At the Humane Society of Tampa Bay we LOVE rabbits! During Easter season we see an uptick of rabbits being adopted and bought as pets, then returned or brought to our shelter shortly after. We want to ensure that you are familiar with the special care a rabbit requires before considering making a rabbit a part of your family. We ask that you please read this educational blog post before considering a rabbit as a pet.
General Care
– Rabbits are social animals that do best with attention and social interactions. Try to talk calmly and stroke them daily.
– Some rabbits can be very affectionate and will nuzzle and lick owners while others are more laid-back and shy.
– Never approach a rabbit directly in front. They have laterally placed eyes and cannot see directly in front of themselves.
– Before picking up a rabbit, pat gently between the eyes until he relaxes.
– Never attempt to pick up a struggling rabbit, they can break their own backs attempting to get away. Always support their back legs when you pick them up and carry them around.
– Rabbits love to move and manipulate objects. This provides exercise and simulations. Brown cardboard boxes are great for chewing. Plain non-toxic wood or hard plastic baby toys are also good.
– Rabbits are prey species. They strive on predictable and stable environment.
Housing
– Keep rabbits indoor only to avoid predators, fleas, and ticks. However, in Florida you can keep your rabbits outside (as long as the area is covered) so that they can get plenty of exercise.
– Try to avoid wire flooring this can cause hock problems.
– If flooring is wire, then cover with sections of newspaper (will be messy if bunny digs) or plain cardboard.
– If using a dog cage, make sure the wire spacing is small enough so the bunny’s head or limbs do not get stuck.
– Keep rabbits out of extreme heat.
– Avoid keeping rabbits in the same room as barking dogs and avoid keeping them in full view of cats.
– Place litter box in corner of cage the rabbit has chosen for urination. Line with newspaper and fill with grass hay and dump daily.
– Avoid pine and cedar chips as bedding or litter material.
– Small boxes for bunny to hide in are useful in wire cages to help them feel safe. May increase territorial behaviors (mainly in unspayed females).
Food
– Most important food for a rabbit is hay.
– Rabbits should eat dark-leafy greens daily if possible (all leaf lettuces, dandelion greens, kale, collards, turnip greens).
– Avoid cabbage, broccoli, cauliflower, brussel sprouts, spinach, bread and other high carbohydrate foods.
– Pellets should be plain.
– Good treats in small amounts are slice of apple or banana, sunflower seeds, 2 inch piece of carrot, parsley, cilantro and basil.
Bunny Proofing Your Home
– Cover wires with hard plastic sleeves or flex tubing.
– Use large flex tubing on wooden table or chair legs.
– Cover baseboards with plastic guards or furring strips. Clear packaging tape could also work.
– Most houseplants are toxic to bunnies including poinsettia, holly, tomato leaves, tulips
You can keep your dogs safe by utilizing heartworm medication. Our veterinarian can test your dog for heartworms and help you pick affordable heartworm prevention products that are available at our Animal Hospital.
Heartworm Testing & Prevention Products: Please call 813-870-3304 to make your appointment.
Our Animal Hospital is open Monday through Sunday from 8:30 am to 3:00 pm and is located just north of the shelter at 3809 N. Armenia Avenue.
Heartworm Disease – What Is It and What Causes It?
Heartworm disease is a serious disease that results in severe lung disease, heart failure, other organ damage, and death in pets, mainly dogs, cats, and ferrets. It caused by a parasitic worm. The worms are spread through the bite of a mosquito. The dog is the definitive host, meaning that the worms mature into adults, mate, and produce offspring while living inside a dog. The mosquito is the intermediate host, meaning that the worms live inside a mosquito for a short transition period in order to become ineffective (able to cause heartworm disease). The worms are called “heartworms” because the adults live in the heart, lungs, and associated blood vessels of an infected animal.
The Heartworm Lifecycle in Dogs:
Inside a dog, a heartworm’s lifespan is 5 to 7 years. Adult heartworms look like strands of cooked spaghetti, with males reaching about 4 to 6 inches in length and females reaching about 10 to 12 inches in length. The number of worms living inside an infected dog is called the worm burden.
