Life-saving protocols and good guidelines for adopters make those concerns outmoded, however. Cats with FeLV or FIV can live normal lives without being a hazard to other cats. With preventive healthcare strategies and prompt identification and treatment of illness, both diseases can be managed effectively and their spread limited. Moreover, the Association of Shelter Veterinarians and the American Association of Feline Practitioners do not support euthanasia based solely on a cat’s infection status.

FeLV

Approximately three to four percent of cats in the United States test positive each year for feline leukemia virus, according to the 2020 AAFP Feline Retrovirus Testing and Management Guidelines. The diagnosis affects an estimated 60,000 cats in animal shelters annually.

It’s important to know that the disease, which suppresses a cat’s immune system, does not run a straight course, says Julie Levy, DVM, PhD, DACVIM, DABVP (Shelter Medicine). It affects different cats in different ways and at different times. Levels may change over time depending on a cat’s immune status. Some cats live with the disease with little problem. It may flare up if the cat is stressed or has a comorbidity such as an upper respiratory infection and then subside. It’s not possible to run a test once and then expect the cat to remain the same throughout life.

More important, people are willing to adopt cats with FeLV and give them the care they need.

There is a high national demand for a lifesaving option for cats diagnosed with FeLV, and more and more shelters are working to place FeLV-positive cats in homes. Programs include Chicago’s Tree House Humane Society, Philadelphia Animal Welfare Society, Operation Kindness in Carrollton, Texas, and Austin Pets Alive!

A cat with FeLV can live for many years without illness and without spreading the disease to other cats if they are adopted into single-cat homes or with other FeLV+ cats. This has made a difference for cats in several ways. One is that recommended options for testing have been pared down to a small menu of the most accurate and cost-effective tests. A long-running study has allowed researchers to determine the most reliable tests as well as to evaluate how the status of cats with the disease changes over time. Using a new quantitative PCR test, shelters can now identify whether a tested cat is likely to be a long-term survivor or develop disease and mortality early.

Preventing FeLV

The advisory panel of the AAFP recommends that kittens be vaccinated for FeLV starting as early as 8 weeks of age with two vaccines given three to four weeks apart and then boosted when they are a year old. Vaccination of cats for FeLV during kittenhood, followed by a single booster vaccination at one year of age, is the best way to prevent spread of the disease and reduce its incidence.

While it does not consider FeLV a core vaccine for adult cats, the AAFP recommends that adult cats should be vaccinated annually for FeLV if they are at risk. Risk factors include spending time outdoors, living with cats known to be infected with FeLV, or interacting with cats of unknown disease status.

Ask clients or adopters about the lifestyle and vaccination status of other cats in the home. While vaccination doesn’t help cats already infected with FeLV, it is important for uninfected cats who may have access to the outdoors or potential contact with infected cats. It’s not uncommon for indoor cats to accidentally get out of the house or to experience a change in lifestyle leading to time spent outdoors on a regular or full-time basis.

Elanco’s range of vaccines against FeLV are designed to give feline patients a more comfortable vaccine experience. The ½ mL vaccine—containing half the volume of traditional 1 mL vaccines decreases administration time, increasing the comfort of the vaccination. It is also highly purified, using PureFil technology, designed to reduce adverse reactions associated with extraneous proteins and cellular debris. The vaccine line is available in a variety of combinations, including the only 1/2mL FVRCP+FeLV vaccine, to reduce the number of injections that may be needed.

FIV

Along with FeLV, feline immunodeficiency virus is one of the most common causes of infectious disease in cats worldwide. Cats typically acquire FIV through bite wounds when they fight with FIV-infected cats. A cat’s FIV status should be determined at the time of adoption or if the cat later becomes ill or has any risk of exposure.

But an FIV-positive test does not make a cat unadoptable. While the possibility of transmission is there, exposure to an infected cat is not as risky to uninfected cats as previously thought. FIV-positive cats living amicably with disease-free cats do not appear to pass on the disease. Nor do FIV-positive queens pass on the disease to their kittens. Casual contact, such as allogrooming or sharing water bowls, has not been found to be a common or efficient route of transmission. And while FIV is contagious among cats, it’s not transmissible to humans.

FIV infection can have three phases: acute, asymptomatic, and progressive. In the acute phase, occurring one to three months after infection, cats may have mild signs or no signs. It is followed by an asymptomatic, or latent, phase, which can continue for months or years. They may or may not progress to symptomatic disease.

