59% of pet owners surveyed are unaware of the impact of seasonal
change on their dogs and cats
21 leading European scientists confirm warmer weather poses a
threat to pet health
BRUSSELS, Oct. 5, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- MSD Animal Health
announced the Protect Our Future Too campaign
(#Protectourfuturetoo) across 30+ countries in Europe, Russia, North
Africa and the Middle East
to raise awareness of the risks to our household pets caused by
seasonal changes, such as warmer months in autumn and winter as
well as higher temperatures in general.
Representing specialities in parasites, animal behaviour and
diseases, 21 leading European scientific leaders in their fields
shared insights surrounding four key topics: pet health, parasites,
diseases and behaviour changes in pets. The results confirm that
seasonal changes have a wide range of implications for household
pets.
One such impact is an increase in parasites, namely ticks, as
they are able to survive for longer in warmer climates. Prof.
Lukasz Adasek, University of Life
Sciences in Lublin [Poland] noted, "Changing climate
conditions contributes to the fact that ticks, different tick
species, new tick species, appear in areas where they were not
previously found, and their activity is also extended."
Pets are a vital part of our families and as such the Protect
Our Future Too campaign believes this is the time to act to ensure
their safety and protection. To measure the current levels of
understanding surrounding the topic, a survey has been conducted
with pet owners and vets. The key findings from the polls reveal
that only 36% of respondents felt informed about the risks warmer
temperatures and humidity pose for pets.
To help explain is Prof. Richard
Wall, professor of Zoology at the University of Bristol
[UK]: "As fleas and ticks are so sensitive to even small changes
in temperature and humidity, changes in the weather, changes in the
seasons, will have big impacts on the abundance and the activity of
these animals."
As ticks pose a direct threat to our pets' health, warmer
temperatures mean it's more important than ever before to protect
them from these risks. But as 59% of pet owners surveyed feel
misinformed about the risks ticks and other parasites can pose,
it's unsurprising that only 41% of pet owners surveyed are
protecting their pets against parasites all year round.
To protect your pets from the diseases fleas and ticks might
carry, it is vital that pets are being treated against ticks and
fleas all year round. Speak to your vet for more information and
visit protectourfuturetoo.com for tips on how to protect
your pets all year round.
About Protect Our Future Too
'Protect Our Future Too' (#protectourfuturetoo) was launched to
raise awareness of the impact seasonal changes have on our pets and
the relationship between pets and the family, such as warmer months
in autumn and winter as well as higher temperatures in general. As
a vital part of society, MSD Animal Health believes it's important
to take action to protect their futures too. The campaign, which
will be rolled out in 30+ EMEA countries - including Europe, Russia, North
Africa and the Middle East
- will educate and inform vets and pet owners throughout the year
to build awareness of how they can help protect pets.
About MSD Animal Health
For more than a century, MSD, a leading global biopharmaceutical
company, has been inventing for life, bringing forward medicines
and vaccines for many of the world's most challenging diseases. MSD
Animal Health, a division of Merck & Co., Inc., Kenilworth, N.J., USA, is the global animal
health business unit of MSD. Through its commitment to The
Science of Healthier AnimalsĀ®, MSD Animal Health offers
veterinarians, farmers, pet owners and governments one of the
widest ranges of veterinary pharmaceuticals, vaccines and health
management solutions and services as well as an extensive suite of
digitally connected identification, traceability and monitoring
products. MSD Animal Health is dedicated to preserving and
improving the health, well-being and performance of animals and the
people who care for them. It invests extensively in dynamic and
comprehensive R&D resources and a modern, global supply chain.
MSD Animal Health is present in more than 50 countries, while its
products are available in some 150 markets. For more information,
visit www.msd-animal-health.com/ or connect with us
on LinkedIn and Twitter.
About the Polls
We polled a representative sample of 3.871 vets and 751 vet
nurses. The pet owner poll generated 201.893 answers and was
carried out through an online poll open to the general public via
social media (Facebook and Instagram). The polls were conducted
across Europe, Russia, North
Africa and the Middle East
and were open from February to June
2020.
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