SEASONAL INFORMATION

Flea and Tick Prevention

Fleas and ticks are parasites that are harmful to both your pet and your family. The easiest and most effective way to prevent fleas and ticks is by using a monthly flea and tick preventative. However, fleas can live in a heated home or lay dormant in your house. If a flea infestation has already occurred in your house, preventives would be needed year-round. To avoid flea infestation, all your dogs must be on flea preventatives and be given the preventative consistently for 6 consecutive months.

Heartworm Prevention

Heartworm disease is another dangerous condition to dogs and cats; although heartworm disease is preventable, it can be potentially fatal. With this disease, parasites attach themselves to the pulmonary artery and heart, and can cause symptoms such as persistent cough, fatigue, reduced appetite, and weight loss. Cats may show signs that mimic other feline-specific diseases, but chronic clinical signs of heartworm in cats include vomiting, difficulty breathing, lethargy, and weight loss.

Enjoy the Outdoors with Your Pet

Now that warmer weather is here, it’s a great time to get out and play with your pup! Exercise is just as important for your pet as it is for you, and not only helps with weight management, but is also a great bonding experience. So have fun exploring the trails or enjoying a game of fetch in the yard!

Candy Concerns

Keep a close eye on that Easter candy! Chocolate and candy contain ingredients that make cats and dogs very sick. Pets that consume chocolate may show symptoms such as tremors, nervousness, vomiting, diarrhea, increased heart rate, and seizures. It only takes a small amount of chocolate to make your pet very sick, and in some cases, chocolate poisoning can even be lethal.

Garden Safety Tips

Springtime means it’s time to get back into the garden and flex that green thumb! But it’s important to supervise your pets while they’re in the yard. Many gardening products such as fertilizers and pest repellants contain harmful chemicals that are hazardous to pets. Visit ASPCA’s poison control page to learn more about animal poison control.