New survey reveals the damaging impact dog owners’ habits may be having on their pet’s health, as well as their own!

Nearly one in four dog owners do not treat their dog for intestinal worms, leading to an increased risk of disease transmission to people.

A new study published by researchers on the attitudes and practices of Australian dog owners has revealed that many may be putting their pets, their families and themselves at risk by failing to follow best practice guidelines when it comes to controlling canine intestinal worms.

The first Australian study of its type conducted in over a decade uncovered that alarmingly nearly three-quarters of dog owners (72.3%) do not follow the best practice guidelines of deworming their dog monthly, with nearly 1 in 4 (24.5%) owners never deworming their dog. [1,2]

Furthermore, the majority of dog owners do not properly dispose of their dogs’ faeces within their own backyard, with less than half of respondents (43.7%) removing their dog’s faeces on a daily basis, increasing the risk of parasite infections.

Management practices including monthly deworming and prompt removal of dog faeces, is key in minimising the risks associated with intestinal worms in dogs. As many of the worm species infesting dogs can also infect and cause disease in people (known as a zoonotic disease, or zoonoses) this risk extends to people too, meaning that dog owners’ management practices are key to keeping both pets and people healthy.

That’s why, ahead of World Zoonoses Day (Thursday July 6), Professor Rebecca Traub, a Professor of Veterinary Parasitology and member of the Australian Companion Animal Zoonoses Advisory Panel, is urging dog owners to adopt a monthly deworming routine to reduce the risk of zoonotic disease transmission and prevent exposure to these potentially dangerous parasites.

Speaking to the findings of the study, Professor Traub said, “It is alarming that despite the hazards, the results show there is still a lot to be done to educate pet owners about the risk of disease transmission between pets and people, including the risk posed by canine intestinal worms.

“Dogs, both healthy and sick, may carry a range of different zoonotic organisms and given the close relationship between pets and people and their shared living environment, it is extremely important that dog owners remain vigilant to prevent exposure of these parasites to other dogs and humans both directly, and through contamination of the environment,” said Rebecca.

In addition, a separate study of vets indicated that most considered canine parasitic diseases to be extremely important but identified barriers to client compliance with recommended deworming programs including affordability (63%) and lack of access to information (19%). [3]

Professor Traub noted that, “Last year, we conducted Australia’s first nationwide study investigating the prevalence and distribution and risks associated with canine intestinal worms contaminating dog parks across Australia and it showed that almost half (42.6%) of parks sampled were contaminated with canine intestinal worms.

“While many dog owners are rightly concerned about the risks of dog faeces not being cleaned-up in public locations such as dog parks, this survey highlights the lack of awareness from dog owners for the threat their own home/backyard presents.

“Quite simply, by not deworming dogs monthly and picking up their dogs’ faeces in the dog park and backyard, people are not doing enough to minimise the health risks associated with canine intestinal worms to both dogs and humans,” concluded Rebecca.

To help reduce the risk of zoonotic disease transmission from pets to people, the Australian Companion Animal Zoonoses Advisory Panel has recently developed a set of guidelines. Key recommendations are:

✔️ Regular veterinary health checks for pets

✔️ Ensure good hygiene practices (e.g., handwashing, disposal of pet poo)

✔️ Deworm pets monthly

✔️ Treat pets for external parasites year-round

✔️ Avoid feeding raw meat diets to pets

References:

1. Massetti L, Traub RJ, Rae L, Colella V, Marwedel L, McDonagh P, Wiethoelter A (2023). Canine gastrointestinal parasites perceptions, practices, and behaviours: a survey of dog owners in Australia. One Health (accepted 15 Jun 2023).

2. Australian Companion Animal Zoonoses Advisory Panel (2021) Companion Animal Zoonoses Guidelines.

3. Massetti L, Wiethoelter A, McDonagh P, Rae L, Colella V, Traub RJ (2023). The veterinarian’s perspective and practices for the control of canine endoparasites in Australia. BMC Veterinary Research (under review).

4. Massetti L, Wiethoelter A, McDonagh P, Rae L, Marwedel L, Beugnet F, Colella V, Traub RJ (2022). Faecal prevalence, distribution and risk factors associated with canine soil- transmitted helminths contaminating urban parks across Australia. International Journal of Parasitology, 52(10):637-646. doi: 10.1016/j.ijpara.2022.08.001

About NexGard SPECTRA®

NexGard SPECTRA®, manufactured by Boehringer Ingelheim Animal Health, is a tasty once-a-month chew suitable for puppies and dogs from eight weeks of age and weighing at least 2 kg. NexGard SPECTRA® provides the most complete protection against fleas, ticks, mites, heartworm and intestinal worms, all in one tasty chew, and is available in Australia at leading veterinary clinics, pet specialty stores and online. See product label for full claim details and directions for use.

