Parasite control in companion animals (cats/dogs) protects their health, improves quality of life, reduces infectious/vector-borne diseases, and constitutes a preventive veterinary practice directly relevant to public health.
International guidelines (ESCCAP, CAPC) recommend maintaining parasite control throughout the year as a standard approach.
Scientific evidence shows that year-round internal and external parasite control not only improves the quality of life of companion animals but also prevents the spread of zoonotic diseases.
Animal Health: Early Protection = Fewer Diseases
Internal Parasites
These affect not only animal health but also human health.
The most common internal parasites in cats and dogs include Giardia spp., Isospora spp., Toxocara spp., Toxoplasma spp., hookworms (Ancylostoma spp.), whipworms (Trichuris spp.), and tapeworms (Dipylidium caninum).
These parasites can cause clinical signs such as weight loss, loss of appetite, growth retardation, vomiting, diarrhea, and anemia.
Some species, such as Toxocara spp., are zoonotic and may cause visceral larva migrans and ocular larva migrans in humans, particularly children (CDC data).
🛡️ Prevention: Routine antiparasitic treatments help prevent clinical disease. Veterinarians determine a program based on regional risks.
External Parasites
Fleas, ticks, and sandflies cause not only skin diseases but also serve as vectors for serious infectious diseases:
Ticks: Vectors for Lyme disease (Borrelia burgdorferi), ehrlichiosis, anaplasmosis, and babesiosis.
Sandflies: The main vector for Leishmaniasis, which is common in the Mediterranean region and has zoonotic potential.
Fleas: Involved in the transmission of bacterial infections such as Bartonella henselae (Cat Scratch Disease). Heavy infestations can also trigger iron deficiency and dermatitis.
🛡️ Prevention: Products such as spot-on treatments, tablets, or insecticidal collars can largely eliminate these risks (ESCCAP and CAPC guidelines recommend year-round protection).
