Pests such as mosquitoes, fleas, and ticks pose considerable health risks to the cats and dogs enjoying the great outdoors. Likewise, snakes, raccoons, and even stray animals living in your neighborhood carry risks to the health of your pet. These issues should always be considered as you gear up for the warm months ahead.
Know what parasites you and your pet are up against before you head out to enjoy springtime in the Rockies. And remember, “An ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure.”
Heartworms
Typically, heartworms are transmitted from one animal to another through the bite of a mosquito (they can also be contracted in utero if the mother is infected). For cats, heartworm is a fatal disease. For dogs the prognosis is not much better—your dog can be treated, but it is both expensive and risky to do so.
The best way to protect your pet is through routine preventatives prescribed by your veterinarian. For dogs, this will include a heartworm pre-screening prior to treatment. Maintaining a regular schedule for this preventative plays an important part in its success as well. So be certain to discuss the proper schedule for your pet at the time of your appointment.
Fleas and Ticks
Throughout the spring and summer months, fleas and ticks are a fact of life in Colorado, especially if you’re going to be hiking the foothills and playing on the plains.
For fleas, prevention is undeniably the best means of protecting your pet. This means routine preventatives, as directed by your family vet and constant vigilance in detecting infestations in your home and on your property.
It is important to seek out a professional consultation on which product is best for your pet, as not all preventatives are created equal and the wrong choice may not work as intended, or worse.
For ticks, prevention is also the key to keeping your pet healthy and free from the serious illnesses transmitted by these pests. Routine preventatives, as recommended by your family vet, will reduce the odds of your pet getting bitten, but constant vigilance with regard to tick checks after being outdoors is also important.
Rattlesnake Vaccines
Rattlesnake bites are about 25 times more fatal to dogs than humans. And, even if your dog does survive an attack, chances are high that your pet will suffer from permanent damage.
Luckily, a vaccine has been developed to help your dog survive a rattlesnake bite. But again, prevention in this situation is key. In our area, once your dog has received his or her initial inoculation, a booster should be given once a year, about 30 days before rattlesnake season begins. However, if you frequently travel to an area where rattlesnakes are a threat year-round, boosters will be required every 6 months.
The vaccination against rattlesnake bites differs from antivenom in that the vaccine helps your pet’s immune system to create his or her own antibodies against the venom. Essentially, the antivenom delivers foreign antibodies to ward off the effects after the fact.
For more information on this preventative, or to schedule an inoculation or booster, please contact us.
Rabies
For many pet owners, rabies vaccinations are a matter of routine preventative care. But, as many of you know, it’s easy to let the booster date slip by unnoticed and your pet’s vaccinations expire.
As you prepare your pet for the coming season, don’t forget to double check that your pet’s rabies tags are current. This simple matter of routine care one day may save your pet’s life.