As the weather gets warmer, the ticks, fleas, heartworms and skunks get braver. Now is the time to prepare your pet for the warmer weather and make sure you have all of your prevention and solutions in place, just in case. Here are a few warmer weather tips to keep your pet happy and healthy:
Flea and Tick Prevention: Flea and tick prevention should be used year-round. However, this time of year it is especially important to make sure your pets are covered. If you are going to skip a dose, Spring/Summer isn’t the time to do it. Fleas and ticks can not only be annoying to you and your pet, but they can also carry some scary and harmful diseases. Prevention is your best bet for keeping your pet safe.
Heartworm Prevention: April is Heartworm Awareness Month, so we have to talk about it! Heartworm is transmitted through a mosquito bite. While mosquitos are more active during the warmer weather, it is not uncommon for them to be active throughout the year, especially with the crazy midwestern weather! Heartworm disease is potentially fatal and can be spread to both dogs and cats whether they are indoor only or not. Prevention 12 months of the year and a test every 12 months are the best ways to ensure your pet is protected.
Skunk Sprays: Skunks become more active during the warmer months as well. It’s no secret that pets (*cough* dogs *cough*) are curious animals who are not afraid to run up to a skunk. We see a lot more dogs who have been sprayed by a skunk this time of year, and while not particularly harmful, it is smelly and is not a pleasant experience for you. We offer a special skunk bath that helps rid your dog of that unpleasant odor!
Summer Cuts: Finally, we would be remiss not to mention summer haircuts. While not a beast of nature, it is important to be informed of your pet’s particular needs in order to stay cool and safe during the summer heat. Generally speaking, double-coated dogs would be better off with a blow out than they would a shave down, and your single coated dogs would be better off with a shave down. To learn more about why we recommend not shaving your double coated dog, check out this blog post.
Spring and summer bring about lots of (usually welcome) changes, but if we aren’t careful, those changes can be potentially harmful to our furry friends. As always, if you have questions about how best to protect your pet this summer from fleas, ticks, and heartworms, ask your veterinarian. If you have questions about our skunk bath or a summer hairdo, contact us!