Canine gastrointestinal parasites perceptions, practices, and behaviours: A survey of dog owners in Australia
Many species of canine gastrointestinal (GI) parasites are known to be zoonotic meaning that dog owners' management and practices are key to preventing exposure of humans and dogs as well as contamination of the environment. As Australia has one of the highest rates of pet ownership in the worl...
| Main Authors: | , , , , , , |
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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Elsevier
2023-12-01
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| Series: | One Health |
| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2352771423001076 |
| _version_ | 1797394887355662336 |
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| author | Luca Massetti Rebecca J. Traub Louise Rae Vito Colella Lara Marwedel Phillip McDonagh Anke Wiethoelter |
| author_facet | Luca Massetti Rebecca J. Traub Louise Rae Vito Colella Lara Marwedel Phillip McDonagh Anke Wiethoelter |
| author_sort | Luca Massetti |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Many species of canine gastrointestinal (GI) parasites are known to be zoonotic meaning that dog owners' management and practices are key to preventing exposure of humans and dogs as well as contamination of the environment. As Australia has one of the highest rates of pet ownership in the world, we administered an online questionnaire to dog owners across the nation to assess their perceptions, practices, and behaviours towards canine GI parasites. Descriptive analysis was performed to summarise perceptions and management practices. Factors associated with the suitability of parasiticide treatments applied were investigated using uni- and multivariable ordinal regression. Just over a half of dog owners considered parasites as very or extremely important for their dog's health (59%) and less than a half as very or extremely important for human health (46%). Although the majority of dog owners stated that they deworm their dogs (90%), only the 28% followed best practice guidelines, i.e. administered a monthly prophylactic treatment all-year round. A large proportion of respondent dog owners administered prophylactic treatment at an inappropriate frequency (48%) or did not treat for canine GI parasites at all (24%).Attending vet visits at least once a year or once every six months and having a very comfortable or prosperous financial position were significantly associated with following best deworming prophylaxis guidelines. This study demonstrates that a proportion of dog owners in Australia is not complying with best practice regarding the control of canine GI parasites and is potentially exposing themselves and their dogs to the risk of infections. Veterinarians are called to implement dog owner's education, raise their awareness on the threats canine parasitic diseases pose to both dogs and humans and finally, encourage them to follow a monthly prophylactic treatment for canine GI parasites all year round. |
| first_indexed | 2024-03-09T00:26:16Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-6120ac505aaa44e989615a7b692a882a |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 2352-7714 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-03-09T00:26:16Z |
| publishDate | 2023-12-01 |
| publisher | Elsevier |
| record_format | Article |
| series | One Health |
| spelling | doaj.art-6120ac505aaa44e989615a7b692a882a2023-12-12T04:35:02ZengElsevierOne Health2352-77142023-12-0117100587Canine gastrointestinal parasites perceptions, practices, and behaviours: A survey of dog owners in AustraliaLuca Massetti0Rebecca J. Traub1Louise Rae2Vito Colella3Lara Marwedel4Phillip McDonagh5Anke Wiethoelter6Melbourne Veterinary School, Faculty of Science, University of Melbourne, Parkville, VIC 3052, Australia; Corresponding author.Melbourne Veterinary School, Faculty of Science, University of Melbourne, Parkville, VIC 3052, AustraliaBoehringer Ingelheim Animal Health Australia, North Ryde, New South Wales 2113, AustraliaMelbourne Veterinary School, Faculty of Science, University of Melbourne, Parkville, VIC 3052, AustraliaBoehringer Ingelheim Animal Health Australia, North Ryde, New South Wales 2113, AustraliaBoehringer Ingelheim Animal Health Australia, North Ryde, New South Wales 2113, AustraliaMelbourne Veterinary School, Faculty of Science, University of Melbourne, Parkville, VIC 3052, AustraliaMany species of canine gastrointestinal (GI) parasites are known to be zoonotic meaning that dog owners' management and practices are key to preventing exposure of humans and dogs as well as contamination of the environment. As Australia has one of the highest rates of pet ownership in the world, we administered an online questionnaire to dog owners across the nation to assess their perceptions, practices, and behaviours towards canine GI parasites. Descriptive analysis was performed to summarise perceptions and management practices. Factors associated with the suitability of parasiticide treatments applied were investigated using uni- and multivariable ordinal regression. Just over a half of dog owners considered parasites as very or extremely important for their dog's health (59%) and less than a half as very or extremely important for human health (46%). Although the majority of dog owners stated that they deworm their dogs (90%), only the 28% followed best practice guidelines, i.e. administered a monthly prophylactic treatment all-year round. A large proportion of respondent dog owners administered prophylactic treatment at an inappropriate frequency (48%) or did not treat for canine GI parasites at all (24%).Attending vet visits at least once a year or once every six months and having a very comfortable or prosperous financial position were significantly associated with following best deworming prophylaxis guidelines. This study demonstrates that a proportion of dog owners in Australia is not complying with best practice regarding the control of canine GI parasites and is potentially exposing themselves and their dogs to the risk of infections. Veterinarians are called to implement dog owner's education, raise their awareness on the threats canine parasitic diseases pose to both dogs and humans and finally, encourage them to follow a monthly prophylactic treatment for canine GI parasites all year round.http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2352771423001076Intestinal wormsQuestionnairePet ownersParasite controlDeworming |
| spellingShingle | Luca Massetti Rebecca J. Traub Louise Rae Vito Colella Lara Marwedel Phillip McDonagh Anke Wiethoelter Canine gastrointestinal parasites perceptions, practices, and behaviours: A survey of dog owners in Australia One Health Intestinal worms Questionnaire Pet owners Parasite control Deworming |
| title | Canine gastrointestinal parasites perceptions, practices, and behaviours: A survey of dog owners in Australia |
| title_full | Canine gastrointestinal parasites perceptions, practices, and behaviours: A survey of dog owners in Australia |
| title_fullStr | Canine gastrointestinal parasites perceptions, practices, and behaviours: A survey of dog owners in Australia |
| title_full_unstemmed | Canine gastrointestinal parasites perceptions, practices, and behaviours: A survey of dog owners in Australia |
| title_short | Canine gastrointestinal parasites perceptions, practices, and behaviours: A survey of dog owners in Australia |
| title_sort | canine gastrointestinal parasites perceptions practices and behaviours a survey of dog owners in australia |
| topic | Intestinal worms Questionnaire Pet owners Parasite control Deworming |
| url | http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2352771423001076 |
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