How is a Dog Tested for Heartworms?
A veterinarian uses blood tests to check a dog for heartworms. An antigen test detects specific heartworm proteins, called antigens, which are released by adult female heartworms into the dog’s bloodstream. In most cases, antigen tests can accurately detect infections with one or more adult female heartworms. The earliest that the heartworm proteins can be detected in a dog’s bloodstream is about 5 months after it is bitten by an infected mosquito. The earliest that microfilaria can be detected in a dog’s bloodstream is about 6 months after it is bitten by an infected mosquito.
When Should a Dog Be Tested for Heartworms?
Dogs 5-6 months of age and older should be tested for heartworms before starting heartworm prevention. A dog may appear healthy on the outside, but on the inside, heartworms may be living and thriving. If a heartworm-positive dog is not tested before starting a preventive, the dog will remain infected with adult heartworms until it gets sick enough to show symptoms.
Is There a Treatment for Heartworm Disease in Dogs?
Melarsomine dihydrochloride (available under the trade names Immiticide and Diroban) is an arsenic-containing drug that is FDA-approved to kill adult heartworms in dogs. It’s given by deep injection into the back muscles to treat dogs with stabilized class 1, 2, and 3 heartworm disease. The treatment for heartworm disease is not easy on the dog or on the owner’s pocket book. Treatment can be potentially toxic to the dog’s body and can cause serious complications, such as life-threatening blood clots to the dog’s lungs. Treatment is expensive because it requires multiple visits to the veterinarian, bloodwork, x-rays, hospitalization, and a series of injections.
One of the largest animal welfare issues is the one that most people aren’t aware of: puppy trafficking. As the popularity of pets, dogs in particular, continues to rise, the illegal business of dog smuggling has seen immense growth all across the world, including the United States, the United Kingdom, Italy, Thailand, Singapore and more.
Animal smuggling is on the rise, and wannabe pet owners, looking for “designer” dogs and young pups of specific breeds, buying dogs from illegal breeders or other unidentified sources, are the reason why this problem has gotten completely out of hand.
Smuggling is the act of either sneaking in goods and merchandise (including animals) from one country into another or falsifying documentation in order to do so. The main motivation for this illegal task is profit. There are often three reasons smuggled goods make money:
1) goods at a lower tax rate are available outside of one’s country
2) the demand for the goods can’t be met within one’s country and so another resource is taken advantage of,
3) the goods are found in another country at a lower cost and then purchased within one’s country by an unwitting consumer.
In order to understand how the business of dog smuggling (or puppy trafficking) works, it’s important to look at determining factors, such as economic structures of border countries and states as well as the policies that make smuggling more or less difficult.
Economics, Politics, and Supply-and-Demand
Smuggling occurs as a way to get around unsavory legislation (often imposing tariffs or border regulation) while further legislation is created to put a stop to smuggling.
It’s difficult to stop a system that works so well, however. When an item is in demand, two parties play key roles and both benefit: the Buyer gets what they want (a coveted item) and the Seller gets what they want (money). And while many associate smuggling with firearms and drugs, there’s another item on the rise: puppies.
Currently, the pet care industry is one of the largest and fastest growing in the world. Americans spend an estimated $1,200 on their pet each year (not including routine veterinary care). The American Pet Products Association estimated that the U.S. spent over 72 billion dollars on pet care products in 2018; that’s a jump from the amount spent during 2017: 69.51 billion. While the desire for having dogs as pets in America is apparent, smuggling of these common household pets is made easier by the economic differences between the United States and its neighbor, Mexico.
The U.S. and Mexico border illustrates a mutually-beneficial, albeit illegal, operation of puppy and dog smuggling. Dogs purchased in Mexico for as little as $50 are transported to the United States where Americans are not only willing but able to pay as much as $1,000 for their new pet. Small dog breeds such as Chihuahuas, Poodles, and French Bulldogs are some of the most sought-after and can fetch a pretty penny.
