Fact or Fiction: Parasites and Protection

This episode of The Vet Blast Podcast, presented by dvm360, is sponsored by Elanco Animal Health.

On this episode of The Vet Blast Podcast, presented by dvm360, host Adam Christman, DVM, MBA, welcomes Lindsay Starkey, DVM, PhD, DACVM (Parasitology), to the show to debunk common myths surrounding parasite prevention.

Throughout the episode, Starkey and Christman dive deep into the common myths surrounding parasite prevention, including whether it is a seasonal problem, whether indoor pets need parasite prevention, the need for teams to be well informed and consistent in their messaging to patients, and more.

Below is a partial transcript, edited lightly for clarity.

Adam Christman, DVM, MBA: When we talk about parasites and companion animals, what are some of the most common myths or misconceptions that you see in practice today?

Lindsay Starkey, DVM, PhD, DACVM (Parasitology): Unfortunately, there are several. I wish this [were] going to be a short answer. I think we're good, Adam, but when it comes to parasites, a lot of folks—veterinary professionals, clinic staff, vet students, and pet owners—often think that parasites are a seasonal threat, and that's just not the case.

Some parasites are more seasonally active in the warmer months. Others prefer it when it's a little bit cooler, and some parasites overwinter just fine because the eggs are incredibly refractory in the environment, and they're going to survive years in the soil. Other parasites persist by being in an intermediate or peritoneal host that's perfectly fine, happy, healthy, wandering around in the winter months, just waiting to be eaten by that ultimate, definitive host. So…there's some truth to [seasonality] sometimes, but we cannot hedge our bets and provide parasite protection according to the calendar, because the parasites just don't follow the calendar, and there's just too many parasites out there to…think that would be a good strategy.

Another misconception is, “Well, my pet's indoor only, only goes out to potty, or stays in the yard, [so] that means they're protected.” No. Sometimes your indoor-only animal does go outside, and sometimes the parasites come inside. I have lots of animals running through my yard in the middle of the night that could be leaving behind their little parasitic friends or feces that could then cause an issue [for] my dogs, who technically do not leave the yard ever, but the parasites could come into my yard.

So thinking that the animal is safe because of their unique lifestyle doesn't necessarily mean that their parasite risk may be less compared [with] some other lifestyles, but it doesn't take away the risk for parasites, and nor does using a preventive product. So that's kind of the third big myth.

Want to hear more myths and the truth behind them? Check out the full episode at the top of this article, or wherever you listen to podcasts.