Filipinos adore having pets. With 79% of Filipinos being pet owners, it’s no surprise that they find joy in taking care of animals, whether they’re of the feathered, furred, or even scaled kind. But beyond the joy of companionship and protection, pets offer a multitude of health benefits, including increasing opportunities to exercise and socialize and even alleviating feelings of loneliness, allowing pet owners to live healthier, happier lives.

Pets offer unconditional love to their families, and as such, it is every pet parent’s responsibility to ensure that their pets are also living their best and healthiest lives. So if you’re planning to be a first-time pet parent or a pet parent looking for tips on how to care for your pets better, here are some tips to take into consideration.

Ensure that your pet can thrive in the environment you’re in

Yes, pets are cute and are a joy to have around but the first step for any prospective pet owner is to gauge if the pet you want to take care of can thrive in the environment you’re living in. In the Philippines, that means looking for pets that can live in tropical climates.

For furry animals like cats and dogs, this means looking for breeds that have the right kind of coats and body structures. Otherwise, pet parents should invest in creating the right environment for their pets, including proper temperature regulation and ventilation.

Feed your pets food that’s proper and healthy for them

A responsible pet parent should always do research on what to feed their pets. Like humans, pets can have intolerances, allergies, and even food that are poisonous for them. It’s important to learn about what a proper, balanced diet is like for your pet and this can be done through research and through consultations with your veterinarian.

Exercise your pets

Pets need exercise, as this not only helps them burn their energy but also keeps them limber and mentally and physically healthy, as in the case of dogs. Just make sure that the type of exercise you give your pets is appropriate for them, as different pets and breeds require different kinds of exercise.

Keep up with their checkups and vaccinations

Taking care of pets is very much like taking care of ourselves–they need proper nutrition, exercise, and regular medical checkups. According to the American Veterinary Medical Association, all pets should receive a physical medical examination at least once a year. These visits include regular vaccinations and treatments to ensure that they are healthy, as unlike humans, pets may not be able to communicate or show outward signs of disease or injury–things a trained veterinarian can spot and provide treatment and guidance on.

Invest in pet insurance

Routine vet visits and even unexpected medical emergencies can put strain on a pet owner’s finances, which is why it’s important to consider getting a pet insurance product like Pet Insure.

Pet Insure is a customized non-life product specifically designed to protect the health of dogs no matter their breed, allowing dog parents to fully address the needs of their fur babies, including emergencies and accidents.

Regional insurtech Igloo, together with Malayan Insurance and GCash, created Pet Insure to afford owners convenience and security as it offers three-in-one coverage that includes medical reimbursement for veterinary care up to a maximum of P100,000; owner’s liability coverage of up to a maximum of P250,000; and a personal accident cover for dog owners worth P50,000 for as low as P650 for a one-month coverage on the GCash GInsure marketplace.

Boehringer Ingelheim, a global leader in animal health, has launched the parasite treatment, NexGard COMBO for cats. With nearly 20 years of expertise in preventing parasites such as fleas, ticks, Lyme disease and more in dogs, NexGard now adds a feline-specific product to the NexGard family. The new treatment is designed to safeguard cats from a wider range of parasites than any other product on the market, covering both external parasites and internal parasites such as fleas, ticks, ear mites, face mange, hookworm, roundworm, vesical worm, lungworm, heartworm prevention, as well as tapeworm infections that affect their health and quality of life.

Parasite infections are common in cats and prevalent across Asia. According to an epidemiological study of over 1,000 cats in eastern and Southeast Asia, 43% of pet cats suffer from external parasites such as fleas, ticks and mites and 14% harbour deadly internal parasites such as hookworm, heartworm and roundworm.[i]

“Boehringer Ingelheim has always been on the cutting edge of research and development in the parasiticide space. Trusted by pet owners and veterinarians alike, our NexGard® family of products is currently ranked top in pet parasiticide sales worldwide. In Asia where over 26% of pet owners have cats[ii], we are thrilled to expand our feline parasite prevention line-up, which includes Broadline and FRONTLINE PLUS Cat, with NexGard COMBO for cats. It is an innovative one-and-done formula with esafoxolaner, the first isoxazoline parasiticide formulated for cats plus eprinomectin and praziquantel for the broadest external and internal parasite coverage to date,” said Sukje Sung, Head of Boehringer Ingelheim Animal Health Philippines, Inc.

Common misconceptions about parasites in cats

Parasite infections are often disregarded as trivial issues but can cause serious health complications in cats such as bloody diarrhoea, dehydration, skin inflammation and anaemia. Ear mites are common causes of feline ear infections which are often picked up when roaming outdoors and can cause itchiness, inflammation and swelling of the ear canal.³ Additionally, some internal parasites such as hookworms can attach themselves to the intestines and to feed on the blood of cats. Left untreated, hookworm infections can result in potentially life-threatening blood loss, weakness, and malnutrition.⁴

Despite the high prevalence of parasite infections, many pet owners remain unaware of how common they are. In fact, according to veterinary specialist Dr. Ross Antonio Banayo, Technical Manager for the Companion Animal Business Segment of Boehringer Ingelheim Animal Health Philippines, Inc. pet owners remain misinformed about how these parasites are transmitted and impact their cats. These common misconceptions include:

• Cats that are kept indoors are not susceptible to parasite infections and do not require regular veterinary visits.
• Cats only require treatment when they are infected with parasites. Preventive treatment is not necessary.
• Parasite infections are self-limiting and do not cause serious health issues.
• Removal of ticks and fleas can be effectively managed with parasite prevention shampoos alone.

