PARKWAY PRESS

 

 

Start Preventing Fleas and Ticks Now!

The bugs are waking up! Getting your pet on flea and tick preventative by April helps prevent the newly emerging ticks and fleas from becoming a bigger problem later on. Temperatures in the 50’s, and increased daylight hours signal these parasites that it is time to wake up and start their summer cycles of eating, pestering, and reproducing. Since we don’t want them doing those things on our pets or in our homes, we should use the same signals of spring to remind us it’s time to get the preventative on our pets!

 

It’s Allergy Season Again!

As many of us already know, allergy season is coming upon us. All too often our pets suffer from allergies as well. Unlike us, however, most of the time allergic reactions in our pets involve itching and skin irritation rather than hay fever type symptoms. Areas most affected are the ears, feet, abdomen, and the rump. If your pet is chewing, licking, or scratching at these areas frequently, they may be suffering from allergies. An appointment with the Veterinarian can help determine just what has your pet scratching, and get get relief on the way.

 

Does Your Dog Need A Heartworm Test?

Spring brings life back to the earth, spring fever to our heads, flowers to our yards, and oh yeah, mosquitoes. With the mosquitoes comes the risk for heartworm infection. If you keep your dog on preventative year-round, and it has been less than two years since they were last tested for heartworms, they do not need to be tested. Continue to keep them on the preventative.

If you have never had your dog on heartworm preventative, or it has been more than a month since they last had the preventative, they will need to have a heartworm test done before preventative can be started this spring. The only exception to this rule is for puppies less than six months of age.

A heartworm test involves a small blood sample and ten minutes of time for the test to run. One easy trip to the Veterinarian can protect your dog from the dangers of heartworm infection.

Cats can also be affected by heartworms. Although infestations are less severe than in dogs, stress and damage to the heart can still occur. Monthly preventative are available for cats as well, and they can start the preventative without having a test.

 

Do Cats Need Socializing Like Dogs Do?

As a matter of fact cats also need early, positive experiences with a variety of people. Young kittens are naturally curious, and this is a wonderful time to expose them to a variety of settings. Some cats will take to walking outdoors on a harness (As long as you follow them!) but even if you don’t want your cat exposed to the outdoors that way, they can go to the pet store or the Veterinarian in a plastic carrier so they can look around and experience different sights and sounds. Make several trips to the vet where nothing is done-just a treat and a cuddle, so that taking a short trip becomes a positive experience instead of a stress filled adventure.

Cats who grow up alone in a house or apartment where the owners are gone all day can become very frightened when presented with different sights and sounds when they become adults. Many times these cats’ fears dramatically complicate their medical care in the case of illness or injury. A little bit of preventative socialization during kittenhood will help eliminate these problems, and probably give you a happier, more secure, and outgoing adult feline friend.