Springtime in Arizona means perfect weather, spring training games, and lots of golf. Though we welcome this season with open arms, this season also brings plenty of bugs to the Valley that can be harmful to your pet. Read all about them and how to protect your pet below!
Heartworm
Though heartworm is not a huge issue in Arizona due to the lack of mosquitos, the recent introduction of manmade bodies of water has increased the Valley’s mosquitos in the past several years. If left untreated, heartworm can cause severe health problems and even death. To help ease your mind when your dog is outside all the time during this wonderful time of the year, we recommend testing dogs for heartworms once every two years. For more information on Heartworm prevention, check out our blog post.
Fleas & Ticks
Fleas and ticks are as much of an annoyance to you as they are your pets. They are two of the most common external parasites in dogs and cats, and can lead to itching, hair loss, hypersensitivity, infection, and disease transmission. If you find a flea or tick on your pet, not only do you need to eliminate them from your pet, but also from your pet’s environment. This can usually be done with Frontline Top Spot and a professional extermination of the pet’s environment.
Kennel Cough
If you’re going to be traveling this spring or summer and will be keeping your dog in a kennel, don’t forget about the dangers of kennel cough. Kennel cough can be recognized as a dry, unproductive cough that can become dangerous to your pet if left untreated. Luckily, kennel cough is fairly easy to prevent with a yearly vaccination of the Bordetella vaccine.
To make sure your pet’s health is in tip-top condition, come visit us at Phoenix Veterinary Center for a regular check up today!
