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Summer Pet Health Alerts
Summer Insect ControlExpect tick problems from mid-August through late Fall. Hundreds of these parasites can infect your pet overnight. They may cause anemia and toxemia quickly. Treat yards often paying special attention to protected areas like bushes and woodpiles. Use effective pet control products such as Frontline®. The spring and summer rains have provided more vegetative cover for fleas. Certain areas are experiencing large numbers and continuing hatches are likely. As with ticks, continued control measures on pets as well as aggressive premise control will greatly minimize your pet's flea problem. topSeasonal ToxicosisMany lawn treatment products, that is, fertilizers, herbicides, and insect control can be toxic to pets under certain circumstances. Please use common sense in applying these products, taking care to apply adequate controlling amounts without over applying. Signs of toxicosis may include:
Emergency measures: Immediately after ingestion - induce vomiting except in the case of very caustic materials like fertilizers or lye. Call your veterinarian or emergency service immediately. Time is critical in reversing signs. topDermatitis and Other Skin ConditionsAllergy Late summer pollens include ragweed and pigweed. These are considered by experts to be the most allergenic of airborne pollens. Affected pets suffer itching and often severely irritated skin. Special diagnostic procedures such as skin testing and serum antibody identification may provide therapy to allow your pet a much more comfortable life. These procedures can lead to better treatment options with less chance of long-term side effects. topBacterial skin infections are very common in pets and usually occur as a secondary condition, often secondary to skin allergy. Newer treatments are available to help control this condition. A "hot spot" is a catch-all term that refers to an aggressively inflammed skin lesions. The direct cause is self trauma. The pet litererally scratches its skin raw. The syptoms result from some underlying cause. Underlying causes of itching of such severity to cause hot spots include:
topTearing and Ocular DrainageHot, dry late summer days may lead to ocular problems in your pet. Pollens and dust, unsettled by rain or heavy dew, often irritate their eyes, causing excessive tearing and even ocular infections called conjunctivitis. Signs of conjunctivitis include:
Home treatment: Cleanse with clear warm water. Neutral eye drops such as Visine® may be used. Call your veterinarian if signs persist. topOverheatingHeat stroke is a potential problem in animals when environmental temperatures become extreme. Heat stroke is much more of a potential problem in pets accidentally deprived of access to water. Pets left unattended in autos (even with windows cracked open) are especially at risk. Avoid heat related problems by keeping your pet inside during the hottest daytime hours, or providing outside pets with access to water and shade. Do not leave pets unattended in automobiles, even for short periods.
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