The Companion Animal Parasite Council (CAPC) has launched a new website, www.petsandparasites.org, dedicated to fostering human and animal health.
Visitors to the site can get hygiene advice and other year-round parasite management tips to keep both their animals and families healthy.
For many pet owners, the Internet is one of the first places they look for information about the well-being of their animals; we designed petsandparasites.org to be one of the most comprehensive Web resources available. We want pet owners to understand how important it is to prevent parasites and the corresponding health problems in animals and people, said Michael Paul, DVM, executive director of CAPC.
Almost half (more than 41 percent) of all U.S. households own a dog or a cat, which translates to a pet population that includes about 73 million dogs and 90 million cats, according to the American Pet Product Manufacturers Association.
The site, divided into cat and dog owner sections, provides answers to some of the most frequently asked questions about pets, parasites and their effects on human and animal health.
Pet owners can also find information about the behavioral changes and other symptoms that may indicate their dog or cat is infected by parasites.
The CAPC, an independent council of veterinarians and other animal health care professionals, was established to create guidelines for the optimal control of internal and external parasites that threaten the health of pets and people.
Its membership represents broad expertise in parasitology, internal medicine, public health, veterinary law, private practice and association leadership.
Posted: May 25, 2006, 5:00 a.m. EST