Boehringer Ingelheim Animal Health UK has launched Parassess, a free interactive risk checker tool.
Parassess will help practices engage dog owners in parasite protection while helping vets assess and manage parasite risk.
Developed with leading parasitologists, Parassess is an easy-to-use tool that helps dog owners understand just why parasite control is important and how the parasitic risk profile of their pet depends on many individual factors, such as lifestyle and environment.
Parassess uses owner responses to build a picture of their dog’s personal circumstances. It then draws on up-to-date risk factors and control knowledge to help vets make responsible and tailored parasite control recommendations.
To use Parassess, the dog owner can simply visit the website. Once there, a risk assessment only takes a few minutes to complete, with the owner being guided through a series of questions.
A bespoke algorithm then determines their dog’s individual risk level for fleas, ticks, lungworms, roundworms and tapeworms.
The report can be shared with the vet who can then review and make a treatment decision.
Importantly, while Parassess determines the dog’s individual risk, it does make not any specific treatment recommendations, so vets are able to make their own prescribing decision.
Parassess is convenient to use. The owner can access the website prior to a vet appointment, for example, in the waiting room, on their smart phone or from the comfort of their home.
Boehringer Ingelheim Animal Health UK will also provide a comprehensive suite of eye-catching practice communication assets, such as waiting room displays and digital content for web, email, SMS and social media to help practices direct clients to the Parassess website.
In addition to informing owners about parasite protection, it also saves the practice time by making parasite risk-assessment easier.
Since Parassess makes no specific treatment recommendations, it can be used by the entire practice staff.
Currently, knowledge about parasites is low among dog owners, and with an increasing emphasis on vets to make responsible parasite control recommendations, Parassess could be an invaluable tool for practices and their clients alike.
For further information on Parassess, practices can contact their local Boehringer Ingelheim territory manager or phone 01344 746957 (UK) or 01 291 3985 (Ireland).
