Your Veterinary Clinic Blog
It's Flea, Tick and Mosquito season!
The weather is warm, flowers are blooming, and the days are getting longer.
Life is great for you and your pet!
Unfortunately with the change in seasons many of us over look the threats that face our furry friends while they begin to enjoy days of fun in the sun!
Ticks:
Unfortunately ticks are a common problem in our area, but what you really need to know are the threats
that ticks pose for your pet!
* Ticks can carry and transmit several diseases that your pet can contract if they are bitten. 
* Every year dogs in our area test positive for Lyme, Anaplasmosis and Ehrlichiosis which are all transmitted
by infected ticks that are found in central Minnesota.
* Lyme disease and Anaplasmosis are carried by the Deer tick (Ixodes). Ehrlichiosis is carried by the Brown
dog tick (Rhipicephalus)
* Topical applications are very helpful in keeping ticks off your pet, thus greatly reducing the risk of one biting them
and transmitting one of these diseases.
Fleas:
Fleas can be a pain both for you and your pets! Prevention is key to keep these critters off your
beloved pet and out of your home. The PetCare Center carries several topical preventives to
Mosquitoes:
Not only do Mosquito's invade and disrupt your family's outings,but this little insect can pose a life threatening
problem for your dog!
* Mosquito's transmit heartworm disease which in 2004 over 250,000 dogs across the US were reported to
test positive for this disease. They are able to transmit heartworm larvae from infected dogs (as well as their wild cousins wolves and foxes)
to healthy dogs.
* Heartworms live in the hearts and lungs of infected dogs.
* If left untreated, heartworm disease may be fatal to your pet.
Heartworm Prevention:
Heartworm disease is a serious but preventable condition.
Each year your pet should be tested for heartworm disease.
This is done by a simple blood test using the SNAP 4dx which
tests for not only Heartworm disease, but also three other very
common tick born diseases. These include lymes disease,
ehrlichiosis, and anaplasmosis. To protect your canine from the
dangers of Heartworm disease, your pet should be placed on a
Heartworm preventative yearly.
Contact us for more information!
Common Questions:
* What are some signs of Heartworm disease?
- Coughing
- Difficulty breathing
- Sluggishness
- Reduced ability to exercise
- Loss of consciousness
- Sudden death
* What are some signs of Lyme disease and other tick diseases?
- Lameness
- Swollen joints/ Painful joints
- Fever
- Lack of energy
- Depression
- "Not himself/herself"
* What can I do to prevent and/or find these diseases?
- Good tick control, and use of heartworm prevention are vital monthly April through December.
- Vaccinate your dog for lyme disease.
- Check your pet for ticks ticks daily and more often if they have been through a grassy or woody area. This does not replace using a topical tick prevention since ticks as small as the deer tick can be difficult to find.
- It is important to understand that no prevention is 100%! Test your dog every year. This is done by a simple blood test using the SNAP 4dx which tests for not only Heartworm disease, but also lymes disease, ehrlichiosis, and anaplasmosis.
Early detection is key to an effective treatment!
Helpful Links:
Below are some very useful links with information about the diseases carried by ticks and mosquitoes.
www.dogsandticks.com
The American Heartworm Society
Our staff members would be happy to answer any questions about Flea, Tick and Heartworm prevention with you.
Please don't hesitate to ask!
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