Dan's Papers - April 24, 2009

It's official. The hot summer weather is on its way and it's bringing a couple of friends to rent space on your dog. I have started my own personal war against ticks. They have NO redeeming qualities and must be stopped! The most important point to get across to you is that tick prevention medicine does not prevent ticks from landing on and camping out on your dog. But it will kill the ticks and fleas within 18-24 hours of their coming into contact with your pets. There are too many types of flea and tick medications to mention. However, I will say that Frontline has always been my favorite. It is absorbed into the oil glands and not the bloodstream. Easy to apply, Frontline is also waterproof and appears to be quite safe, as it's also used on puppies. Talk to your vet to determine which product is best suited for your dog.

Check for ticks as often as possible especially after an exposure to wooded areas. You can actually teach your dog that the tick check is part of the ritual of taking a walk. Run your finger through your dog's coat and feel for anything that just doesn't belong there. Another good way to get a visual of your dog's skin is to use a hair blower set on cool or low and blow the coat into parts, exposing the skin. If you find a tick embedded in your dog's skin, proper removal is very important. If you're not sure, let a vet or vet tech assist you. Do research online or get printed info to identify the tick and the diseases it may carry. If you notice your dog exhibiting lethargic behavior, having difficulty walking and jumping, limping or suspect Lyme's or other tick-associated diseases, consult your veterinarian immediately, as early detection is really important.

Heartworm is another summer threat that is contracted from mosquitoes. And unlike diseases contracted from ticks and fleas, oral medication is used to prevent it. The good news is a simple blood test can detect heartworm disease and seasonal or year-round preventatives are available.

What are hot spots? Somehow that sounds more like a popular club or a place to use wireless Internet. What a hot spot really means to your dog is the agony of summer sores or moist eczema that can become extremely inflamed and infected in a period of 24 hours. Any irritated or broken skin with a little moisture from damp grass, swimming or even bathing can create the perfect environment for a hot spot. Fortunately, if treated early enough, hot spots can be relieved with the use of topical and oral antibiotics. If left untreated, a simple sore or hot spot may become your dog's entertainment as he can become compulsive about licking it. Then the untreated infected area, coupled with relentless licking, will create thickened scar tissue and chronic infection reaching down to the deeper layers of skin. Known as lick granuloma, this will then require more aggressive treatment.

If your dog does not have healthy skin or coat, feeding them a higher performance diet will help to improve dry irritated skin and chronic itching and help reduce the risk of hot spots. Look for foods that list chicken, lamb, poultry, beef or fish as the first ingredient. If the first ingredient listed is corn, keep looking. Ask your vet about supplements that contain omega fatty acids.

Many families choose to shave their heavy coated and longhaired dogs during the summer months. Though the look is not exactly desirable, shaving or giving your dog a "puppy cut" can really help to easily detect and ward off most of your dog's summertime assailants.