With good care, some infected cats can live for many years with good quality of life. Some cats show no signs at all, although they remain infectious. However, because FIV affects the immune system, cats with the disease can be more prone to respiratory, dental, eye, or skin infections. Other signs associated with FIV include fever, lethargy, chronic diarrhea, and weight loss.

Clients or adopters caring for cats with FIV should protect them from injuries or wounds that could lead to secondary bacterial infections, as well as from other viruses and parasites that could cause illness. Best management practice is for these cats to live indoors, where they are protected from exposure to potential injuries and infections and prevented from spreading the disease to other cats.

A vaccination for FIV is not commercially available in the U. S., nor is it recommended by any veterinary organizations or schools of veterinary medicine. Its use can complicate diagnosis of FIV infections. Vaccinated cats produce antibodies indistinguishable from antibodies induced by natural infection, making test results unclear if a cat’s vaccination history is unknown. Cats vaccinated for FIV should have a microchip or tag indicating their vaccination status.

The bottom line is that cats with FeLV or FIV are often young, healthy in the moment, enjoying life, and can make great companions. With good care protocols, they can live happy lives with people and other cats.

Click-thru URLS

Fear Free         https://fearfreepets.com/

Blog                 https://fearfreepets.com/blog/

Elanco Animal Health https://www.elanco.us/

American Association of Feline Practitioners 2020 AAFP Feline Retrovirus Testing and Management Guidelines (sagepub.com)

This post is brought to you by our sponsor, Elanco, the maker of TruFel Ultra Vaccines.

TruFel, Ultra, Purefil, Elanco, and the diagonal bar logo are trademarks of Elanco or its affiliates.

©2022 Elanco or its affiliates. PM-US-22-1068

5 Ways to Have the Worm Conversation with Your Clients

When clients come to your clinic and discuss the parasites that worry them most, they often start with ticks and fleas because they’re visible — they can see the threat. As a veterinary professional, however, you know there are other dangerous parasites they can’t see, including more than just heartworm. You also know that recommending broad-spectrum parasite protection isn’t a sales tactic; it’s good medicine. So how do you start the conversation about the importance of protecting dogs against other types of parasites in a way that pet owners will understand, appreciate, and ultimately listen to?Here are five conversation starters to help your clients understand the risks and why intestinal parasites can pose a bigger problem than they may think.

1. Parasites disrupt the pet owner-pet bond.

No pet owner wants to see the dreaded “rice” on their dog’s rear, or learn their dog has been shedding eggs from intestinal parasites and contaminating their yard. Intestinal parasites aren’t just stressful for pet owners, but for pets, too. An indoor dog could suddenly be relegated to the outdoors or confined to a single room – all while a frantic pet owner tries to reach their veterinarian after hours. Dogs are intelligent creatures, but that doesn’t mean they will understand why their owner is suddenly distant, worried or disgusted. The bottom line: Parasitic infections can undermine efforts to create a warm, inviting, Fear Free home for a pet.

2. Intestinal parasite prevalence rates are rising.

The average number of heartworm-positive dogs per clinic increased by 21.7 percent in a 2017 survey conducted by the American Heartworm Society.1 While pet owners may recognize the importance of protecting against heartworm, they might not realize the threats posed by intestinal parasites as well. Along with the increasing threat of heartworm, prevalence rates of intestinal parasites are also on the rise. In shelter dogs:

  • Canine hookworm (Ancylostoma caninum) prevalence rates increased from 19.2 percent average prevalence nationwide in 1996 to 29.8 percent in 20142,3
  • Canine whipworm (Trichuris vulpis) prevalence rates increased from 14.3 percent average prevalence nationwide in 1996 to 18.7 percent in 20142,3

3. Pets are out and about (and exposed) more than ever.

Dog parks are prime areas for the spread of parasites like hookworm, whipworm and roundworm. In a pilot study conducted across the Dallas-Fort Worth area, 80 percent of sampled dog parks had at least one dog test positive for intestinal parasites.4 If a client frequents dog parks or other areas with lots of dogs, they should know that it increases their dog’s risk of picking up a parasitic infection.

