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Britain may be a nation of animal lovers, but pet health awareness could be higher. This ought to give pharmacists pause for thought...

Pet ownership in the UK continues to rise despite the recent recession, with most pet owners agreeing that ours is a nation of animal lovers. Yet due to misinformed choices and lack of awareness of preventative healthcare, vets and animal charities are concerned that the welfare needs of many pets are being compromised.

For example, preventative treatments, such as regular defleaing and worming, are not only essential for animal welfare but also reduce the risk of potentially serious zoonoses €“ infections that are transmitted between vertebrate animals and people.

With an estimated 500,000 pet owners visiting community pharmacies every day, pharmacists have a responsibility to raise awareness of the importance of preventative healthcare in pets, as well as providing sensible, but not alarmist, advice on reducing the risk of zoonotic diseases.

Animal welfare

According to the latest PDSA Animal Wellbeing (PAW) report, there are 7.8 million pet dogs, 9.5 million pet cats and 1 million pet rabbits in the UK, with nearly half of households having a pet. Figures from the Pet Food Manufacturers' Association (PFMA) show that the total pet population (excluding fish) increased by 4 million in just one year, from 67 million in 2012 to almost 71 million in 2013.

Under the Animal Welfare Act 2006, pet owners have a 'duty of care' to ensure that they meet their pets' five welfare needs:

• A suitable environment
• A suitable diet
• The need to express normal behaviour
• The need to live with or apart from other animals
• Protection from pain, suffering, injury and disease.

However the PAW report found that just 38 per cent of people who keep a pet are aware of this legislation, while over a quarter undertook no research into the costs and obligations of pet ownership before acquiring a pet. €People should do their research before getting a pet,€ advises PDSA senior vet, Elaine Pendlebury. €Find out how much exercise a dog needs and make sure you are not allergic to pet dander. It is not fair on the animal if you take it on and discover you can't provide for its needs.€

Preventative healthcare

Practising preventative healthcare, including regularly checking for and treating parasitic infestations, is an essential part of animal welfare, yet only 63 per cent of owners surveyed in the PAW report thought that preventative healthcare could extend an animal's life €“ and 6 per cent had reduced spending on it since the start of the recession, potentially affecting nearly 1 million animals. So what is the current advice for preventing and managing parasitic infestations in pets?

Fleas

According to Stephen Goddard, Frontline veterinary surgeon, one in five cats and one in 10 dogs have fleas at any given time €“ yet around half of owners are unaware that their pet has an infestation. €Unprotected pets can pick up fleas from the garden, park or an infested home €“ wherever wild animals, stray cats or unprotected pets have been,€ he says.

Flea infestations can result in intense itching and scratching, leading to inflammation, fur loss and secondary bacterial infections. Animals with flea allergy dermatitis (FAD), due to an allergic reaction to antigens in flea saliva, can develop severe irritation and inflammation from a single bite, while heavy infestations can lead to life-threatening anaemia in puppies and kittens. Furthermore, fleas carry the risk of tapeworm infestations because tapeworms spend part of their lifecycle inside fleas.

Symptoms and treatment

Signs of a flea infestation include scratching, biting and grooming more than usual, and inflamed skin. Fleas or flea dirt may also be visible on the coat, while owners may notice insect bites on their own skin. However cats and dogs should be treated for fleas throughout the year, even if they have no signs of infestation. €Any gap in treatment can allow fleas and ticks to survive and breed on your pet, which may also allow a home infestation to develop,€ says Goddard.

NFA-VPS licensed flea treatments include 'spot-on' products containing fipronil, which spreads around the body, killing fleas within 24 hours and ticks within 48 hours, and is suitable for use on cats and dogs, but not rabbits. Imidacloprid offers an alternative to fipronil that is suitable for rabbits, but does not kill ticks.

Animals should be defleaed at least once every three months, at the same time as worming although, for optimum flea control, Goddard advises using fipronil every four to five weeks on cats, and every one to two months on dogs.

It is vital to administer the correct product and dosage according to the animal's species, age, weight and health status. All pets in the same household should be treated together, while animals with FAD require specialist veterinary treatment.