Boehringer Ingelheim Animal Health

Boehringer Ingelheim Animal Health is working on first-in-class innovation for the prediction, prevention, and treatment of diseases in animals. For veterinarians, pet owners, farmers, and governments in more than 150 countries, we offer a large and innovative portfolio of products and services to improve the health and well-being of companion animals and livestock. As a global leader in the animal health industry and as part of family-owned Boehringer Ingelheim, we take a long-term perspective. The lives of animals and humans are interconnected in deep and complex ways. We know that when animals are healthy, humans are healthier too. By using the synergies between our Animal Health and Human Pharma businesses and by delivering value through innovation, we enhance the health and well-being of both.

For more information, visit www.boehringer-ingelheim.com/animal-health 

MEDIA RELEASE, 6th July 2023

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Beware Canine Intestinal Worms at Dog Parks!

Preventing the spread of Ehrlichiosis in Australia

Boehringer Ingelheim Animal Health has collaborated with The University of Melbourne to conduct a study on the ‘faecal prevalence, distribution and risk factors associated with canine soil-transmitted helminths contaminating urban parks across Australia.’

The study— due for publication in the International Journal for Parasitology later this year— is the first of its kind in Australia and involved the collection of 1,581 environmental faecal samples from 190 urban parks across Australia.

Faecal prevalence, distribution & risk factors associated with canine intestinal worms 
contaminating urban dog parks across Australia

Seven species of canine soil-transmitted helminths were identified in the study, including whipworm, threadworm, roundworms, and hookworms.

Dog parks provide an ideal urban space where dogs and their owners can exercise, play and socialise. These parks can, however, increase the risk of exposure to parasites for both dogs and people, as most canine soil-transmitted helminths are zoonotic and can also infect and cause disease in humans.

Overall, the study revealed a high rate of contamination of canine intestinal worms in dog parks across the nation:

Woman refilling a water bottle in
Fawkner Park, Melbourne

✔️ Up in Far North Queensland, the contamination rates were the highest in the country, with 100 per cent of the parks tested in the region found to be contaminated!

✔️ 66 per cent of Brisbane’s dog parks were contaminated.

✔️ Rates were also high in other capital cities such as Perth with 50 per cent contamination and in Darwin with 70 per cent contamination.

✔️ In Melbourne alone, almost half (43 per cent) of all dog parks were found to have been contaminated, while in Hobart 20 per cent of parks were contaminated.

✔️ In Sydney and Adelaide, however, rates were lower, with just 8 per cent of Sydney dog parks and 11 per cent of parks in Adelaide contaminated with the parasite.

Coinciding with World Zoonoses Day on July 6, the results of the study highlight the importance of education to raise awareness of responsible pet ownership, including monthly deworming, to minimise the animal and public health risks associated with these parasites.

“Preventative measures, such as monthly deworming of dogs, and responsible pet ownership, such as the immediate removal of dog faeces in parks, should be encouraged to minimise the health risks associated with canine intestinal worms to both dogs and humans,” said Rebecca Traub, Professor of Veterinary Parasitology at The University of Melbourne and the primary investigator of the study.

“Canine soil-transmitted helminths are endemic to Australia and, as shown by this study, are highly prevalent in some areas.

“Many dog owners are aware of these worms in dogs and the health issues they can cause. Less well known are the effects - potentially very serious - they can have on humans.”

You may be diligent and always pick up after your dog at dog parks or whilst on walks, but can you say the same for other dog owners? 

The worm parasites are passed in the faeces via eggs and /or larvae and if even a small amount of faeces remains on the ground, another pet is exposed.

This study if also a reminder of the importance of regular worming of your pets with good quality worming products. Puppies should be wormed every two weeks until twelve weeks of age, then monthly until six months of age. 

Once they have reached six months of age, a puppy can transfer onto an 'adult' worming schedule. All adult dogs need to be wormed a minimum of every three months for effective protection.

People can get parasites from their pets

Parasites, like intestinal worms found in dogs and cats, can be transmitted from dogs to humans. 

The worms that have been detected in the samples from the park pose a health risk to both the pets and the people that visit it. Your dog could potentially be infected by either rolling in the soil (in the case of hookworm), or by licking or eating the contaminated dirt. 

People can also be infected without careful hygiene practices, such as hand washing after picking up faeces. 

Tapeworm is another intestinal worm that is common in both humans and pets.

Signs your dog could be infected by intestinal worms

If your dog becomes infected from parasites at the park, it is unlikely to be immediately obvious, however within days to weeks after picking up the worms, your dog could develop:

✔️ Diarrhoea

✔️ Vomiting
✔️ Lethargy
✔️ Weight loss

How to protect your dog from getting parasites

Based on the high numbers of parks and faecal samples found to contain canine soil transmitted worms, some recommendations have been made to minimise the health risk to both pets and people that visit parks across Australia. 

The guidelines from the Australian Companion Animal Zoonoses Advisory Panel include:

✔️ Intestinal worming of pets monthly
✔️ Treat pets for external parasites such as fleas all year round
✔️ Regular veterinary checks for your pet
✔️ Ensure good hygiene practices (dispose of dog faeces, washing hands)

It should also be noted when handling raw food, you should wash hands thoroughly and ensure meat is from a trusted source.