4. Shelter dogs may increase parasite prevalence in your area.

Did you know nearly two thirds of animal shelters and rescue organizations do not test, treat or provide heartworm prevention before transporting dogs? From 2014 to 2017 shelters imported 114,000 dogs to Colorado, and during that same time period Colorado saw a 67.5 percent increase in heartworm prevalence. Even if you practice in an area with historically low parasite prevalence, shelter dog relocation may contribute to a higher local risk of parasitic disease for your clients.5

5. Owners and their families are at risk, too.

Pet owners often don’t realize that zoonotic disease transmission is a real threat to their families, especially young children.6 If clients question the necessity of intestinal parasite protection, explain that roundworm eggs can remain in an environment for years6 — leaving pets and human family members at risk long after the problem was thought to be “over.” Even walking around barefoot in their own yard could be a risk, because infective hookworm larvae can penetrate human skin to spread zoonotic disease.7

Regardless of the many Fear Free reasons to protect against intestinal parasites, educating pet owners on the risks of these “hidden” parasites can be a challenge. Using the conversation starters above can help support a recommendation for heartworm prevention that also protects against hookworm, roundworm, whipworm, and tapeworm, as well as potentially increasing compliance. After all, a client who understands the value of intestinal parasite protection for their pet is that much more likely to administer it.

References

    1. American Heartworm Society. AHS survey finds increase in heartworm cases. Available at: https://d3ft8sckhnqim2.cloudfront.net/images/bulletin/AHS-1705-May-17-Summer-Bulletin.pdf?1535050388. Accessed June 20, 2019.
    2. Blagburn BL, Lindsay DS, Vaughan JL et al. Prevalence of canine parasites based on fecal flotation. Comp Cont Educ Pract. 1996;18(5):483-509.
    3. Blagburn BL, Butler JM, Mount J, et al. Prevalence of internal parasites in shelter dogs based on centrifugal fecal flotation [abstract]. In Proceedings AAVP 59th Annual Meeting. Denver; 2014. 26-29 July 2014.
    4. Elanco Animal Health. Data on file.
    5. Drake J, Parrish RS. Dog importation and changes in heartworm prevalence in Colorado 2013-2017. Parasite Vector. 2019;12:207.
    6. Companion Animal Parasite Council. Ascarid. Available at: https://www.capcvet.org/guidelines/ascarid/. Accessed May 16, 2018.
    7. Companion Animal Parasite Council. Trichuris vulpis. Available at: https://www.capcvet.org/guidelines/trichuris-vulpis/. Accessed May 16, 2018.
  2. This article was reviewed/edited by board-certified veterinary behaviorist Dr. Kenneth Martin and/or veterinary technician specialist in behavior Debbie Martin, LVT.This post is brought to you by our sponsor, Elanco, the makers of Credelio® (lotilaner) and
    Interceptor® Plus (milbemycin oxime/praziquantel).    INDICATIONS FOR CREDELIO

    Credelio kills adult fleas, treats flea infestations (Ctenocephalides felis) and treats and controls tick infestations [Amblyomma americanum (lone star tick), Dermacentor variabilis (American dog tick), Ixodes scapularis (black-legged tick) and Rhipicephalus sanguineus (brown dog tick)] for one month in dogs and puppies 8 weeks or older and 4.4 pounds or more.

    IMPORTANT SAFETY INFORMATION FOR CREDELIO

    The safe use of Credelio in breeding, pregnant or lactating dogs has not been evaluated. Use with caution in dogs with a history of seizures. The most frequently reported adverse reactions are weight loss, elevated blood urea nitrogen, increased urination, and diarrhea. Please see full Credelio product information for complete safety information or contact your veterinarian.

    INDICATIONS FOR INTERCEPTOR PLUS

    Interceptor Plus prevents heartworm disease (D. immitis) and treats and controls adult hookworm (A. caninum), roundworm (T. canis, T. leonina), whipworm (T. vulpis) and tapeworm infections (T. pisiformis, E. multilocularis, E. granulosus and D. caninum) in dogs and puppies 6 weeks or older and 2 pounds or greater.