Sadly, many of these animals come from inhumane conditions and carry life-threatening diseases, such as distemper and parvovirus. These diseases are not only brought into their new country, but typically lead to an early death, causing both heartbreak and costly veterinarian bills for the owner.
This pattern is also seen in the economically successful city-state of Singapore, where animal smugglers risk jail time and penalties in order to illegally export puppies from surrounding, more impoverished communities to find a wealthier market. Many other countries, including Thailand, China and Vietnam, are also dealing with this problem, albeit less successfully than the U.S. In Thailand, in one month alone, it’s not unusual for a single patrol to rescue approx. 800 dogs inhumanely stuffed into wire cages.
As dog smuggling business continues to experience growth due to popularity of pets, the West isn’t unaffected either. Many European countries are aware of this problem but little is done to deal with it effectively or discourage animal smuggles further. The United Kingdom has also seen a steady rise of profitability when it comes to pet accessories, foods, and toys, with the most current statistics showing over 5 billion euros annually. The country has become a telling example for how policy can affect the global rise of dog smuggling.
The U.K. has seen dog smuggling escalate rapidly within the past five years, with a spike occurring during the holiday season of 2017. Puppies as young as four weeks old are illegally trafficked into the country on a regular basis. The date the problem became worse isn’t a direct correlation to the Brexit vote results during the summer of 2016 as much as it is an issue of supply-and-demand and the introduction of The Pet Travel Scheme (PETS) in 2012. Due to this and other related legal loopholes, dog smuggles are now motivated to commit to 30-hour trips from Europe to the U.K. in order to traffic as many young pups into the country as they can.
PETS allows dogs of only 15 weeks of age to travel into Great Britain and Northern Ireland, and it also commits to a more lax stance on vaccinations. And although the decision to leave the European Union isn’t set to greatly affect the United Kingdom until well into 2019, some politicians and citizens alike anticipate complications with both trade policies and border control (especially the 300 mile stretch between Northern Ireland and the Republic of Ireland, which has remained peacefully unprotected for the past 40 years). However, many animal welfare organizations in the U.K. are calling the Brexit referendum an opportunity to reverse PETS. Whether this opportunity will be acknowledged and properly applied is yet to be seen.
However, change to or further regulation is not guaranteed to end illegal puppy transporting. In truth, so long as demand for “designer” breeds exists, illegal activity will find a way to operate and supply this demand. Dog smuggling acts much like any other legal business would: there’s a hierarchy of “employees” who all play specific roles in order to dodge legislation and at the end of a successful work day, there’s a paycheck. And the bill is fitted by ill-educated buyers.
Moreover, the legal system and authorities still do not take puppy trafficking (or animal cruelty) as serious as they should, and the laws in many countries – including the U.K. – are often too lax. Punishment is mild enough for dog smuggles not to be discouraged to profit from this illegal activity. For example, a 54-year old man from Killearn Crescent, Plains was only given a “ban” and a $3,300 fine for mistreatment and trading of many dogs, even though it’s been known to investigators that the man has a long history of animal cruelty.
The Buyers of Smuggled Dogs
A large part as to why dog smuggling works is due to those purchasing a pet that was illegally and often inhumanely transported. Many animal welfare organizations across the globe attempt to educate the community about the importance of knowing their puppy’s seller, but informative pamphlets and blog posts often fall by the way-side as soon as a future-owner sees floppy ears and cute puppy-dog eyes.
As we’ve seen through examples around the world, animal smuggling businesses are apt to commit fraud, creating fake vaccination papers and passports. And it’s because of this that many future pet owners are unaware of their dog’s early life and this is often because they are lied to by dog smugglers.
The internet plays a large part in the dog smuggling business’ success. This platform that’s available 24/7 around the world allows buyers to search through hundreds of photographs of puppies for sale, read short profiles about the canines (which, typically, are also not based on truth) and contact the seller directly to set up a time to meet/buy the dog.