Frequent vacuuming, washing pet bedding above 60 degrees and using a household spray containing an insect growth regulator will help reduce the problem.

 The welfare of many pets is being compromised

Ticks

Ticks are small parasitic mites that commonly live in damp shaded areas like woodland and rough grassland, but can also be found in urban parks and gardens. A recent study in the journal Medical and Veterinary Entomology found that at any one time nearly 15 per cent of dogs are infested with ticks. A single tick may go unnoticed, but a heavy infestation can cause pain and anaemia.

Elaine Pendlebury advises dog owners to check their dog's fur carefully all over with rubber gloves after walking in wooded areas, as well as checking their own skin and clothing. Ticks can be difficult to remove, as their mouthparts can remain embedded in the skin, which may lead to irritation and infection. The PDSA recommends seeking a vet's advice initially regarding the correct removal technique. Special devices for removing ticks are available.

Lyme disease

Ticks carry the threat of infectious diseases, including Lyme disease, the commonest vector-borne disease in Europe. The Health Protection Agency (HPA) says there has been a 300 per cent increase in the number of reported human cases in the UK since 2001.

The first symptom is usually a circular rash (erythema migrans), which expands over several days or weeks. Infected individuals may also experience flu-like symptoms, such as headaches, tiredness and joint pain and, without treatment, may develop neurological symptoms and heart problems. According to Elaine Pendlebury, the reasons behind the rise are unclear. €It could be due to climate change, increasing deer populations or the rise in popularity of outdoor activity holidays, or it could be simply that diagnosis has improved,€ she says.

Being 'tick aware' by sticking to footpaths and covering up with long clothing in wooded areas, as well as regularly treating pets for external parasites, can reduce the risk of infectious diseases.

Worms

Two types of parasitic worm (helminth) affect cats and dogs €“ roundworm (nematodes) and tapeworm (cestodes). Animals pick up the former by consuming dead animals or sniffing faeces containing their larvae, while they become infested with the latter through swallowing infected fleas during grooming.

Worm infestations can cause diarrhoea and vomiting, poor condition and weight loss. Infested puppies and kittens can become malnourished, and in some cases, worms may be present in vomit or faeces, but there are often no obvious signs in adult animals. The commonst roundworm, Toxocara canis, presents a zoonotic risk (toxocariasis), which in rare cases can cause blindness.

€Worm eggs can survive in the soil for up to three years; they are very resilient and can endure cold temperatures, so it's important to be sensible, always pick up after your dog, and don't let your dog lick your face,€ urges Elaine Pendlebury. €Children should be encouraged to wash their hands thoroughly before eating and after playing outdoors.€

Lungworm

Another type of nematode that is becoming increasingly common in the UK, and which can cause life-threatening health problems in dogs, is the lungworm Angiostrongylus vasorum. Dogs become infected by ingesting slugs, snails or frogs (intermediate hosts to the lungworm larvae) or from contact with soil contaminated with fox faeces.

Infestation signs include coughing, tiring easily, excessive bleeding from even minor wounds, anaemia, appetite loss, vomiting and diarrhoea. If dog owners suspect that their dog has been infected with lungworms, they should seek urgent help from their vet. Regularly washing food and water bowls and bringing in dog toys from the garden may help to reduce the risk.

Treatment

The British Small Animal Veterinary Association (BSAVA) recommends that dogs and cats be wormed at least every three months, while young puppies and kittens require more frequent treatment under the supervision of a vet.

As with flea treatments, owners should ensure they follow the manufacturer's instructions carefully to ensure they administer the correct dose for the animal's species, age, size and weight.

Toxoplasmosis

Another parasitic infection, which is common in cats and presents a zoonotic risk, is toxoplasmosis. The infection is caused by the protozoa Toxoplasma gondii, which can be picked up from food or soil contaminated with cat faeces, undercooked meat and unpasteurised goat's milk. There is also a small risk of infection during the lambing season.

The infection rarely causes any symptoms in cats or people; however it can have serious complications in immuno-compromised individuals and pregnant women who have not previously been infected. Nevertheless the risks are low and can be minimised by good hand hygiene and avoiding cat litter.