Pet’s Health
Care in Spring and Tips for Common Seasonal Treatments
Yearly vaccinations, parasite dangers and seasonal allergies, the
spring season delivers a host of pet health concerns, marked by routine
veterinary visits and seasonal treatments.
Dr. John Robb, veterinarian
and founder of the national organization Protect the
Pets,
says it’s an important time for pet owners to
be educated about the care they’re getting.
To help keep your
pet healthy and safe, Dr. Robb, shares some important
information
you should know when handling your pet’s health
care:
Take Heartworm Testing
Off of Automatic Pilot:
Yearly heartworm testing has been a regular practice,
and expense for dog owners during spring exams, but
Dr. Robb believes testing
is not necessary for dogs taking medication all year. “If your
pet’s been on prevention medicine all year round, than its
unlikely he/she would become infected with heartworms,” says
Dr. Robb. He believes the decision should ultimately lie with the
pet owner but points out that many veterinarians still require annual
testing before giving pet owners more heartworm medicine, even if
they have been giving the medicine all year. “This essentially
forces pet owners to put their dog through the unnecessary pain of
drawing blood and the unnecessary expense of running tests,” he
says. If your veterinarian requires a test without talking to you
and letting you decide, then make sure to bring it up at your next
visit.
Cut-out Cortisone Treatments
for Allergies:
Seasonal allergies in pets can cause chronic skin
reactions such as severe itching and rashes, and
are commonly treated with cortisone
shots. Dr. Robb warns that cortisone injections can ultimately kill
animals by causing Cushing’s disease in dogs, diabetes in cats
and other ailments.
“Cortisone injections must
be used judiciously, not as a first line defense. Many
times, cortisone treatments only mask the problem ending
up costing the owner more money and the animal more
suffering in the long run,” he says. If your
pet suffers from allergies, ask your veterinarian to
run allergy tests, consider allergy shots or food elimination
diets, check for mites and also, consider consulting
with a veterinary dermatologist.
Know the Dangers of Feline
Vaccinations:
It’s proven. Yearly vaccinations like Feline Leukemia, and
Rabies, can cause cancer in cats and have been cited to have caused
thousands of deaths. Dr. Robb says your veterinarian should warn
you of their potential side effects, and help you evaluate the exposure
to disease versus the risk of cancer in determining your pet’s
vaccine schedule. “Vaccinations are not only costly; they can
be deadly,” warns Dr. Robb.” If your veterinarian is
not discussing this with you, then you should seriously examine the
care you’re receiving.”
Beware of Toxic Tick Control:
Ticks thrive in spring and fall’s cool wet weather, threatening
your pet with fatal tick-borne illnesses. Treat your yard to reduce
the tick population and your pet’s exposure, and apply preventative
medicine to your pet to decrease the risk of tick infestation or
transportation into the home. But be cautious when shopping for tick
treatments on your own. Some are toxic to cats and not clearly marked
as such on the packaging, warns Dr. Robb, who has seen many cats
die from the mistake. To be safe, Dr. Robb advises speaking with
your veterinarian to get his/her recommendations.
For more information
about your pet’s health and getting the best
in veterinary care, visit www.protectthepets.com or
contact Dr. Robb
at 203-312-9419.