The Sellers That Smuggle Dogs
Sellers may pose themselves as an animal sanctuary or revered breeder and the unsuspecting buyer buys not only the puppy but the charade. Others may choose to sell their smuggled animals to local pet shops, who are either unwitting or don’t care about the seller’s source.
The dog smuggling business relies on the falsification of documents which calls for otherwise trusted individuals to do. Following the example of puppy smuggling issues in the United Kingdom, investigations found that veterinarians in certain countries were willing to alter information concerning the birth and/or vaccination dates if paid to do so.
Once the puppy is considered old enough to travel – usually below the age many would recommend or what is federal law in the U.S. or other countries – and the appropriate documents (although typically falsified) are gathered, the smuggler plans their travel.
Driving is preferred over air travel as security is anything but lax in most international airports. While border check points still exist when driving hundreds, sometimes thousands, of miles with dogs by your side, searches of the vehicle are often random enough to be avoided, especially if the driver doesn’t cause suspicion or can pose as a commuter. Many animal smugglers prepare for a vehicle search, however, often placing the puppies in hidden small, hidden compartments that are hollowed out or designed by the smugglers themselves.
However, in order to do all of this, sellers need a source from which they gain their puppies. And while it’s true that some dog smugglers consider themselves a Renaissance man of sorts – breeding, smuggling, and selling the puppy all by themselves – it’s more often that an additional resource is available to help, making their operation easier and them less liable.
The Main Source in Dog Smuggling
Utilizing a middle man, or “source”, protects the identity of the smuggler as well as keeps their tasks simple: the less time they must spend homing their snuck-in product, the more time they can spend traveling back and forth, keeping the money and operation constantly flowing.
Often, these sources are puppy breeding farms, or puppy mills, which routinely impregnate their female dogs so that their “product” (puppies) can continuously be available.
Sometimes these operations are able to work because they may exist in a country with lesser or no animal welfare regulations. Meaning, inhumane puppy breeding can occur with almost no interruption. These often unhealthy puppies are then picked up by the smuggler who may pose as an adopter and pay for the animals, or may even be in on the operation, splitting their profits with the illegal breeders.
He’Art of Rescue / SWNS
Why Dog Smuggling Is an Animal Welfare Issue
Puppies in particular are in danger of being smuggled, as their size allow for easier hiding. Investigations carried out by organizations like PETA, ASPCA, and DogsTrust (a British organization) have founded that smuggled pups are often inhumanely treated. Just this last September, a San Antonio man tried to smuggle 25 puppies and was caught at a checkpoint in Laredo, Texas. Trafficked puppies were clearly inhumanely treated, all covered in their own feces and urine, and stuffed inside duffel bags like old clothes.
There are many more cases like this.
One investigation found a container of puppies that was plastic wrapped with only a small hole allowing them to breathe while another found severe cases of skin infections imparted by inhumane conditions during transportation. It’s also common for these puppies to be restrained, immobile, and muzzled for as long as the journey between borders takes.
Sadly, the pet industry is not exclusive to canines and it’s a worldwide issue. Often, these animals, reptiles and birds are heavily drugged, uncomfortably contained, denied food, water, or a humane place to waste for hours, sometimes days. It’s not uncommon for smuggled animals to die during the journey.
How You Can Help
Buyers (or future pet adopters) can help break this illegal and harmful system by investigating the source they wish to buy a puppy from. You can ask to meet the puppy’s parents, ask to visit the seller’s home to see the conditions the puppy comes from. Any denial to these simple requests should raise red flags and you may or may not choose to report their information to a local animal rights organization for further investigation.
While policies often do little to stop dog smuggling, one thing that could damper it is a shrunken market. If everyone refused to purchase smuggled animals, and in general do better research into where the puppies are coming from to avoid illegal breeders and puppy mills, animal smugglers would see their business slowly diminish.