About the writer:

Dr Lydia Matheson BVSc (Hons) graduated in 1996 and completed a Feline Medicine post graduate course in 2003. She is a practicing vet in the Melbourne area and an animal lover, passionate about providing the very best of care and products.

With over 20 years’ experience, she has seen the health and lifespan of dogs and cats compromised by inadequate parasite protection.

She is also the technical consultant to Pet Lovers Club, a Melbourne-based company that assists pet owners in maintaining their pet's health, by providing cover for fleas, flea allergy, tick paralysis and heartworm disease delivered monthly to your door.

Monthly protection options from trusted brands cover all relevant intestinal worms as well as tapeworm protection every 3 monthly as vets recommend.

For more information, visit www.petloversclub.com.au 

You can follow Pet Lovers Club on Facebook at www.facebook.com/petloversclub.aust 

and on Instagram @petloversclub.aust

Petbarn and Greencross Vets urge pet owners to protect pets against parasites after common myths revealed

Petbarn and Greencross Vets are calling on all pet parents - especially new ones - to protect their four-legged friends against fleas, ticks and worms this Spring.

The call-to-action comes after Greencross Vets has seen an increase in parasite cases occurring during winter - before the warmer months have even set in. According to a recent survey*, over 40% of pet parents are not properly treating their pets for fleas whilst 60% are not following tick-prevention guidance.

To assist and educate pet parents navigate this troublesome issue, Petbarn and Greencross Vets have revealed the most common parasite myths – including pet parents wrongly assuming pets are only at risk in the summer months and that puppies and kittens are too young to contract parasitic diseases.

Greencross Vets Chief Veterinary Officer, Dr Magdoline Awad, said: “Throughout COVID-19, we have seen an influx of new pet owners who may not be aware of how important parasite prevention is, particularly for puppies and kittens.

“Intestinal parasites can cause weight loss, vomiting, anaemia, blockage and if severe enough cause death in pets, so it’s imperative to have an effective prevention in place. With so much confusion around parasite prevention, we’re committed to busting myths and calling on all pet owners to make sure their pet is protected against parasites.”

Most common parasite myths:

1. Parasites are only a risk in summer

a. While fleas and ticks may thrive in warmer environments, they are very much a risk to your pet all year-round.

2. I can’t see worms, so my pets mustn’t have any

a. Worms live in your pet’s intestines and your pet will most likely only have worm eggs and larvae in their faeces, which are too small for the naked human eye to see, if they’re already contaminated.

3. My puppy/kitten is too young to have contracted a parasite

a. Newborn puppies and kittens have a weaker immune system and can be contaminated from their mother’s milk. Some kittens are even born with worms already.

4. My pet lives indoors / in our garden, so they can’t contract parasites

a. Not going outside does not parasite-proof your pet. Simply eating contaminated grass, or licking shoes, can cause contamination. Humans can also unknowingly bring parasites into their homes on clothing. Parasites like fleas are very resilient and can lay dormant in carpet and furniture for months before being activated.

5. Humans can’t contract parasites from pets

a. Humans can contract parasites from their pets through contact with contaminated faeces, through saliva, coming in contact with areas that pets relieve themselves in, or something as harmless as getting close for a snuggle. Due to their rapid multiplication, a few fleas on your pet can soon infest your entire home.

6. A single product can protect my pet from all parasites

a. No single product can provide 100% protection against all parasites so you must always use a combination of two products to keep your pet safe – our FTW Finder Tool can help you find the right product combination.

7. I can give my cat, dog medication (and vice versa)

a. No. Though they’re just as adorable on the outside, cats and dogs metabolise some drugs differently meaning that while dogs may be able to be given a certain medication, the same medication could be lethal for a cat. It’s essential that you read all labels very carefully and only provide your pet with medication specifically registered for use in their species, appropriate for their age and weight.

How to protect against parasites – removing the confusion

With so many parasites out there, that can harm our pets (and our families), it can be very confusing and overwhelming for pet parents to choose the right product that provides complete protection.

To help pet parents navigate parasite confusion, the experts at Petbarn and Greencross Vets have developed a Flea, Tick and Worm Treatment Finder tool to help identify the exact combination of treatment pets need for total parasite protection.

The tool even takes into consideration the pet’s location – as parasites in Australia can vary according to geography:
Parasite Protection Finder for dogs at petbarn.com.au/ftwfinderdog
Parasite Protection Finder for cats at petbarn.com.au/ftwfindercat

Greencross Vets Chief Veterinary Officer, Dr Magdoline Awad, said: “We understand just how confusing parasite prevention can be, particularly when there’s not one silver bullet for treatment. We hope our Finder Tool will put pet owners’ minds at ease and keep our pets happy, healthy and parasite-free!”

If you need further help choosing the correct parasite protection, please speak to your local Greencross Vet.

*According to a survey of 503 dog owners by Boehringer Ingelheim.

MEDIA RELEASE, 8th September 2020

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