Pet Health Is A Factor In Your Family’s Health (NAPSA)—For manyparents, a puppy can be a great addition toa family. Puppies often present an opportunity for children to learn how to show love and respect and to take responsibility for another “family member.” Part of taking responsibility for a pet means maintaining its health. Take your newly adopted puppyto the veterinarian immediately. The veterinarian will check the dog’s health status and recommend when he should be vaccinated and wormed. Your puppy—andother family members—will also need protection from internal parasites. One of the easiest, most effective ways to protect your pet is to use a monthly oral parasite preventive available through veterinary clinics. But it must be used consistently. Year-round treatment with a broad-spectrum parasite product is key. That’s because a significant portion of the U.S. experiences parasite prevalenceall year. For instance, the presence of mosquitoes and their ability to transmit heartworm is unpre- dictable. Pets can also be exposed to and become infected with roundworms, hookworms and whipworms throughout the year. Owners may notnotice out- wardly visible infections in adult p S 4 e 7s a a) @ Experts say a parasite preven- tive year-round is especially important in households with infants and small children. dogs, leading to environmental contamination. Experts such as the Companion Animal Parasite Council (www.petsandparasites.org) say using an internal parasite preven- tive is especially important in households with infants and small children. The risk of parasitic infection in pets and parasite transmission to people increases in the absence of year-round internal parasite prevention. Parents who are looking for more information on this and other aspects of making a newpetpart of the family can visit the Website at www.growingupwithpets.com.
