PetDoctor.com.au

Lots of problems become more apparent as the weather gets warmer flies, fleas, ticks, grass seeds, sunburn, heat and dont forget bad eating habits at the Barbeque!

In many instances, remember that things that annoy you will also annoy your pet so remember that they may also need insect repellent, suncare and some respite from the heat.

Flies
Flies love biting dogs ears, especially if your dog is a German Shepherd where the tips of the ears are bitten. In floppy eared dogs, the area at the back of the ear where it folds down is usually a favourite feeding ground for flies.

There are some excellent over-the-counter preparations available from the veterinary clinic, which repel flies. These include the ointment Fly Repella or N-Dem spray.

Heat
Heat can be a real killer so dont leave your dog in the car on hot days and restrict your dogs exercise to prevent over heating. Dogs most likely to suffer from heat stress are those with pre-existing breathing problems as well as short nosed breeds (eg bulldogs, pugs, Pekingese, boxers) as they are unable to cool down effectively by panting.

Your dog should always have access to shade and plenty of water and on days of extreme heat you can wet the head and back of your dog to help with cooling.

Sunburn
Sunburn can be a real problem in some pets and, just like with people, long term exposure often leads to skin cancer. Animals who are particularly at risk are cats with white ears and pink noses as well as dogs with pink bellies who enjoying sunbaking on their backs. If you have a cat with a pink nose and/or white ears you have several options. Firstly make them an indoor cat (this also prevents misadventure such as being run over by a car, fighting and prevents illnesses such as feline AIDS) or keeping them indoors during the middle of the day over spring and summer. Alternatively the area can be treated to make it more sun proof eg sunscreen or tattoo.

Breeds such as Bull terriers love sunbaking. Some owners make their pooch wear a UV suit to block the sun; alternatively sunscreen can be used on the belly.

If you are concerned about your dogs face, peaked caps can be used to help block the sun.

Fleas

Warm weather always means an increase in the number of fleas. If your dog or cat is allergic to fleas, one or two fleas is enough to keep your pooch scratching. Usually the animal with chew and scratch at its skin near the tail and along the back. The skin in the area may look red and there may be scabs and hairloss.

We can give you advice on what agents to use to control fleas. Many are once a month preparations which are very effective, easy to administer and dont involve bathing the animal. Products include adulticides, which kill adult fleas, and growth regulators, which prevent flea eggs from developing into adult fleas.

Regardless of which product you use, it is essential that all your cats and dogs are treated at the same time.

There are a few points to consider when purchasing flea control products:
1. If it is for a cat make sure the product is cat friendly?
2. Does the product have a lasting effect if my dog is swimming or being bathed on a regular basis?

Grass seeds

Grasses tend to seed in the warmer months and grass seeds can be a real nuisance to dogs and cats. Grass seeds can lodge in ears, under the eyelids as well as penetrating skin, especially around the paws.
Grass seeds lodging in the ear canal or under the eyelid usually cause intense irritation, which means that the animal will rub at these areas. A trip to the vet is a must so that the seed can be removed. When grass seeds penetrate the skin, they irritate the animal. As the seed becomes trapped in the area, the body reacts to the foreign material and a small abscess usually results. Again these cases must be treated by your veterinarian. Most patients will require a general anaesthetic so that the grass seed can be retrieved.

Many of these problems occur in long haired breeds and the incidence of the problem can be reduced by grooming. Areas such as the paws should have the fur clipped back very short so that grass seeds are less likely to become trapped in the fur and therefore less likely to penetrate the skin.

Ticks

The paralysis tick is not seen in Melbourne. However if you and your pet are planning to head east of Lakes Entrance and along the East Coast, you are in paralysis tick country! These ticks can kill your dog and cat and therefore you must check your animals coat everyday. This involves running your fingers through the entire coat. Dont forget to remove your pets collar to check the neck area as well as looking in ears. Do not rely on spray and other agents to keep your animal tick free.

If you do find a tick, it is best to spray the tick with a pyrethrum spray (in dogs you can also use pyrethroids) which will kill the tick. The dead tick will then fall off at its leisure. The effects of the paralysis tick may be seen up to 24 hours after the tick has been killed and you need to check your pet for signs of weakness. This will first affect the hind legs of your animal so if you notice difficulty getting up or wobbly hind legs you must see a vet. This is also important even if you have been unable to locate a tick.

BBQs

Take care when you are firing up the barby on a lovely summers day! Cooked bones can be a real problem to dogs, especially chunky chop bones which some dogs swallow whole and which them lodge in the dogs oesophagus. Remember to feed only raw bones so you may have to educate your guests as well!

Have a safe and enjoyable summer!