To-do list on how to avoid fostering puppy trafficking when getting a dog:
Always ask to see the puppy’s parents together with the pup
Never meet the seller anywhere else other than where the puppy lives
Do not purchase a dog from a place that sells more than one breed
Come to see the pet you want to adopt more than once
Don’t buy pups that look unhealthy, underweight or too young (do report them)
Ensure there’s paperwork for the dog, take it and bring it with you
If there are any red flags, walk away and report the place to local authorities
Bring your new puppy to a veterinarian for a check-up right away
Do not allow to be pressured into purchasing an animal
It’s better to adopt, not shop for a puppy. But if you do prefer to buy a dog of specific breed, make sure to get one only from a reputable breeder that operates legally.
Primarily, you should make plans to spay or neuter your pet because it is in the best interest of your pet. You would, of course, be getting some advantages such as your pet will be cleaner and more well-behaved. In the end it is your pet’s comfort and health that comes first. Here are the reasons you should consider spaying or neutering your pet.
Every Life Counts
If your pet does not have testicles or a uterus then he or she cannot get cancer or tumors in those areas. The chances of contracting various different types of tumors and cancer are much lowered after spaying and neutering. Plus, generally speaking, sexual alteration can prolong a dog’s life by a year or three or even more. It can prolong a cat’s life by as much as three to five years. Not going on heat means that your pet is less likely to do things that could lead to trouble like straying from home or getting into fights with other animals. Spaying and neutering will offer your pet a healthier and longer life.
End Animal Homelessness
It’s a wonderful idea to deeply consider how spaying and neutering can relate to other animals. Several millions of unwanted stray dogs and cats are turned over to shelters every year. Many of these poor animals will never find a loving forever home. Unfortunately, this can often lead to euthanasia. Spaying or neutering will prevent this awful regularity from continuing. The expense tending to unwanted animals can run into the billions. Considering that some shelters rely strictly on charitable donations, this is money not easily come by.
Behavior Improvements
This won’t fix every behavior problem, but lessening a male pet’s testosterone levels may result in him being a little less aggressive. A female who no longer feels compelled to let everyone know that she’s available will not yowl or spray. That disconcerting mounting behavior that is the punchline of many a trite dog joke will not become reality if your dog is altered by age of six months. The vet may be able to operate when your pet is as young as eight weeks, given that your pet is in ideal health.
Do you want to learn more about other very good reasons to spay or neuter your pet? Then please take some time to look over this infographic. Your pet will be glad you did!
Everyone needs sleep — even pets. You might think your pet’s sleep needs are similar to yours (as they may do most of their sleeping when you do), but the fact is animals have unique sleep needs and sometimes need help getting all of the rest they need.
The good news is animals are often flexible sleepers. They can adjust their schedule to sleep when you’re resting, out of the house, or otherwise not likely to engage with them. But even flexible sleepers can struggle to sleep well sometimes, and you can offer help as a pet parent.
How Much Sleep Pets Need
While most adult humans need somewhere in the neighborhood of eight hours of sleep each night, you can count on pets such as cats and dogs needing at least 12 hours of sleep. But it doesn’t necessarily all happen at night.
Dogs often have a sleep schedule similar to human toddlers. They need about 12 to 14 hours of sleep each 24 hour period. However, puppies or elderly dogs, extremely active dogs or large breeds may need more than that. They may consolidate most of their sleep at night during your rest period, then make up the rest of their sleep needs with daytime naps.
Cats are known for their naps, and for a good reason: The average cat sleeps between 12 to 16 hours each day (more for kittens and elderly cats). And with that much sleeping, there’s bound to be plenty of daytime napping. Like dogs, cats may adjust their schedule to yours. But generally, you can expect cats to be most active at dawn and dusk.
How to Help Pets Sleep Well
Pets may not need your help to sleep well. They may be able to rely on natural instincts and manage their own sleep needs. But if you notice your pet sleeping less than usual or acting tired while not getting the rest they need, you might need to intervene.
