• Is Your Pet Ready For Warmer Days?

    Sand Creek Animal Hospital dogs sunbathing picture

     

    Warmer weather usually means more time spent outdoors with your pets. But you may want to think about protecting your pets against some of the risks that accompany rising temperatures and the change in seasons.

    Pet safety tips

    Dogs and cats get thirsty when it gets hot, so make sure they always have plenty of water. To avoid heatstroke, never leave pets in the car. Watch what they eat when outdoors. Many plants, garden fertilizers, and insecticides are poisonous to pets, and leftover food from picnics or barbecues can make pets sick. Don’t over exercise your pets, and be sure to provide a shady place for them to cool down. Make sure gates are not left open, and keep your pets leashed so they don’t get lost or get involved in fights with other animals.

    Protection against fleas, ticks, and other pests

    Ticks can cause a variety of illnesses in pets, so you will want to check your pets for ticks every day and remove them, plus take measures to avoid ticks altogether. There are various sprays, oils, powders, bath preparations, collars, etc., that can protect pets from fleas and ticks. In addition, there are monthly topical applications and chewable tablets that can be used with dogs and cats to protect them from fleas and ticks, as well as from heartworm—a serious illness spread by mosquitoes. Vaccines are available to provide added protection for dogs from a serious disease carried by some species of ticks, called Lyme disease.

    Ensure vaccinations are up to date

    Animals that carry diseases like rabies and distemper come out in the warm weather, so make sure your pets are vaccinated against these diseases. For dogs, you may want to consider vaccinating against Lyme disease to protect against this serious tick-borne illness.

    Talk to your veterinarian about what vaccinations and medications you should consider for your pets to keep them safe outdoors in the warm weather. This way, you can all relax in the sun and have fun.

    (The preceding information was provided in the April edition of the Home Again newsletter)