With the heat index rising above 100 degrees, it is essential to pay attention to pets. Dogs and cats that are not allowed inside the home are really miserable right now with the heat, heavy rains (they will come, eventually) and a bumper crop of mosquitos.
The heat and moisture create a friendly atmosphere for mosquitos and fleas which cause untold agony for dogs and cats, as well as farm animals. Infected mosquitos cause heartworms in dogs and cats and fleas cause tapeworms. That is after causing untold agony biting the animals, causing excessive scratching which could result in an infection requiring treatment.
Heartworm disease is a very serious problem affecting dogs and cats throughout the United States, especially in this part of the country. As most pet owners know, there is preventive medication which prevents heartworms, but the pills or injections must be given on time with no doses missed.
Heartworm preventive medication may be given daily, monthly, or every six months. Most of the available preventives also protect against other parasitic infections.
Unfortunately, many pet owners think it is safe to stop giving the heartworm preventive during the winter months, but winters in this area usually are not cold enough to kill off the mosquitos and the animal can be infected. Once the pet is started on preventive medication, it must be continued throughout the year to provide protection.
sourced from marshall new messenger