Offer a healthy diet. Sleep and overall health go hand in hand. Eating junk food or a meal that’s too large before bed can make it tough for pets to get to sleep, so feed them an appropriate amount at a time that’s early enough to give them a couple hours to digest before they should go to sleep for the night.
Make sure they’re active. Wearing your pet out during the day can make for a night of more restful sleep. Offer regular physical activity, stimulation, and attention during the day.
Give them a healthy place to sleep. Like any member of the family, your pet needs a bed where they can rest and feel comfortable. Consider their needs and offer a bed that will help them sleep well at night.
Take care of their needs before you go to sleep. Pets may lie awake at night needing to go out to use the bathroom, hungry for a snack, or just wanting attention. Before you head off to bed, take some time to connect and make sure you’ve met their needs so they can rest without interruption.
As flexible sleepers with natural instincts, you shouldn’t be overly concerned with your pet’s sleep, but too little or too much could indicate a problem that needs addressing. If you’re worried about how much your pet is sleeping, talk to your vet about their sleep patterns and offer support for healthy sleep.
Jackie Kepler is a MattressReviews.net sleep professional. She enjoys sleeping with cats, but sleeps on a king size bed because she needs her space, too.
On February 6, 2019, with the help of Hillsborough County Pet Resource Center 10 Havanese mixes were rescued from a hoarding cruelty case in Temple Terrace and placed in our care. The dogs arrived with matted and tangled fur with caked on feces and smelled strongly of urine. In need of help to get these pups cleaned up we reached out to our community on Facebook for grooming volunteers. We received an amazing response and are incredibly thankful for our community! View their transformations below.
*We will announce on our social media platforms when they are available for adoption.
We received a call that a frail, thin dog was spotted in a field on Hanna Avenue. Our Community Outreach Manager, Darlene Esposito, immediately responded to the situation. Darlene along with two other staff members (Crystal Lufriu, Lead Kennel Attendant & Dana Johnson, Foster Care Coordinator) approached the scene and at first were unable to see or hear the reported dog. They walked back deep into the field and noticed a shed. Upon careful observance, the team began to hear small cries coming from shed. The shed was locked, but Darlene noticed a small hole underneath the shed. She immediately began to make her way under the shed following the whimpering noises. After a few minutes of searching, she found the source of the cries – 8 puppies!
Darlene carefully pulled all 8 puppies from underneath the shed with the help of Crystal and Dana. The puppies were immediately brought to our medical suite and assessed. All puppies appear to be in good condition and are approximately 14 days old, but this is not the end of this rescue tale…
We needed to rescue their mother. Darlene returned to the field that night and after making a careful assessment of the situation she decided to set a trap and was able to successfully retrieve her in the morning. The mother to these pups was malnourished and in need of care. Our team reunited the mother with her puppies and began giving her the medical attention she needed.
Mom has been named Winter and her puppies are named – Wanda, Wilbur, Whoopi, Waldo, Wren, Willa, Wade, and Winnie. All dogs are doing well! We are currently working back with our foster database coordinating a home for all 9 dogs so that mom and babies can stay together.
New Year’s Eve, Independence Day, and other holidays are exciting events for us humans, but some pets are severely distressed by the noise of fireworks. Remember, dogs’ and cats’ hearing is much more sensitive than ours so those loud booms can be extremely uncomfortable! Here are some tips for keeping your pets safe and calm during the holiday festivities.
First and foremost, it’s important to know how to approach or interact with your pet if they are frightened. Your Dog Advisorstresses the importance of speaking in a calm voice and having non-threatening body posture when interacting with an anxious or frightened pet. You must go at your pet’s pace, as forcing a fearful dog or cat to do something will only make matters worse. If you try to touch or engage your pet before they are ready, it will only cause them more anxiety and fear. Make sure your body language is completely non-threatening. Your pet is already scared, so you don’t want to frighten them even more! Appear relaxed, approach them from an angle instead of head-on, and speak in a soft voice to let your pet know you are trustworthy.
