Yes, it is that time of the year.  We’ve seen them out and about:  spiders, bees, mosquitoes, fleas, etc.  We know how we can protect ourselves with bug repellent and citronella candles, but let’s not forget about our furry friends.  I do the “Pet of the Week” segment on WAVY-TV and I am a big fan of animals.   

Now that we’re moving into the warmer months, it is a good time to start thinking about parasite prevention for your pet.  Fleas can cause some bad diseases in your pet such as cat scratch fever and tapeworms.  Fleas also can irritate your pet’s skin causing him/her to scratch the itchy skin continuously.  Ticks can carry Lyme Disease and other less known diseases.  Infected mosquitoes can transmit heartworms to both cats and dogs.  Heartworms can survive in your pet’s lungs, heart, and blood vessels.  Even indoor pets are at risk of mosquitoes because these pesky critters like to sneak inside buildings and can actually survive quite well indoors.  Other internal parasites like hookworm, roundworm, and whipworm can also infect your pets causing them gastrointestinal problems: kittens and puppies are most susceptible  to these parasites.

To keep your pet healthy during the warmer months, talk with your veterinarian about parasite prevention.

Meteorologist Cheryl Nelson