Vaccines and parasite prevention protect pets from hidden health threats

By Ahmet Taş | Wise News Press

ISTANBUL, TURKEY — Regular vaccination, veterinary checkups and parasite prevention can protect pets from serious disease while reducing the risk that some infections spread between animals and people, veterinary experts say.

Many threats to dogs and cats remain unnoticed during their early stages. An animal may appear energetic and continue eating normally despite carrying parasites or having been exposed to an infectious agent. Preventive veterinary care is therefore intended to begin before skin problems, weight loss, digestive symptoms or more serious complications become visible.

Veterinarian Orkun Bürün, head of Boehringer Ingelheim’s Pet Business Unit, said preventive healthcare should not be limited to treating illness after it develops. He noted that appropriate vaccination, routine examinations and antiparasitic measures can help prevent severe disease while also contributing to public health protection.

Preventive care starts before symptoms appear

Routine veterinary appointments allow clinicians to assess a pet’s weight, skin, teeth, heart, general condition and vaccination history. They may also identify early signs of chronic illness or parasitic infection that owners have not yet noticed.

Preventive care does not mean using every available vaccine or parasite product on every animal. The plan should reflect the pet’s species, age, health, living environment and likely exposure.

A dog that regularly visits forests, parks, boarding facilities or foreign countries may face different risks from an indoor cat. Puppies, kittens, older animals and pets with chronic medical conditions may also require different examination and vaccination schedules.

The World Small Animal Veterinary Association distinguishes between core vaccines recommended for most dogs or cats and non-core vaccines selected according to regional and individual risks. Its guidance emphasises that vaccination programmes should be adapted to the patient rather than applied as an identical timetable for every pet.

Vaccination remains a central protective measure

Vaccines prepare the immune system to recognise particular infectious agents and respond more effectively. They may not prevent every infection in every animal, but they can reduce the likelihood of severe disease, complications and death.

Depending on national guidance and the animal’s risk profile, dogs may require protection against illnesses such as canine distemper, parvovirus, infectious canine hepatitis and rabies. Cats may receive core protection against feline panleukopenia and important respiratory infections.

The appropriate timing of primary doses and boosters should be determined by a veterinarian. Health status, previous reactions, travel plans and local disease prevalence may all influence the decision.

Keeping an accurate vaccination record also becomes important when pets travel internationally, stay at boarding facilities or attend group activities. Some destinations require specific vaccinations, certificates or treatment within defined time limits.

Parasites can remain hidden for long periods

Ticks, fleas, mites, intestinal worms, mosquitoes and sand flies can directly harm pets or transmit other disease-causing organisms.

A parasite problem does not always cause immediate or obvious symptoms. Some animals may remain outwardly healthy while an infection develops. Later signs can include itching, hair loss, skin inflammation, diarrhoea, coughing, anaemia, tiredness or unexplained weight loss.

Parasite protection should be based on the type of exposure. A product intended for ticks may not protect against intestinal worms or sand flies. The correct interval can also vary according to the active ingredient, season, region and the pet’s habits.

Owners should therefore avoid combining products or changing doses without veterinary guidance. A treatment suitable for one animal or species may not be appropriate for another.

Preventing parasites is also part of the One Health approach, which recognises the close connection between animal, human and environmental health. Some parasites and vector-borne infections can affect both pets and people.

Warmer weather increases exposure to vectors

The activity of ticks, mosquitoes and sand flies generally increases under suitable warm-weather conditions. Pets spending time outdoors may therefore encounter more biting insects during warmer months.

Ticks can remain active for extended periods in some climates, while mosquitoes may breed in small collections of standing water around homes, gardens and urban areas.

Sand flies are particularly relevant in Mediterranean regions and other areas where canine leishmaniosis occurs. These insects are small and may bite without owners noticing. In Europe, sand flies of the genus Phlebotomus transmit Leishmania infantum, and dogs are considered important reservoir hosts for the parasite.

Animals travelling to risk regions should receive veterinary advice before departure. Protection may need to begin in advance, because starting treatment only after a pet returns cannot prevent exposure that has already occurred.

Canine leishmaniosis requires particular attention

Leishmaniosis is caused by Leishmania parasites and is transmitted mainly through the bite of infected female sand flies. It can affect animals and humans, making it an important zoonotic and vector-borne disease.

The World Health Organization describes leishmaniasis as a group of diseases caused by more than 20 Leishmania species. Human infection is transmitted by infected female phlebotomine sand flies, while the form and severity of the illness vary according to the parasite and geographic region.

In dogs, possible signs include weight loss, reduced appetite, tiredness, enlarged lymph nodes, skin lesions, hair loss, eye problems, nosebleeds and abnormal nail growth. Kidney complications may develop in more advanced cases.

The infection can remain clinically silent for a considerable time. A dog may therefore carry the parasite without showing immediate signs, making travel history, preventive care and correctly timed testing important.

Because these symptoms can also occur with other diseases, diagnosis cannot be made from appearance alone. Veterinary examination and appropriate laboratory testing are required.

Protection must be tailored and maintained

Reducing sand fly exposure can involve several complementary measures. ESCCAP recommends limiting dogs’ exposure during periods when sand flies are most active and using veterinary products with a repellent effect where appropriate.

Protection must begin at the correct time and continue throughout the period of risk. Collars, topical treatments and other veterinary products differ in duration, mode of action and suitability.

In some countries or circumstances, vaccination against canine leishmaniosis may also be considered. Vaccination does not prevent every infection and does not replace protection against sand fly bites.

A veterinarian should assess the destination, season, length of stay, age, previous health conditions and existing parasite protection before recommending a plan.

Using several products at once does not automatically provide greater safety. Incorrect combinations may increase the risk of side effects without improving protection.

Travel history and follow-up checks matter

Pet owners should tell their veterinarian where an animal has travelled, how long it stayed and which preventive products were used. This information can affect which tests are recommended and when they should be performed.

A negative test immediately after travel may not always exclude infection, because some diseases require time before they can be detected reliably.

Regular veterinary examinations also provide an opportunity to review whether vaccination and parasite prevention still match the animal’s lifestyle. Moving house, adopting another pet, beginning outdoor access or travelling abroad may change the risk profile.

Preventive health is therefore not achieved through a single injection or one antiparasitic treatment. It requires an ongoing plan combining vaccination, parasite control, routine examinations, responsible travel preparation and timely investigation of new symptoms.

A coordinated approach can improve pets’ quality of life, support earlier diagnosis and reduce the risk that preventable infections affect other animals or people.

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