According to Dr. Ross Antonio Banayo, Technical Manager for the Companion Animal Business Segment of Boehringer Ingelheim Animal Health Philippines, Inc. “Parasite infections can be particularly dangerous for cats. Common feline behaviours like grooming and roaming outdoors put them at a higher risk of contracting a variety of parasites. Often, cats only present with symptoms much later into the infection, resulting in worse complications. This highlights the need for us to change perceptions and move towards a preventive approach to parasite infections to safeguard their health.”

Parasites can be transmitted and affect human health too

Parasite infections not only impact the health of cats but can be transmitted to humans to cause complications such as skin infections, anaemia, gastrointestinal disturbances and more. Fortunately, transmission can be effectively prevented by administering regular parasiticide treatment for cats and adhering to regular follow-ups with a veterinarian.

“The lives of pets and humans are so deeply interconnected that their health issues can impact our own. Just as we are shifting towards a preventive approach to human health, NexGard COMBO is our preventive solution to preserve the health of cats. It represents the next step that we are taking to improve the health of animals across the region and drive a positive impact on our own health into the future,” said Sung.

The monthly treatment protects pet cats and their households from the deadly, debilitating, and transmittable internal and external parasites.

Important Safety Information

NexGard COMBO is for topical use only in cats. The most frequently reported adverse reactions include vomiting, application site reactions, and anorexia. If ingested, hypersalivation may occur.

Avoid direct contact with application site for 4 hours or until visibly dry.

Esafoxolaner is a member of the isoxazoline class. This class has been associated with neurologic adverse reactions including tremors, ataxia, and seizures in cats with or without a history of seizures.

Use with caution in cats with a history of seizures or neurologic disorders.

The safety of NexGard COMBO has been tested and is approved in breeding, pregnant, or lactating queen (cats) in the Philippines. The safety of the product has not been established in breeding male cats.

NexGard COMBO is for use in cats 8 weeks of age and older, weighing 0.8 kg or more.

[i] Colella V, Nguyen VL, Tan DY, Lu N, Fang F, Zhijuan Y, et al. Zoonotic Vectorborne Pathogens and Ectoparasites of Dogs and Cats in Eastern and Southeast Asia. Emerg Infect Dis. 2020;26(6):1221-1233. https://doi.org/10.3201/eid2606.191832. Accessed April 2023.

[i] Rakuten Insight. Pet Ownership in Asia. Available from https://insight.rakuten.com/pet-ownership-in-asia/. Accessed April 2023.

³ Little, S., and K. Duncan. “Ear mites: Uncovering, treating, and preventing infestations.” Today’s Veterinary Practice, 16 June 2021, todaysveterinarypractice.com/parasitology/ear-mites-uncovering-treating-and-preventing-infestations/. Accessed 9 May 2023

⁴ American Veterinary Medical Association. Parasites in cats and dogs. Available from https://ebusiness.avma.org/files/productdownloads/LR_COM_ClientBroch_InternalParasites.pdf Accessed May 2023.

From social media to video games, cats rule the internet. They’re a constant source of joy and entertainment, and a beloved part of more than 45 million American homes, according to the American Pet Products Association. There are also millions of free-roaming and homeless cats across the country, however.

To help cats in homes and communities enjoy great lives, Mars Petcare’s BETTER CITIES FOR PETS program is working to create more pet-friendly communities. Consider these five ways you can help and learn more at BetterCitiesforPets.com.

1. Provide a forever home. Many shelters are facing increased intake as pet parents feel forced to give up their pets due to hardship. In fact, Shelter Animals Count revealed cat intakes in June were double that of January. Check with your local shelter to learn about adoption options and resources to help. Your community might offer sponsored programs to help local cats get adopted.

2. Make sure your cat has kitty ID. According to the American Veterinary Medical Association, microchipped cats are more than 20 times more likely to be returned to their owners than those without chips. One of the first things a shelter or veterinarian will do with a found cat is scan for a microchip, so it’s an easy way to ID your cat if lost and help him or her get home. Also make sure your contact information associated with the microchip is up to date.

3. Share the love. If you’re a cat parent, you know the importance of healthy nutrition, routine vet visits and active play to exercise your cat’s mind and body. You can also help homeless cats enjoy these necessities by supporting your local shelter or rescue. Donate food or funds for medical care, volunteer to help socialize cats or become an ambassador for adoption by sharing social posts about cats looking for homes.

4. Learn about community cats. If your city has a lot of free-roaming cats, you might be surprised to learn they’re probably being cared for on a regular basis through a community cat program aimed at helping humanely reduce overpopulation and nuisance behaviors. In these programs, shelters, volunteers and cities work together to feed, spay or neuter, vaccinate and care for outdoor cats.

5. Become a community cat advocate. There are various ways to support community cat programs, including getting involved as a feeder, donating food or supplies, or helping with trap-neuter-return events. You can also write letters to your city government to explain the benefits of community cat care and pet-friendly policies. Your voice matters and cats can benefit from your support.