Racine & Me: Preventative pet care with Wisconsin Humane Society
RACINE, Wis. (CBS 58) -- Jenna Crawford of the Racine Campus of the Wisconsin Humane Society joined us in studio with important information about preventative pet care.
Heartworm Prevention Heartworm is a serious and potentially fatal disease in pets, so prevention is important year-round. Mosquitoes play a large role in the transfer of heartworm – and with milder weather coming soon, the Wisconsin Humane Society to remind people that now is the time to take action. Signs of heartworm include a mild persistent cough, fatigue, decreased appetite, and weight loss. More serious symptoms include a swollen belly, heart failure, liver failure, or kidney failure. Your pet should be tested for heartworm annually, even if they’re on a preventative medication. The earlier it’s detected the better the chances for recovery. Treatment success rates are fairly high, but treatment is lengthy and expensive, and prevention is much safer and more affordable.
You can find more information on our website wihumane.org. Flea and Tick Prevention While flea and tick prevention for your pets is recommended year-round, now is a great time to make sure you are prepared for summer. Fleas and ticks come out in full force this time of year and can cause a wide variety of problems pets. These issues range from skin irritation to allergic reactions, up to serious illnesses such as Lyme disease. Lyme Disease is a debilitating illness that is transmitted by deer ticks. These ticks live on deer and mice and tend to be found in wooded areas. Both humans and companion animals can suffer from Lyme Disease. Symptoms in animals can include loss of appetite, lameness, listlessness, swollen glands or joints, and fever. Long-term effects of Lyme’s disease in animals include problems with the heart, liver, kidney, nervous system and eyes.
Prevention is key to avoiding these problems. Check with your vet to see if your pet is up to date with its flea and tick preventatives. These treatments can be administered topically, orally, or a combination of both, usually every month. It’s a simple way to protect your pet and keep their health on the right track. For more information you can check out our website at www.wihumane.org.