Traditionally, as the weather warms up, walks in nature lengthen for both four-legged friends and their owners. Unfortunately, every year, for many of them, the joy turns into a headache due to parasites lurking in nature and the diseases they spread. Ticks in Lithuania pose a danger to both animals and humans. Although there is a wide range of protection measures against these parasites for animals, veterinarians warn every spring about the increased incidence of babesiosis - one of the main diseases transmitted by ticks. Aušra Tasiukevičiūtė - Sedekerskė, a representative of "Kauno grūdai" veterinary pharmacy, a veterinarian, mentions that pet owners often delay taking care of antiparasitic measures on time. "You shouldn't wait until mid-spring. Unfortunately, ticks wake up very early, as soon as the weather warms up and the spring sun comes out," says the expert.
Not all measures are equally effective
Veterinary pharmacies, clinics, or specialized pet stores are full of various parasite protection measures: tablets, drops, collars, suspensions, or other preparations. "One of the most popular and best-selling measures among pet owners is drops. According to surveys, up to 60 percent of pet owners choose drops. Over the years, drops have become a traditional protection measure - they are the most common choice for pet owners. Often drops are chosen if the pet has gastrointestinal disorders, is of old age, or is allergic to certain active ingredients of other antiparasitic measures. Moreover, they are one of the cheaper options, so often the choice is also influenced by financial capabilities," says veterinarian A. Tasiukevičiūtė - Sedekerskė. However, according to the specialist, it is recommended to change measures from time to time to prevent parasites from developing resistance to the active ingredients of the products. "The pet's organism also needs rest from the same products. At certain periods, we have different parasites - at the beginning of the period when flying parasites are active, it is relevant to use repellent measures, while during the winter, a common problem is flea infestation indoors. Therefore, drops are great for taking a break from using tablets or combining several drugs to solve various parasite-related problems," notes the "Kauno grūdai" representative, adding that after applying this antiparasitic measure to the pet's fur, one should avoid close contact with the pet for at least a couple of hours. - When using this antiparasitic measure, it is very important to choose safe and effective drops; one should not opt for the cheapest drops, it is necessary to pay attention to the manufacturer and the duration of effectiveness of the drops against a certain species of parasites."
Ticks are not the only threat
In addition to diseases transmitted by ticks, other diseases such as dirofilariasis pose a threat to animal health. This is a disease that can infect certain carnivores - dogs, cats, foxes, wolves, foxes, etc. Dirofilaria larvae development requires intermediate and final hosts. Dogs are the animals in whose organisms parasites mature and reproduce. Intermediate hosts are considered to be mosquitoes, in whose bodies the larvae develop. Therefore, effective measures such as drops or sprays that repel mosquitoes and protect the pet from this disease should not be forgotten.
"When choosing an antiparasitic collar for your pet, it is necessary to constantly check it to ensure that it is close enough to the skin; it should not be removed throughout the entire period of action. If the collar is incorrectly applied, or due to the thick and long fur of the animal, it does not have close contact with the skin, its effectiveness decreases, and the active ingredients spread less over the entire skin," said A. Tasiukevičiūtė - Sedekerskė. She notes that this measure is not suitable for dogs who enjoy swimming, as it is not recommended to remove the collar, and often it loses its effectiveness when submerged in water. The veterinarian also points out other drawbacks of this measure. "Due to the possible impact on human health, animals wearing a collar should not sleep in the same bed with their owners, especially with children. The active ingredients of the collar can affect human health. Veterinary medicine can irritate the skin, eyes, and respiratory tract," notes the veterinarian. Therefore, according to her, when choosing antiparasitic measures, it is necessary to consult with a veterinarian and inquire responsibly about the correct use of these measures and possible side effects. According to the expert, in the market, you can already find a water-resistant, natural, and 4-month antiparasitic collar.
Prevention all year round
"The most important thing is prevention - taking care of animal health all year round. Prevention is the most effective way to protect the pet from diseases," emphasizes the veterinarian. "Already from mid-February, we notice an increase in sales of antiparasitic measures. And indeed, there is no need to wait until the weather warms up. As soon as the snow melts a little, hungry ticks wake up and actively search for sources of nutrition. They don't disappear anywhere even in winter, especially if the winter is not cold. So even in cold weather, it is advisable to use antiparasitic measures preventively. It is much simpler and cheaper to apply drops against ticks and fleas or use another measure preventively than to later torment the animal with treatment and medications," notes A. Tasiukevičiūtė - Sedekerskė.