    IMPORTANT SAFETY INFORMATION FOR INTERCEPTOR PLUS

    Treatment with fewer than 6 monthly doses after the last exposure to mosquitoes may not provide complete heartworm prevention. Prior to administration of Interceptor Plus (milbemycin oxime/praziquantel), dogs should be tested for existing heartworm infections. The safety of Interceptor Plus has not been evaluated in dogs used for breeding or in lactating females. The following adverse reactions have been reported in dogs after administration of milbemycin oxime or praziquantel: vomiting, diarrhea, depression/lethargy, ataxia, anorexia, convulsions, weakness, and salivation. Please see full Interceptor Plus product information for complete safety information or contact your veterinarian

    Credelio, Interceptor, Elanco and the diagonal bar logo are trademarks of Elanco or its affiliates.
    © 2019 Elanco. PM-US-19-1483

Walking the Line: Preventing Lyme Disease for Fear Free Clinics

By David Hustead, DVM, M.P.H.Balancing the importance of necessary care with the emotional care of pets in the Fear Free clinic can be challenging. There are countless situations, from the dog hit by a car to an outbreak or emerging disease, where the timeliness of medical care seems to outweigh the need to take things slowly and minimize fear, anxiety, and stress (FAS) in the pet.

Consider Lyme disease. While we as well as our clients may be reluctant to add another injection to a dog’s prevention program, new information about Lyme disease’s risks, transmission, and prevalence provides a compelling reason to reconsider that reluctance. What information do we need to balance those risks with the benefit of prevention?

The risk of Lyme disease is increasing, changing, and spreading.

It’s important to understand that what we know about the risk of Lyme disease may be outdated. There is increasing evidence the risks of Lyme disease continue to expand for both people and dogs in the U.S. The CDC reports that vector-borne disease has more than doubled from 2004 to 2016. Of this, human Lyme disease accounts for 82 percent.  Additionally, during this period, nine new vector-borne diseases were first observed in the U.S.1

The risk to dogs is also increasing in areas not normally considered at-risk for Lyme disease. According to the Companion Animal Parasite Council (CAPC), while the Northeastern states, upper Midwest, and Pacific Northwest still have the majority of canine Lyme cases, dogs exposed to Borrelia burgdorferi continue to be discovered outside of those areas. Their biggest areas of concern for increases in canine Lyme disease in 2019 include eastern Pennsylvania, eastern Ohio and Kentucky, West Virginia, western Virginia and North Carolina. Northwestern Minnesota and some areas in Indiana are also expected to see higher than average seroprevalence in 2019.

Other longstanding beliefs about transmission may now be outdated. For instance, many of us think the risk of disease transmission from exposure to the Lyme disease tick vector I. scapularis is greatest in the spring, but the CDC says the risk of exposure to these ticks is really greatest throughout spring, summer, and fall. In addition, adult ticks can be active at any time of the year when the temperature is above freezing.3

Consider the critical role of the veterinarian.

It’s easy to see that Lyme disease prevention is a critical issue to raise with clients, and one that requires the expertise of a veterinarian. There is no replacing the combination of client education about the disease and exposure risk reduction and proper vector control, including systemic or topical insecticides and vaccination. But some Fear Free veterinarians are hesitant to add a Lyme vaccine to their protocols, thinking it means yet another needle stick and more vaccine volume administered. The good news for Fear Free Certified practitioners is that, for the majority of your patients, you can add a Lyme vaccine without adding needle sticks or more volume.

For example, dogs needing only a Lyme vaccine can receive Elanco’s TruCan™ Ultra Lyme. TruCan™ Ultra Lyme has only half the volume of most vaccines. While half the volume may not seem like a big deal to you, clients interested in Fear Free techniques will appreciate a reduced-volume vaccine. Let them know you have a Lyme vaccine that offers the same protection but with half the dose volume.

Elanco has options for dogs who need distemper and parvo protection as well as those at risk of Leptospiroris, another disease with changing risk. TruCan™ Lyme L-4 + TruCan™ DAPPi+Lyme L-4, and TruCan™ DAPPi+Lyme CL-4  all provide protection with one needle stick and the same vaccine volume as a 4-way Lepto-only vaccine.

TruCan, Elanco, and the diagonal bar logo are trademarks of Elanco or its affiliates.

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References

    1. 1 Rosenberg, R. Et al. Vital Signs: Trends in Reported Vector Borne Disease Cases US and Territories 2004-2016. MMR Weekly 67 (17) May 4 2018.
      2 Yabsley, M. Despite the Availability of Preventative Measures—the Risk of Vector-Borne Disease Remains High in 2019. CAPC website accessed on 16 May 2019 at  https://capcvet.org/articles/despite-the-availability-of-preventative-measures-the-risk-of-vector-borne-disease-remains-high./
    2. 3 CDC accessed Geographic distribution of ticks that bite humans. Accessed at:https://www.cdc.gov/ticks/geographic_distribution.html

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