Ludhiana, April 20 -- With pet ownership on the rise, experts from Guru Angad Dev Veterinary and Animal Sciences University (GADVASU) have flagged growing health risks, cautioning that awareness about pet-borne diseases and preventive care remains limited among owners.

Gurpreet Singh Preet, assistant professor (clinics) at the vet varsity, said there has been a surge in the adoption of both indigenous and foreign cat breeds, such as Persian cats.

He warned that parasites like toxocara, commonly found in cats, can pose serious health risks.

"The infection can lead to complications, including abortion in pregnant women, and also affects the animal," he said, adding that skin infections such as scabies are also transmissible.

The trend e...