Dr Lebeau and Wilson
The return of mild temperatures revives the irresistible desire in our dogs and cats to go exploring in the yard or venturing out into the woods. With the enjoyment of these happy times come a few unpleasant possibilities.
Seasonal allergies are common in our companion animals. The symptoms present themselves as itchiness, redness of the skin or scabs. Some pets also develop ear infections. Treatments and medications may help to ease the symptoms.
April ushers in the season for ticks, parasites that have become more and more common in the tall grasses of the Montérégie. Ticks will attach firmly to the skin of the pet for days at a time and are sometimes mistaken for cysts or skin tags. Unfortunately, they can also transmit Lyme disease. There are excellent preventive medications available for dogs to avoid this unfortunate illness.
Spring is also the season to consider vaccinating dogs against Leptospirosis. This illness is transmitted by the ingestion of urine of certain wild animals (small rodents, skunks, raccoons), which may be found in standing water, streams, and puddles. Once ingested, the bacteria accumulates in the kidneys or in the liver and is considered very serious, even deadly. The disease is also transmissible to humans. By vaccinating in the spring, we improve immunity against the disease in the fall when heavy rainstorms help to disseminate the bacteria in the environment.
In May our attention turns to the prevention of intestinal parasites and fleas, quickly followed in June by the prevention of heartworm, a disease transmitted by mosquitos. The needs of each patient are evaluated by the veterinarian and the appropriate preventive treatment is prescribed. A diagnostic test for heartworm disease is recommended annually starting April 15.
Finally, if your precious companion is not yet sterilised, his or her desperate need to escape and roam may convince you that it is time to curb these hormonal desires. This realisation came to me this spring with my own dog Wilson who is 8 months old. The call of nature is stronger than the master’s who then must search for him all over the neighbourhood! At least Wilson is well identified, with a medallion on his collar and a microchip. Wilson was sterilised early April…