|
|
|
Though it has been a wonderful warm winter the calendar says that spring has arrived. With that you will be spending more time with your pet outdoors. There are several things we would like to remind you about before you head out the door for that walk in the park or working around the yard. EXERCISE: During the winter our pets are just like us and do not get enough exercise. If you take your pet with you on walks or jogs and they haven't been out in awhile START SLOW! They will suffer from the same aches and pains that we do when we start an exercise routine. Start slowly and gradually build up and you will notice the difference in both their behavior and their weight. If they go to the lake and swim, keep in mind that they might fatigue very easy. FLEAS AND TICKS: This year the fleas in some environments really never went away because of the warm weather. But when the spring rains and humidity come they will really become active. There are several products on the market now that are really effective in controlling both fleas and ticks. The manufactures of some of these products are offering a full guarantee that they will work. Flea control for the animal has really come a long way in the past three years. For more information you can either call our office or click on www.frontline.com. INSECTICIDES: As you are landscaping or starting your garden keep an eye out for your pet eating or rolling in your insecticides, lawn fertilizers or any herbicides that you may be using. Try when possible to use an organic mixture for these uses. If you are using a commercial product be sure to follow label instructions and store the products out of your pet's reach. Also look around your garage or storage shed for mouse or rat poison that you may have placed there last fall. Remove any partial bags and make sure the poison is far out of your pet's reach. SNAKES, SPIDERS AND OTHER WILDLIFE: Not only our animals are more active when the weather gets warm, creepy crawly slithery things come to life too. Wildlife is more active; so make sure your pet is current on their rabies vaccination. In Texas, rabies vaccine has to be given on an annual basis to provide the protection that the law requires. If your pet comes in contact with a snake this spring, try to determine if the snake is poisonous. Immediately call either your regular veterinarian or the local 24-hour animal emergency clinic. Keep your pet quiet while you transfer them. Usually venomous snakes are not fatal but the bite can produce local inflammation that can compromise breathing. Spider bites can also create localized swelling and may lead to skin sloughing. Have any swelling checked out by your regular veterinarian. ROMANCE IS IN THE AIR: With the increasing daylight hours and the warmer temperatures most all unaltered pets will be going into heat, or seeking someone who is. Now is the time to get your dog or cat spayed or neutered to save a lot of headaches and unwanted litters in two months. We will want to spay your dog before she goes into heat or two weeks after the completion of her heat cycle. Cats can be sprayed at anytime. We can neuter either your cat or your dog at any time. Try to keep your indoor/outdoor cats mostly in because territorial disputes will lead to eat fight bite abscesses for your cat. If you keep these springtime tips in mind, the outdoor activities that you share with your pet will be loads of fun for both of you. If you have any further questions please feel free to use our comment section or call our clinic directly. |