Keep all pets safely confined indoors on the holidays and the days leading up to them when people may be inclined to set off fireworks. There are many family and group activities that are perfect for pets, but a public fireworks display or any other type of gathering where fireworks will be set off usually isn’t one of them.
It’s best to leave your pets safely indoors, preferably with a radio or TV on at normal volume (too loud makes things worse) to dampen jarring noises. Pets usually kept outdoors should be brought inside as an extra measure of safety.
Never leave your pet in a parked car, even at night during a fireworks display. On a warm day, temperatures inside a vehicle can rise to dangerous levels within minutes. On an 85 degree day, for example, the temperature inside a car even with the windows cracked open can reach 102 degrees within just 10 minutes; after 30 minutes the temperature will reach 120 degrees. Even when the temperature outside is a balmy 72 degrees, the temperature inside your car can rocket to a fatal 116 degrees in less than an hour’s time.
Consult our animal hospital or your veterinarian if your pet is distressed by loud noises like fireworks displays. There are a variety of medications and techniques to help alleviate your pet’s fear and anxiety.
Invest in a Thundershirt. Our shelter has had great success with Thundershirts for our pets who are easily stressed by loud noises and other causes of anxiety. Visit the Thundershirts website to find out more about these great tools.
Ensure your pet is wearing a collar and identification tag with current contact information so you can be reunited quickly if your pet does escape. We also suggest writing your name and phone number in permanent ink on the inside of your pet’s collar, just in case the tags get lost. All pets, even those kept indoors full-time, should wear collars with identification tags at all times. Indoor-only animals can become so frightened during fireworks displays that they take desperate measures to escape the noise, such as breaking through window or door screens.
Microchip your pet with your current contact information registered with the chip company. This gives your pet the best chance of being identified and returned to you. Our animal hospital offers microchipping for just $30.
If your pet does become lost, visit our Lost and Found Pets page for tips on what to do.
Summer is here and with the warm breezes, sparkling seas, and colorful blooms comes a whole host of critters that can harm your pets! Here in Florida, we deal with pests all year long, but even more so in the hot, steamy months when they thrive. It is more important than ever to protect your pet from bites, irritations, and diseases that these tiny troops can cause. Our animal hospital is stocked with the necessary medications to keep your pets safe, all at affordable costs!
FLEAS
Fleas are the most common external parasites found on pets
Fleas bite the skin and feed on blood
Fleas can jump up to 2 feet
Fleas can live as long as 12 months
Fleas can produce millions of offspring during their lifetime
Many pets are allergic to fleas and their bites cause dermatitis
Fleas can also cause itching, hair loss and hot spots
Fleas can transmit tapeworms to pets
TICKS
Ticks are in the arachnid family and feed on blood
Ticks bury their heads in their hosts skin and gorge on blood
Ticks tend to live in tall brush and grass
Ticks can cause
blood loss
anemia
tick paralysis
skin irritation and infection
Lyme disease (can be fatal if left untreated)
Cytauxzoonosis (fatal, no known cure)
MOSQUITOES
Mosquitoes are the most problematic parasite because they carry deadly Heartworms
Heartworm larvae are transmitted from mosquitoes to pets
The larvae travel through the blood to the heart, lungs and blood vessels
The larvae grow into spaghetti-like Heartworms
Heartworms can grow up to 12 inches long
Heartworms clog organs and obstruct blood flow leading to trouble breathing and possible cardiac arrest
Heartworms can be fatal if left untreated
PREVENTION
Monthly topical or oral medications are available that kill and/or sterilize fleas, ticks, and mosquitoes when they bite your animal. While these flea/tick preventions are available at supermarkets, Walmarts, and the like, we highly recommend getting them from a licensed veterinarian. Heartworm prevention is only available with a prescription and requires bloodwork every 6 – 12 months. Whichever product you choose, it is very important not to use products on your cat that are intended for dogs. Cats who have been poisoned by taking flea/tick/heartworm medicine for dogs are a regular occurrence at our animal hospital and many of them do not survive.
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