Spring is here and things to look out for!!!
Spring is a beautiful time of the year with the sunshine invigorating our souls. The birds are a flutter with movement and song. The fresh, warm air gives us all a jump start with this new season. Our animals are only to ready to hit the door running as soon as it is opened but with the warm weather and new explorations come the hidden dangers of spring into summer.
Peanut, available for adoption with Wagging Hearts.
What to be prepared for as the temperatures rise and the days turn longer:
Prepare for more outdoor exposure to the elements. Dogs are just like people and the sun can be a deadly force in terms of temperature AND exposure. Dogs can receive sunburn damage especially the lighter the coat, the thinner the coat and the more time spent outdoors without cover. Paws will be softened from spending so much time indoors over the colder months so help your pet build up the padding with walks and runs that build. To avoid injury and issues please start slow and build up your outdoor workouts if they are more than moderate-level. Watch for hotter temperatures on the pavements as the digits rise and always provide water when spending more than a half hour outdoors.
Parasites. Be prepared for the influx of mosquitoes and fleas before the temperatures turn warm. Your preventative medicines will need 30 days to kick in and a secondary dosage to build the proper cover to avoid heartworm contagions. Mosquitoes are carriers for the potentially fatal HEARTWORM disease that they inject into untreated, unsuspecting animals just laying around in the grass of their own backyard. Preventative medicines like HeartGuard, Ivermectin and others are a necessity not a personal choice if you don’t’ want to play Russian roulette with their lives. Heartworm treatment is very hard on an animal especially the older they are and can be very expensive. Then your loyal pet has the ability to also pick up flea and ticks in your own backyard. A flea and tick preventative is also in order to help support a healthy, parasite free interior zone for your animal. Avoid these nasty buggers as they have the ability to spread more contagions inside your loved one that can lead to additional problems and medications. Heartworm as well as flea/tick preventative are monthly treatments to be discussed with a vet partner. A fecal test will be needed for animals that are just beginning this preventative treatment to insure no issues already exist.
BLASTOMYCOSIS: Please to become more familiar with these two deadly diseases becoming more prevalent in the mid-west area. Blastomycosis is a systematic fungal infection commonly found in decaying wood and soil. Blastomycosis occurs most frequently in male dogs, but female dogs are also susceptible. Dog breeds that are scent-oriented or low to the ground are also most susceptible. The fungus thrives in wet environments, such as riverbanks, lakes and swamps, where damp soil lacking direct sunlight fosters growth of the fungus. It is also present in areas that are rich in decaying matter, such as wooded areas, forests, and farms. Their is NO VACCINATION but knowledge is power. Look for the signs and involve your vet as soon as you see the symptoms arise. SYMPTOMS: fever, loss of appetite, weight loss, eye discharge, eye inflammation specifically the iris, respiratory issues (coughing, wheezing, unusual breathing sounds), skin lesions which are usually filled with pus and neurological issues such as seizures or mobility issues. It may be mistaken for cancer and mistreated, or it may be mistaken for a lung infection of bacterial origin and treated with antibiotics, which puts your pet at greater risk. If your pet has been in an environment where the Blastomyces fungus may have been present, at any time in the six weeks previous to the onset of symptoms, you will want to ask your veterinarian to test for fungal infection. (SOURCE: http://www.petmd.com/dog/conditions/respiratory/c_multi_blastomycosis#)
Leptospirosis: Caused by spiral shaped bacteria mostly found during the summer and fall. It is rare in cats but cases have been found. It is spread through the urine of infected animals, which gets into water or soil and can survive there for weeks to months. Infection occurs when animals become in contact with the contaminated water source through cuts in the skin, eyes, nose or mouth. Drinking water or inhaling bacteria can also cause the disease to manifest in your pets. Signs of disease in dogs may include fever, vomiting, abdominal, pain, diarrhea, weakness, refusal to, eat, depression, stiffness and severe, muscle pain. Some infected animals may show no signs of illness. Kidney damage can also occur. Young animals are usually more severely affected than older animals. Be prevalent and ask your vet partner about the vaccination that will protect your animal!! (SOURCE: http://www.cfsph.iastate.edu/FastFacts/pdfs/leptospirosis_F.pdf)
Sniffing Out a Deadly Disease: A personal and tragic case study on Blastomycosis which cost the life of one of Wagging Hearts own rescues Goofy.
Leptospirosis: The fast facts, check them out for yourself and be prepared!!
Microchipping: Your pets will be outdoors with more opportunities for adventure and fun!! Help keep them safe with a secondary loop of safety for them by chipping them with your information. Stay close to the ones you love the most. Ask your vet partner about microchipping today and register that chip to close the loop. A microchip will help reunite your pet with you as it will be scanable by animal control offices, police, vet partners, rescue organizations, etc. which all feed into a national database that you register to be a part of. Ask now, not later.
One in 3 pets will become lost at one point in their lives. Close the loop, protect your pets.
Our pets rely on us to insure their safety within and without. We hope that we have provided some help in watching for areas of potential concern for you and your pet. Stay diligent and loving. Please email contactus@wagginghearts.org today should you have any additional questions or concerns.
