Banfield offers spring safety tips for Pet owners

Spring – the season when many Pet owners spend more time outdoors with their Pets – has arrived. No worries, Pet owners! Here are a few tips from Banfield veterinarians for ways to keep Pets healthy and happy as the warm weather arrives.

Protecting Pets against pests

• Use Flea Preventives – Fleas bite and reproduce at a high rate, especially in warm weather. The use of a veterinary-recommended, topical flea control product kills feeding adult fleas and helps stop the population explosion. To find out more, check out the following news clip where Ken Pawlowski , DVM administers FirstShield ™Trio on his dog Fozzie.

• Watch out for ticks – Before attachment, ticks are very small and can hide easily on furry Pets. They can also carry Lyme disease. Pets can pick up ticks just by walking through tall grass, pastures or wooded areas – especially those frequented by wildlife. Protect your Pet with a product that is labeled to be effective against ticks and carefully inspect your Pet from nose to tail after spending time outdoors.

• Avoid heartworm – Pets can become infected with heartworm disease as a result of just one mosquito bite. Heartworm disease can be fatal to both dogs and cats, so contact your Banfield veterinarian about heartworm testing and an appropriate preventive medication.

• Treat bug bites and bee stings – Insect bites and bee stings are potentially dangerous, especially if your Pet is stung near the mouth or on the throat. This may cause serious swelling that can restrict breathing. If possible, remove the stinger and apply a cold compress to the skin’s surface to help stop swelling and relieve pain. Contact your Banfield veterinarian immediately if your Pet is stung in the mouth or throat, stung multiple times or if he/she seems to be listless or having trouble breathing.

Don’t forget to bring your Pet to your local Banfield veterinarian for an examination if you have any questions about the health of your Pet.