- PET HEALTH HIGHLIGHTS-
After a long, cold winter, dogs are just as anxious as humans to get outside and revel in the warmth of the sun. After being cooped up all season, keep these precautions in mind as we all emerge from hibernation:
• Mosquitos: These pesky insects are more prevalent in the warmer months, making heartworms more prevalent as well. Spring is a perfect time to get your pup checked for heartworms and start their monthly medication if they are not on it regularly. Transmitted by mosquitoes, heartworm is a serious disease that affects the heart, lungs, liver, kidney, eyes, and central nervous system; if left untreated, it can cause death.
• Fleas and Ticks: Fleas and ticks are also more common in warm weather. Spring is the time to make sure your furry friend is protected against these disease-spreading varmints, as prevention is far easier than treatment! Do frequent tick checks- they are most commonly found around the head, ears, neck, chest, and legs. Ticks can spread Lyme disease, Ehrlichiosis, Rocky Mountain Spotted Fever, Anaplasmosis, Tularemia, and Babesiosis. Talk to your veterinarian about the best preventative treatment for your pet.
• Dangerous Plants: As gardens start to bloom in the spring months, be aware of plants that are unsafe for pets. Bulbs such as hyacinths, daffodils, and tulips are all toxic to animals. Flowers to avoid include Azaleas, Bittersweet, Crocuses, Day Lilies, Ferns, Lily of the Valley, Morning Glories, Tiger Lilies, Tulips, Sago Palms, and Rhododendrons; they can actually be fatal if eaten. Mulch can also be an issue, as some types contain coffee grounds, which can lead to caffeine toxicity if ingested. Bring your pet to the vet immediately if you think he or she has ingested any poisonous plants or garden supplies. Always store these products in out-ofthe-way places and follow label instructions carefully.
• Household Products: Annual spring cleaning can expose your pet to harmful chemicals like ammonia, bleach, and chlorine, which can result in respiratory and stomach problems. Even all-natural products can cause issues, so be sure to keep your pets in a separate room until surfaces you recently cleaned are dry, and toxic fumes are aired out. Cleaning out your garage and prepping your yard for spring can also pose a risk to your pet. Cleaning agents, fertilizers, herbicides, pesticides, weed-killers, even liquid plant food, can all be dangerous to dogs and cats. Home improvement products, such as paints, mineral spirits, and solvents can be toxic to your pets and cause severe irritation or chemical burns. Carefully read all labels to see if the product is safe to use around your furry friends. Store any harmful products safely away and out of reach.
• Allergies: Dogs and cats experience seasonal allergies to dust, mold, and pollen, in much the same manner as people. Symptoms include sneezing, coughing, scratching, licking, chewing, flaky skin, or an extra oily coat. Most reactions are annoying but benign; allergies to particular insect bites and stings, though, can result in life-threatening anaphylactic shock. If you suspect your pet has an allergy, visit your vet to discuss remedies to help ease your dog’ s discomfort.
• Toxic Bouquets: Freshly cut flowers can be deadly to pets. Lilies, in particular, are extremely toxic- all parts of the plant, including the pollen, flower, and leaves, are poisonous to all pets, and can be deadly when consumed by cats. It isn ' t really worth the risk, but if you want lilies in the house, keep them well out of reach.
• Weekend-Warrior Syndrome: People aren ' t the only ones susceptible to overdoing it when warm weather emerges. Many of us take our out-of-shape selves outdoors with our out-of-shape pets, and try to make up for months of inactivity with walks, hikes, and other activities. We often wind up forgetting to take it easy and gradually build up our strength and stamina. This often results in ice packs or heating pads, and several doses of ibuprofen. Unfortunately, our pets can ' t tell us that they are achy, too, especially if they are older. Reintroduce your dog slowly to his favorite outdoor activities with short walks or runs. And see your vet if he or she appears to have a serious strain or sprain, to be sure it ' s not something more serious, such as a torn ligament.
• Puddles: Don ' t let your dog drink stagnant water! It can lead to gastrointestinal upset or more serious health problems, like Leptospirosis, a bacterial infection that can cause severe damage to your pet ' s kidneys and liver.
Pawsitively Pets-- May 7