Could Deworming Pets Fuel Resistance?
As a veterinarian working in companion animal medicine, Dr. Chiara Switzer knows that her profession widely recommends treating dogs and cats routinely with drugs to prevent infestations of heartworm and intestinal parasites.
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The approach is meant not only to keep the pets healthy but to minimize the risk of animals transmitting parasites to their human families — a compelling consideration, Switzer says. At the same time, she worries that this highly touted regimen might do harm in the long run.