Love your pets, not their parasites
When animals are healthy, humans are healthier, too. This is especially true for parasitic diseases that affect our pets to whom we are close. The fleas, ticks, and worms infesting cats and dogs can also be dangerous to humans – especially children. That’s why we’ll be shedding a light on parasitic diseases and how to fight them on One Health Day, November 3. A lighthouse initiative by our team in France shows how to raise awareness for this topic by involving both experts and the public.
For the past four years, Boehringer Ingelheim in France has continuously driven the communication campaign “I love my animals, not their parasites.” The campaign supports experts from human and veterinary health (veterinarians, doctors and pediatricians) and families in their fight against parasites. It highlights the importance of treating their pet by observing the recommendations of ESCCAP (European Scientific Counsel Companion Animal Parasites), and serves as a compelling example for the holistic approaches needed to fight One Health issues.
How to protect your pet and family from parasites
The most effective way to protect your pets from parasitic diseases is by the regular use of parasiticides. This is not only true for ectoparasites like fleas or ticks that are present on the animals’ body surface, but also for endoparasites, present inside the pet’s body.
Animals and humans can be infested by infective stages of parasites present on grounds, or on soiled surfaces and food. This is why ESCCAP, beside the use of parasiticide products, also recommends these simple measures of hygiene to eliminate infective stages of parasites:
Why can your pet’s parasites be dangerous to humans?
Parasitic infestations can cause discomfort, but also serious illnesses, and some parasite species can develop in the human organism. Children and immunocompromised humans can be more severely affected. Some parasites like ticks and fleas are vectors of bacterial, viral or protozoal diseases, which can be severe both for the animals and for humans. Untreated animals can be asymptomatic while excreting infective forms of the parasite in the environment, which represents a threat to surrounding humans.
Holistic approach to One Health issue
In France, the communication campaign annually provides information material containing the ESCCAPs recommendations to general public and veterinary clinics. These put the materials to good use: depending on the year, up to 4000 medical centers and as many veterinary clinics take part and educate pet owners, patients, and the general public about the danger of parasitic zoonoses.
In 2019, Boehringer Ingelheim France’s team even ramped up its campaign, to fight this One Health issue with a truly holistic approach. Aside from providing flyers and posters, the campaign specifically addressed both an expert audience and the general public: Health professionals took part at a round table to discuss parasitic diseases and draw up recommendations, and pet owners learned about the results via traditional media, podcasts, infographics, and through social media.
For this campaign, Boehringer Ingelheim France won the Gold Prize, category Animal Health in 2019 at the Festival de la Communication Santé which recognizes outstanding efforts to educate about health and diseases. In 2020, despite COVID-19, the campaign has continued to engage veterinarians and pet owners at veterinary clinics and on social media. To give an example: Boehringer Ingelheim France asked pet owners to post their best photo of themselves with their pet. For each photo received, Boehringer Ingelheim gives a dose of parasiticides to the dogs of HANDI'CHIENS. This association trains assistance dogs and gives them to people with disabilities free of charge. The campaign drives on, with new creative ideas to come.
More so than its local success, the campaign “I love my animals, not their parasites” shines a spotlight on how best to approach One Health: By addressing an issue that concerns us all with a solution that involves us all!
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