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Insects and your pet
How
do pets gets fleas?
Fleas are common everywhere in the environment. They are particularly
active in warm, humid areas. Your pet can get fleas during any season,
but they are most susceptible to them during spring and summer when
it is warm and humid. Your pet can get fleas from the grass outside,
from other animals, or from fleas preexisting in the house. Fleas
can take a ride on your pant leg or shoe into the house.
How do I control fleas?
We recommend that you treat with either Advantage or Frontline.
We find these to be the most successful in killing fleas and they
are nontoxic to you and your pet. Also in order to kill fleas the
flea merely has to land on your pet and not bite your pet. This
is beneficial to those cats and dogs that are allergic to fleabites.
Does brewers yeast prevent or kill fleas?
No. In fact fleas are shipped to manufacturers of pet products and
to universities for studies packed in brewers yeast. It is totally
safe for fleas and will not kill them.
Do dogs and cats get ticks?
Yes. They are susceptible to ticks. Ticks most commonly are found
in tall grass and wooded areas.
Can cats and dogs get Lyme disease?
That is a difficult question to answer. Some researchers feel that
they can get Lyme disease and others disagree. Many people and animals
have antibody titers against the Lyme disease organism, but not
necessarily have the disease. An antibody titer merely suggests
exposure to the disease at some point in time. Lyme disease in Oregon
occurs at a very low incidence. At this time we do not recommend
vaccinating your pet against Lyme disease.
I'm pregnant and own a cat. Can my cat
make me sick?
There is a disease in cats called toxoplasmosis. Toxoplasmosis can
cause birth defects in the baby if the mother is exposed during
early pregnancy. This does not mean that you have to give up your
cat. Toxoplasmosis is transmitted by eggs in cat feces or more likely
by ingesting or handling undercooked or raw meat. Most people have
an antibody titer against this disease, but it is advisable that
pregnant women consult their doctor for a blood test. Also it is
advisable that someone else cleans the cat's litter box during your
pregnancy
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What does a tick look like and how can I remove it from my dog?
Most ticks look like small, black dots on the skin. When they have
been feeding they become bloated and swollen and look more grayish
or tan in color. Removing a tick can be a tricky proposition and is
not really too difficult. The head of the tick burrows into the skin
in order to feed. When removing the tick, it is important to remove
the entire tick, head included. Some have recommended burning the
tick with a hot match or pouring alcohol on the tick. Neither of these
methods are effective and can be harmful to your pet. The best method
is to use a pair of tweezers, grasp the tick as close to the skin
as possible, and gently pull. If you have any questions or problems
please consult with your veterinarian.
My dog never leaves our backyard. Can
he still get heartworm disease?
Yes. Mosquitoes spread heartworm disease. A mosquito bites an infected
dog, picks of up the heartworm parasite, then bites your dog and transmits
the disease to your dog. Mosquitoes don't have the same boundaries
as your dog so even a dog that never leaves the yard needs protection
from heartworm disease. Why does my dog need a heartworm test if he
is on preventative all year long? It's always possible that someone
can forget a treatment; your dog could spit out the treatment, or
vomit the treatment. The heartworm test is an assurance that your
pet continues to be in good health. For dogs that are on preventative
all year long we recommend testing every other year.
My child has head lice. Did he get it
from our pet? No. Lice are species specific. That is
dog lice only live on dogs, cat lice only live on cats, etc. Most
likely your child acquired head lice from other children in school.
There is, however, a mite that can be contagious to people from dogs
and cats. Cheyletiella in animals causing itching, dry scaling skin
along the back, and hair loss. Cheyletiella in people causes a rash
on the arms, the trunk, and the buttocks. Usually with treatment your
pet's infection will resolve and any human infection will also subside.
Your veterinarian can examine your pet to look for the mite. Consult
your physician if you have a rash.
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