Climate change: more storms, more parasites
CLIMATE change is becoming obvious in all of our lives, and now it is also beginning to impact on our pets.
There are two areas which are of particular concern.
First, and most visibly, we have been witnessing changes in weather conditions. We see the footage on our televisions, with dramatic wildfires in Australia and California, a record number of hurricanes in the USA in 2020, and storms and flooding all around the globe. Here in Ireland, we have seen our own versions of the consequences of the change in weather patterns, with regular winter storms and heavy rainfall at different times throughout the year. In the past month, the Irish Centre for High-End Computing (ICHEC) in Waterford has used a supercomputer to analyse vast amount of climate data. As well as a significant temperature rise, with peaks up by 2.4’C within thirty years, there are projected increases in occurrence of both ultra-dry periods and also heavy rain events.
It’s the increasing number of extreme weather events that directly bother pets. We have all grown used to storms with names, with examples including Ciara, Dennis and Ellen in 2020.
As dogs’ and cats’ hearing is much more sensitive than our own, most pets are scared by sudden, loud noises, as well as flashes of light and pressure changes. So the fact that storms are more common causes a significant problem for many owners.
Examples of the signs shown by pets that are upset by storms include: licking lips, pacing, shivering or shaking, panting excessively, destructive behaviour such as chewing/scratching items in the home, soiling the house and even attempting to run away.
It so happens that the same signs are shown by pets in fear at the sight or sound of fireworks, so this is a particular time of year, leading up to Halloween, when pets can show these signs.
If storms – or fireworks – are anticipated, you should provide a den or a hiding place where your pet can feel safe. Make a comfortable bed here, with old sweatshirts and other clothing to give your pet a sense of your reassuring presence. A crate with some blankets over it is ideal for a dog. A cat may prefer to hide in a high up location such as the top of a wardrobe.
Keep your pet inside with the doors and windows closed and your favourite radio station switched on in the room to mask frightening sounds from outside. Double-check that all pets are wearing identification tags and have microchip identification, just in case they do manage to escape and run away in terror.
There are plug in diffusers, sprays and collars containing pheromones, as well as other products available from your vet, all of which can help to relieve this type of anxiety in pets.
The second area of pets’ lives that is impacted by climate change is more subtle: the warmer weather means that some parasites are becoming more common in this country.
There are three particular parasites that are being seen more commonly, and this trend is only likely to get worse.
First, fleas. Traditionally in Ireland, fleas were a seasonal problem, emerging in summer then disappearing for the winter. Now, with the combination of centrally heated houses offering cosy havens for pets in the winter, and climate change making all of the seasons warmer, fleas are seen all year round. And once a home is infested with fleas, the long-lasting flea eggs can be difficult to eradicate. For this reason, many
people are now choosing safe, effective flea prevention: vets now have a range of products, including palatable tablets given once a month or once every three months. It has never been easier to guarantee that your pet will never be plagued by fleas.
The second parasite is ticks: as well as our native ticks becoming more common, and seen all year round rather than just at seasonal peaks, there is a fear that new ticks species may arrive in Ireland, bringing new, dangerous dog illnesses with them. I recently had to treat a dog that had been imported from Poland that was suffering from Babesiosis, a life threatening blood disease. The dog survived, and luckily, the tick that passes on this illness is not yet found in Ireland. However it’s very likely that the warming climate will create conditions favourable to this tick, and we may start to see many other patients suffering from this condition. And we already have Lyme Disease, a serious illness passed on by ticks that can affect humans and animals alike.
Again, the good news is that some types of regular anti-flea medication is equally effective at preventing ticks: if you ever find ticks on your pet, you should talk to your vet about this.
The final parasite that is becoming common with the changing climate is lungworm: dogs get this by eating slugs or snails, or even by chewing grass (and swallowing the tiny molluscs hidden in the vegetation). This illness can be fatal, so the answer is, once again, obvious: regular medication to stop lungworm from become established in your pets’ lungs.
Climate change brings many challenges, but fortunately, 21st century veterinary medicine is well able to put up a good fight on behalf of our pets.