SPRINGTIME PERILS FOR PETS

I haven’t seen him yet, but I suspect that the first robin has already returned to Green Country. Our tulips are growing fast, and I have already had to send Denver out to mow the grass. All these things can only mean one thing: spring is here!

Spring may be my favorite time of year. I know our pets really love it. The cockatiel yells at the birds in the yard, the cats supervise from the open windows, and Marty the space Pug, starts sleeping in the sun on the deck. What a blissful group!

The flowers and birds and my household are not the only things that awaken in the spring, however. There are some nasty little beasties that begin to stir as well. The fleas and ticks will be here in force very soon. In fact, the ticks in our area have been active all winter. Many people are already spraying their yards for these dangerous pests. While it is important to keep fleas and ticks out of your yard, be sure you do not do more harm than good. Pesticides are dangerous chemicals- they are designed to kill, after all- so be sure to follow label instructions very carefully. With pesticides, if a little is good, more is NOT better!

Other parasites begin to cause trouble in the spring. The larval stages of intestinal worms that have been dormant all winter become active. Some of these larvae are in your yard, some within your pet’s body. One worm very common to our area, the whipworm, is especially dangerous to dogs. Signs that your dog may have this worm are recurrent bouts of diarrhea, often bloody, and general malaise. Some of the other worm larvae common to pets in Oklahoma can present a hazard to young children, so it is a very good idea to have your pet’s fecal sample checked for worms in the spring.

Heartworm is another warm weather hazard that you need to start worrying about in the spring. Respiratory infections become more common in cats with the arrival of the kitten season (please, please, please get your cats spayed and neutered!). Cat fights and bite wound abscesses abound in springtime. Pollen and molds in the air stir up allergic skin diseases in dogs and cats. Some pets suffer from asthma this time of the year, as do some people.

Hmmm...  Fleas, ticks, heartworms, whipworms, allergies, cat fights, unwanted litters of kittens, respiratory diseases,.....

Maybe spring ISN’T my favorite season!