Please remember to give your pet heartworm preventatives.  Prevention of heartworm disease is simple. In most cases, a once-a month prescription tablet or topical treatment is all that is needed to effectively protect your pet. 

These products include milbemycin oxime (Interceptor Flavor Tabs® and Sentinel Flavor Tabs®), ivermectin (Heartgard® for Dogs), moxidectin (ProHeart®) and topical selamectin (Revolution®). Recently, an every 6 month injection of moxidectin (ProHeart6®) has become available. There is also a once-daily preventative diethylcarbamazine tablets (Filarabits®), but you should speak to your veterinarian about the advisability of a daily vs. a once-monthly prevention vs. a once every 6 month injection.

These preventatives are only available from your veterinarian, who must first make certain that your dog is not heartworm positive. These "preventatives" kill microscopic larvae that are left behind by mosquitoes when they bite a dog. Before beginning heartworm prevention, any dog over 7 months of age should first have a heartworm test. Preventatives in heartworm positive dogs can cause severe reactions. Repeated heartworm blood testing every 1 to 3 years is recommended even for dogs taking heartworm preventative. Please help your furry friend to lead a healthy and heartworm free life.

Healthy Pets are Happy Pets!!  

Please help them to be free of fleas, ticks and mosquito bites

Common preventative recommended by veterinarians: Frontline, Advantage, Advanticks, Sentinel, Revolution 

How it works:  Usually apply below the neckline and between the shoulder blades, why?…

The active ingredients can dissolve into the natural oils of the skin  (coat) of your furry friend.  From there, it spreads over your pet’s entire body.  The medication will provide protection for approximately 1 month and because it has been absorbed into the body, it won’t get rinsed off even if you bathe your pet. 

FLEAS -  Possible signs to look for if they are on or have bitten your pet:

-Excessive scratching:  May cause allergy -Flea Allergy Dermatitis (FAD) - When a flea bites your dog or cat, it deposits a small amount of saliva in the skin. Your pet can develop a reaction to this saliva, which causes severe itching. In addition to your pet scratching or biting excessively around the tail, groin or backside, scabs or bumps may also appear on your pet's neck or back.

-Anemia:  this can occur in young, older or ill pets if too many fleas suck their blood. The symptoms of anemia include pale gums, weakness and lethargy in your pet. 

TICK -  Possible ailment: 

 -Lyme Disease:  a bacterial infection that infects both people and dogs, Lyme disease is usually carried by the Deer tick. Symptoms include lameness, fever, loss of appetite, fatigue and an abnormal enlargement of the lymph nodes. Lyme disease is often treatable with antibiotics. 

-Babesiosis: acute symptoms may include fever, loss of appetite, and general deterioration. Shock, coma or death after less than a day of lethargy may also occur, especially in puppies 4 -12 weeks old. The infection responds to a variety of treatments if caught early, although blood transfusion may be necessary in later stages of the disease.

 -Ehrlichiosis: an infectious blood disease that attacks your pet's white blood cells, crippling the immune system. Symptoms include fever, depression, weight loss, and loss of appetite. Treatable with antibiotics. 

-Rocky Mountain Spotted Fever: often transmitted by the American dog tick. Symptoms include fever, loss of appetite, coughing, lameness, depression, vomiting and diarrhea. If untreated it can result in the more acute symptoms or even death. 

-Cytauxzoonosis:  an acute, usually fatal disease in cats. Symptoms include loss of appetite and depression, followed by one to three days of fever. Death may follow in another one to three days.

If you believe that your pet is suffering from any of the above ailments, 

consult your veterinarian immediately. 

MOSQUITOES - Mosquitoes are widely distributed in the United States and can be a year-round concern especially in the southern United states where temperatures and humidity remain high over many months of the year. Mosquitoes are the most common vector of diseases, spreading viruses, protozoa, and helminths to people and animals. Not only do mosquitoes spread disease such as West Nile virus, and heart worms, they are also annoying pests. 

Help your pet to be happy and healthy, please remember to use flea, 

tick, and mosquito preventatives.