Warm weather presents new pet health issues

Skin problems in pets occur more often in warm weather months. If your pet is scratching more than usual, it is a good idea to check with your veterinarian.

The problem could be allergies, a reaction to flea bites or a developing hot spots. A veterinarian can test for allergies and recommend a treatment program. Hot spots are usually treated with antibiotics and a steroid. In addition to causing allergic reactions, fleas can cause severe anemia, so it is critical that you use an effective method of flea control. Advantage and Frontline will control fleas for one to three months with a single application.

Frequent bathing will dry a pet’s skin and cause excessive scratching. Daily brushing will keep a pet’s coat clean and healthy and help reduce the need for bathing. When bathing is necessary, use a medicated shampoo and cream rinse. Shampoos containing tea tree oil are good choices to control itching and scratching. A cream rinse also keeps the skin moisturized, thus reducing itching.

Another problem that needs to be given serious consideration is heartworms. Heartworms have been diagnosed in all 50 states and is an important pet health issue. Heartworms are parasites about the size of thin spaghetti and they live in the right ventricle of the heart and in nearby blood vessels. These internal parasites are transmitted to dogs by mosquitoes. They damage the arteries in the lungs and obstruct blood flow to the heart.

Initially the changes observed in an infected pet are slight. Symptoms occur due to inflammation of the arteries. Blood clots and aneurysms are common and small blood vessels can become completely blocked. As more damage occurs to the heart and lungs the animal will show symptoms such as exercise intolerance, nosebleeds, shortness of breath, coughing and pneumonia like symptoms.

Eventually heartworms will cause the heart to enlarge, stretch and weaken. Fluid accumulates in the lungs and around the heart as this condition worsens. The pet will soon die from the damage that has been done to the heart, lungs and other tissues.

Preventing heartworm infestation is simple. Have a veterinarian do a blood test for heartworms. If the test is negative, the pet should be placed on either a once-a-month preventative or the six-month ProHeart shot. Pets should be kept on the preventative even during the winter months.

Heartworm is a common problem in Tennessee and should be taken seriously by pet owners. If a pet becomes infected, treatment is available. The treatment is expensive and often risky. Unless infestation is detected early, tissue damage that has already occurred may cause the pet problems for the rest of its life. Prevention is the best option.

As a reminder to everyone who would like to spend a delightful evening with great food and entertainment, and help fund the Humane Society shelter in the process, be sure to call the shelter at 473-5720 to make reservations for the Murder at the Mansion fundraising event on March 27 at Historic Falcon Manor.