Help Your Pet Spring into Summer

Help your Pet Spring into Summer  

Warm temperatures are here in Illinois. With this change in season comes a lot of time spent outdoors with your four legged friend. While the spring and summer are a great time to get your pet active, it is important to make sure that they are ready for a more active lifestyle.

Heartworm Prevention

According to WebMD, heartworm is among the largest dangers to the health of your domestic pets.  They are spread through mosquito bites and can significantly damage the health of an infected animal. When temperatures are above 60 degrees Fahrenheit for an extended number of days, mosquitos carrying heartworms start to hatch. The best way to prevent this disease is to take preventive measures now. This includes putting pets back on heartworm medications if they were taken off during the winter months.

Flea and Tick Prevention

During the winter months, fleas are dormant outside. They can, however, live indoors year-round and are very difficult to get rid of. They infest animals (and can also jump to humans) and begin reproducing within five minutes of landing on a warm body. In addition to the direct effect of flea bites, they also carry disease. Ticks are also a major problem starting in the spring season. They typically start to breed in in late April, May, and June and can spread Lyme Disease and Rocky Mountain Fever. Preventive tick medication can keep your pet safe throughout the summer months. It typically needs to be applied once a month to be effective.

Seasonal Allergies

Just like humans, your pets can also suffer from seasonal allergies with the blooming of grasses, flowers, and trees in spring and summer. Unlike most humans, pet allergies manifest through the skin rather than respiratory. Because of this, it is important to keep an eye out for excessive scratching and licking. If your pet seems to be suffering from allergies, contact your veterinarian.

Bring on exercise slowly

Just like humans, your dog or cat also can gain winter weight because they lead a more sedentary lifestyle. It is important to start back into an exercise program slowly so your pet does not overdo it, as this can result in injuries (just as it can in humans).

At Huckleberry’s Pet Parlor, we offer full-service pet grooming, overnight boarding, doggie daycare, training and holistic pet foods and treats – everything you need for a happy pet.