Let’s face it, we love our pets. For most of us, they are
more than just a dog or a cat — they’re are a member of our family. Who doesn’t
look forward to walking in the door at the end of the day and being greeted by
a wagging tail? Or ending the evening cuddling on the couch with a warm,
purring companion? Why then among this love and affection do we need to think
about protecting our human family from our furry one? Two words: zoonotic
diseases.
Zoonotic diseases are defined as animal diseases that can be
transmitted to humans, such as cat scratch fever, rabies or toxoplasmosis, to
name a few. That’s right, Fluffy & Max can pass diseases on to you or your
kids.
Don't fear life with pets! Easy tips for a safer home
Dr. Christina Winter of Flannery Animal Hospital in New
Windsor cautions that there are both direct and indirect diseases that your
pets can pass on to the humans who live in close contact with them. Regular
veterinary care for your pets is important, not only to help your pet live a
long and healthy life but also to prevent the spread of parasites that can
cause these diseases.
“I feel that our animals are part of our family and I don’t
want to discourage that in any way,” says Winter. “Sometimes they are closer to
us than our spouses. Don’t be scared of your animals. We just need to be sure
that you have a conversation with your veterinarian and tailor preventative
care to your pet’s lifestyle.”
Below are a few of the preventative care items to discuss
with your veterinarian:
Annual physical exams
Just as with humans, pets need to be seen regularly by a
doctor. Regular visits allow your vet to assess the overall health of your pet
and spot potential concerns before they become costly to treat illnesses.
Yearly vaccinations
The rabies vaccine is required by law and can save your
pet’s life. Additional important vaccinations to discuss with your veterinarian
are: distemper, Lyme disease, parvo, leptospirosis, corona, and giardia.
Fecal testing
Roundworm, tapeworms or hookworms may be in your pet’s
system and can be spread to your children. It is important to provide your vet
with a stool sample so that it can be tested for parasites.
Heartworm preventatives
Treating heartworm disease is both complicated and
expensive. It is simply not worth the risk of infection — prevention here is
key.
Flea & tick preventatives
We live in an area that has a high concentration of ticks.
It is important that all animals be protected to stop the spread of Lyme
disease.
Geri Struble is learning the hard way about the importance
of flea and tick prevention. She was recently diagnosed and is undergoing
treatment for Lyme disease. Although she lives in a residential area — right
off Route 211 in Middletown — her daily walks with Jack, her 9-year-old shih
tzu, was the likely source for Lyme.
“Deer still come through here and there, and at the time
Jack was not on a flea and tick preventative,” says Struble. “Generally I only
used it when we had a flea problem.”
Not anymore. Since her diagnosis, she has made sure Jack is
always on a flea and tick preventative and she has even taken steps to protect
her indoor cat as well.