Things to look for in the Spring and Summer

Spring Is Time for Fleas, Ticks and Heartworm

 

Now that spring is here and weather is becoming warmer the populations of parasites that can infect dogs and cats are increasing.  Fleas, ticks and mosquitoes all become much more active and all three can cause health problems for pets.  Fortunately, they can all be prevented!

 

Fleas

Fleas can carry disease, cause severe allergic reactions and infest your house.  The most common flea-related disease we see is flea allergy dermatitis – an allergic reaction to flea saliva that can occur in dogs and cats that leads to intense itching, skin infections and hair loss.  Fleas can also carry infections, such as Mycoplasma haemofilis (formerly known as hemobartonella), which can cause severe anemia in cats. 

We often think of fleas as being a problem for dogs or cats that go outdoors because these pets are more likely to be exposed.  However, even totally indoor dogs and cats can get fleas. Fleas can be carried in to the home by people and, many of our “indoor” pets also spend time near open windows or on patios and decks.

Fleas are a much easier problem to prevent than they are to treat.  Once a single adult flea makes it into the home, it can lay up to 800 eggs – turning a single flea exposure into an infestation quickly.  Allergies and diseases caused by fleas can be expensive to treat, as well as making your pet sick. Severe home infestations can lead to flea-related reactions in people and may require professional extermination.  There are many safe and effective topical and oral flea treatments that can prevent these parasites from becoming a major problem.

 

Ticks

While ticks will feed all year around, the spring time is when we see a surge in activity and numbers, particularly in adult ticks, which are the most likely to carry disease.  One common myth is that only the ‘deer’ tick (Ixodes scapularis) is dangerous for dogs.  While this tick does carry the organism that causes Lyme disease, we see other tick-borne diseases in this area also - Rocky Mountain Spotted Fever, Ehrlichiosis, Anaplasmosis and Babesiosis – all of which can be carried by ‘dog’ ticks and can cause significant health problems.