Beware of Tick Time 2012

Due to this year’s extremely mild winter and much warmer spring weather so far, ticks are out and about in record numbers – and will be through spring, summer and fall. Pets and their humans have to take cover and be aware to prevent disease carried by ticks and other parasites. 

Pets and their people have good reason for concern in 2012. Transmission from pets to humans – called “zoonotic” transmission – are almost completely preventable. The most common concerns include fleas and ticks – external parasites that not only cause our pets discomfort, but also pose some risk of transmitting disease to humans. Ticks can transmit serious diseases such as Lyme disease, Rocky Mountain Spotted Fever, and others.

Have a conversation with your veterinarian about both internal and external parasite control. In addition to administering the necessary preventive treatment, there also are several things you can do to protect your family and pets:

·         Keep the grass cut short in yards, and if you have to overgrown areas wear long clothing to prevent ticks from accessing your skin.

·         After spending time outside in the yard, woods, playing area and/or beach, make sure you check yourself, your children, and your pets for ticks.

·         Encourage everyone in the family – kids in particular – to practice good personal hygiene and prevent exposure to places that may be contaminated.

Dietary Tick Preventatives

·         Garlic – Garlic given as a dietary supplement makes the dog less appealing to ticks, too. The smell is excreted through the skin and repels both ticks and fleas. However, garlic contain sulfoxides and disulfides, which can damage red blood cells and cause anemia in dogs. A couple of cloves per day is completely safe but don’t overdo it.

·         Apple cider vinegar – Apple cider vinegar adds acidity to your dog’s blood, making it less appealing to ticks and fleas. Add 2 tablespoons of the apple cider vinegar to the dog’s food or water bowl as a preventative.

Please just keep a close eye out and be smart when working to prevent ticks on your pets and in your home.

For pet-sitting with a personal touch, contact Dee Hopkins at 517.546.0439 and visit http://www.ddspetpatrol.com.

Written by Dee Hopkins in collaboration with Ginger Sprinkle @ nine dots branding & marketing company (ginger@ninedotsbranding.com).

Win the Flea Battle This Summer Season

Along with the hot weather come the fleas. It’s important to make sure your dog is protected from these pesky parasites – not just in summer, but year-round. However, summer is when they thrive since these small, dark-brown insects prefer temperatures of 65-80 degrees and humidity levels of 75-85 percent. But do keep in mind for some areas of the country they are more than just a "summer" health annoyance.

Your Fido doesn’t have to venture far to pick up fleas; he can come into contact with them anywhere from your yard to the park, or even by coming into contact with another dog that is carrying them. Fleas will not only latch on to a dog, but tend to spread to infest a home, other animals that live there, and even humans; flea bites are no fun for anyone.

While there are more than 2,000 types of fleas on the planet, the dog flea thrives specifically on canine blood. Once female fleas taste blood, they begin to reproduce with eggs that will hatch anywhere from two days to two weeks later. This period is the trouble zone: the delay is one of the things that make fleas so difficult to eradicate. Be sure the product you buy will kill live fleas and eggs or you will be fighting a losing battle.

Signs of Fleas on Your Dog

If your dog is scratching and itching, particularly around the base of the tail and along the belly, there are most likely fleas already attached. A severe infestation can result in your dog scratching so badly he can draw blood or begin to lose fur. While you may not be able to see the tiny fleas, you most likely can see dried blood that has already passed through the flea's system that will be on the skin and around the dog's bed space; eggs can sometimes also be seen, showing up as tiny white nodules.

Beat Pests to the Punch

The best approach to this horrific attack on your dog is to stop the fleas before they start. With these parasites, it is so much easier to prevent an infestation than it will be to fight one. Ask your veterinarian to recommend the most effective kind of pest repellent for your dog. For many, that means administering a monthly dose of a strong-smelling liquid that will get rid of fleas, ticks and other small pests.

Don’t forget other pets in the home when using a prevention method. Some flea medications are safe only for dogs and can be dangerous to other pets, such as cats; this includes felines who are not only around dogs but also share sleeping arrangements or toys with their canine siblings. Cats who ingest some dog-only flea medications can become very ill, so be sure to be specific about other pets when determining the best treatment.

Mosquitoes Love Heat, Too

Along with the fleas that crave warm weather, expect mosquitoes to be right by their side. Mosquito bites can lead to the fatal heartworm disease, so it’s vital to make sure your pet is up-to-date on worming medications as well as flea prevention. While the highly effective and recommended products might be a bit costly, they are well worth every penny to keep your dog – and your household – flea free and healthy year-round.

There’s no other way dogs get heartworms than from an infected mosquito; there’s no way to tell if a mosquito is infected. That’s why prevention can be a lifesaver for your pet. The bite of one mosquito infected with the heartworm larvae will give your dog heartworm disease. The problem: it takes approximately seven months after a dog is bitten by an infected mosquito for larvae to become adult heartworms, which then lodge in the heart, lungs, and surrounding blood vessels and begin reproducing. Adult worms can grow up to 12 inches in length and can live 5 to 7 years.

Heartworm Complications Can Be Heartbreaking

A dog can have as many as 250 worms in its system. Simply put, heartworm is a horrible disease that can lead to a dog’s death if left untreated. Again, go the prevention method instead of the expense and heartbreak that will certainly occur if your dog contracts this disease.

In warmer climates, these flea and heartworm prevention treatments are typically year-round, but in cooler areas treatment should begin in early Spring before the danger season starts. Your veterinarian will be your best source for current information. Keep your pets safe!

For pet-sitting with a personal touch, contact Dee Hopkins at 517.546.0439 and visit http://www.ddspetpatrol.com.

Written by Dee Hopkins in collaboration with Ginger Sprinkle @ nine dots branding & marketing company (ginger@ninedotsbranding.com).