Heart worm, fleas and ticks
Prevent the spring blues for your dog. As with all medical issues, it is better to prevent the problems than to treat them. Heart worm disease is a serious and potentially fatal parasitic disease transmitted by mosquitoes. There are a variety of options for the prevention of heart worm infection in dogs, including an injectable administered by your vet, daily and monthly tablets and chewables, and monthly topicals. I personally do not like any injectables for humans or dogs. If your concerned about the best treatment and like more natural ways there are many holistic vets out there now. I would like to mention that about 4 years ago or so the vets were giving injectable shots for heartworm, only to come out later it was even killing some dogs. The American Heart worm Society (AHS) guidelines recommend that all dogs should be tested annually for heart worm infection.
The Internet is so full of information to check out on your own. But the main message here is that you should treat your dogs for these issues just know there are more natural ways than others.
In large enough numbers, both ticks and fleas can cause dangerous amounts of blood loss, especially in young dogs. Your vet has a large number of options to prevent heart worm, flees and ticks. These products are mostly used monthly and a lot of vets are even recommending the heart worm meds to be used every month of the year. Please know that for people like me that always prefer a more natural way when possible there are natural ways to help prevent flees. Flees can bounce on a dog extremely easy and multiply in no time. So get your dogs to the vet fast as spring is here now and get them protected.
For heavens sake don’t skimp on skipping the monthly heart worm meds. The cost for treating a dog with heart worm is very costly. Also depending on which brand you get, the heart worm med can also prevent and treat for hook and whip worms. I fostered a dog that had both of those worms, It was awful. He could barely walk he was so weak. Within hours of giving him a pill from the vet to treat those worms he started to get better. But if you have multiple pets you then have to worry about the other dogs getting these horrible worms. Please treat all your dogs. And be careful when going to the dog parks as you would be amazed at how many dog owners are not responsible and do not give their dogs the correct or any meds at all. In reading about hook and whip worms I read that once in your yard they don’t just go away. So please be careful where you take your dog and what dogs you allow in your yard.
Dog Parks
Leave small puppies at home. Puppies less than four months old aren’t fully immunized yet and are at higher risk for contracting diseases. They are also very vulnerable to being traumatized by another dog’s aggressive behavior.
Be aware of potential hazards that may be in the park, such as toxic chemicals, garbage or noxious plants. Be sure to wash any chemicals, such as fertilizer or pesticides, off of your dog’s feet and legs to ensure they aren’t licked and ingested.
Walking your dog
When it’s spring or even towards fall, be careful when walking your dogs to not let them lick the puddles and little pools of water. There are so many parasites and toxins even gasoline in the puddles. My little dog got really sick on year from a winter walk where he didn’t drink anything, but when we got home, he got sick from licking his feet clean. So please be careful even your big dogs can get sick from this.