Be a healthy part of your community with One Health
Pet lovers are rarely surprised when studies demonstrate the amazing strength of the human-animal bond and the many health benefits that pet ownership can have for people. But did you know that the relationship of a pet owner with their furry (or sometimes scaley or feathered) companion has far-reaching affects in their community and even the environment?
This concept is known as One Health. It is the understanding that humans, animals and the environment are intricately intertwined. What affects one of them will affect them all, and your pet is part of this equation. This means that you have an opportunity to positively impact the health of your hometown through your good care of your pet.
Here are a few ways you can safeguard your community and local environment with the concept of One Health:
Keep vaccines updated. Vaccines don’t just protect your pet from disease, they protect you and wildlife as well. Rabies and leptospirosis, for example, can be transmitted to people; meanwhile, leptospirosis and distemper from your dog can make wildlife sick, as well.
Use year-round parasite prevention. Fleas and ticks can pass diseases between pets and people, and intestinal worms can actually pass themselves between pets and people. Routine parasite prevention is an easy way to keep you and your family safe.
Always pick up after your dog. Children, who tend to put everything in their mouths, including their unwashed hands, are most susceptible to be infected from diseases spread by pet feces, especially if those droppings are left at parks or playgrounds.
Keep cats indoors. There are so many benefits to an indoor lifestyle for cats! It prevents disease transmission and injury to your cat, stops the potential spread of fecal-borne diseases from your cat using children’s sandboxes and yards as litterboxes, and even protects wildlife populations from your cat’s superb hunting abilities. In fact, the number of birds killed by outdoor cats each year in the United States alone is estimated in the billions and is contributing to serious declines in many struggling bird populations.
So keep up the great work caring for your pet! The benefits to yourself, your hometown and local environment will naturally follow.
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