NewsOur Colorado

Actions

More people, more dogs, more parasites: Protecting dogs amid Colorado's growth

Our Colorado: More parasites impacting dogs in CO
Posted at 8:56 PM, Sep 12, 2018
and last updated 2018-09-13 00:28:23-04

Editor's Note: 'Our Colorado' stories help natives and newcomers navigate the challenges related to our rapidly growing state, including real estate and development, homelessness, transportation and more. To comment on this or other 360 stories, email us at OurCO@TheDenverChannel.com. See more 'Our Colorado' stories here.

DENVER -- Colorado’s population is booming — but we're not just talking about humans — the pups are making the trek along with them, creating new challenges and problems for current pet owners living in the Centennial State. 

“Flea, ticks, and lice,” Tracy Jackson of the doggie daycare The Big Backyard said of the new issues facing Colorado’s canines. 

Jackson noticed not too long ago a dog or two with lice, and called local vets to see why that was happening.

“They said they had more cases this year and so I decided to take some preventative measures. Try to be proactive,” she said.

Jackson now requires all of her dog owners to medicate their pets against fleas, ticks, and lice. 

“For 19 years I’ve never had to ask customers to get anything like this,” she told Denver7.

The requirement is the brainchild of The Big Backyard, and is stricter than the state’s requirements for vaccines and medications.

The daycare owner blames more dogs being brought in from out-of-state where these issues are more common, both from people moving here and from dogs being rescued from other states.

“You don’t know where all these pets are coming from,” dog owner Amy Norwood said.

She was one of the more than 100 owners whose pets attend The Big Backyard and who had to pay up to protect their pups. Prescriptions range in price but can cost more than $100.

“I’d rather deal with it before it happens, she said. 

“Times are changing,” Jackson said.

Now she’s pushing for awareness for her dogs and for dog owners across the state. 

“So for new dog owners or people just moving in or who have been here for a long time, they need to investigate and ask their veterinarian, 'should my dog be on this?'” she said.