Your Guide to Spring Dog Health Tips!

Important considerations for your dog’s health as we enter the Spring season.

As pet parents, we only want the best for our fur kids, and with the weather warming, there are a number of things to consider that will help to keep your pet thriving and healthy. 

Ticks & Tick-Borne Diseases

As the weather begins to warm, and we begin to venture outside, it's important to be aware of some of the ticks and tick-borne diseases and how to protect your beloved four-legged fur kid.

New Jersey is a host to many ticks, but there are three main tick species that are known for transmitting diseases to both people and animals:

1. Deer (Blacklegged) Ticks

2. Lone Star Ticks

3. American Dog Ticks

Ticks

The Deer Tick can transmit Lyme disease, anaplasmosis, babesiosis, amongst other viruses. They are small, black-legged, and have a black/dark brown body. Females may appear red/orange in color. They become active in the spring, and are predominant in wooded, humid, and suburban areas.

The Lone Star Tick can transmit ehrlichiosis, tularemia, and Southern tick-associated rash illness (STARI). The female Lone Star Ticks have a white dot in their center.

The American Dog Tick can spread Rocky Mountain spotted fever and tularemia. They are usually bigger than the deer tick, and have white or yellow marks on their backs.

Tick-Borne Diseases

Lyme disease can affect both dogs and people. In our canine companions suffering from active Lyme disease can cause shifting-leg lameness, fever, joint pain, and fatigue. Sometimes infected dogs do not show any symptoms, but in severe cases, it can result in fatal kidney disease. Lyme disease testing is generally done routinely at your pet’s wellness exam through our Primary Care service. If your pet is positive for Lyme disease, we may elect to treat them with antibiotics and institute tick control. If you live in a heavily wooded area, an area where ticks are prevalent, or you and your pet go out in nature, you may consider the Lyme vaccine to help provide further protection against Lyme disease.

Anaplasmosis commonly presents with fever, lethargy, a loss of appetite, and/or joint pain or lameness. As with Lyme disease, Anaplasmosis testing is generally done routinely at your pet’s wellness exam through our Primary Care service, and if your pet is positive for Anaplasmosis, we may elect to treat them with antibiotics and institute tick control. 

Ehrlichiosis can present with fever, lethargy, decreased appetite, and can even result in abnormal bleeding. As with Lyme disease and Anaplasmosis, Ehrlichiosis testing is generally done routinely at your pet’s wellness exam through our Primary Care service, and if your pet is positive for Ehrlichiosis, we may elect to treat them with antibiotics and institute tick control. 

Flea & Tick Prevention

While ticks are on the rise in the Spring, so are fleas. With more exposure to the environment, dog parks, other pets, etc. fleas, a common ectoparasite that can be very challenging to eradicate, it is important we protect our dogs appropriately.

Absecon Veterinary Hospital is proud to partner with Merck Animal Health to offer Bravecto topical and chewable, as well as Bravecto Quantum. Bravecto topical and chewables provide coverage for 3-months. There are also options for puppies that provide monthly coverage as they grow and their weight changes. 

Bravecto Quantum is an injectable flea and tick preventative that provides coverage for 12-months, the first injection of its kind. It has gone through rigorous testing and has been praised for its breakthrough solution to flea and tick prevention, especially for busy pet parents where remembering to give a tablet every month or every 3 months is difficult to do. 

Bravecto is also available for our feline companions, and provides broad coverage for fleas and ticks for 2-months, and treats roundworms and hookworms. 

If you need to fill flea and tick preventatives, you can visit our online pharmacy to place an order from a trusted and reliable supplier, and have it delivered right to your doorstep.

Heartworm Disease

Another potentially life-threatening parasite that can affect both our canine and feline pets is heartworm disease. This disease is passed through a mosquito bite, where the microfilaria enter the bloodstream, eventually making it to the heart, where after about 6 months, they mature and can create blockages, and cause other heart and lung issues.

This disease can be highly detrimental to their health, impacts their quality of life, and can be costly and painful to treat. 

Heartworm prevention should be provided year round, as there are warmer days in the winter where mosquitos can still be active. Prior to administering heartworm treatment, your veterinary team will recommend heartworm antigen testing. This will let us know if your pet is actively infected with heartworm, which is important to know before administering preventatives. Heartworm testing can be done through the Primary Care service during routine annual lab testing. 

Heartworm Prevention

There are a couple of options for pet parents when it comes to heartworm prevention. For our canine companions, we at Absecon Veterinary Hospital, recommend Sentinel Spectrum. This is a once monthly tablet given by mouth. Not only does Sentinel Spectrum prevent heartworm disease, but it protects against 6 different types of parasites, including tapeworms. It also stops flea eggs from hatching, providing extra protection against flea infestations.  

If giving a tablet monthly is difficult to remember, or your pet struggles with oral medications, we also carry ProHeart 12. This is an injection that provides 12-months of protection against heartworm disease.

Exercise Safety

Just like us, our pets may have spent their winter in hibernation mode, and are now ready to take on the warmer weather! In general, we tend to see an increase in musculoskeletal injuries and lameness during this timeframe. It's important to slowly incorporate more movement, and build healthy muscle and stamina in our pets before diving right into heavier exercise and activity. 

We also advise clients to keep in mind what type of activity is the best fit for their dog’s breed. Heavy activity that results in heavy or increased panting can be dangerous for short snouted pets like French and English Bulldogs.

It is recommended to avoid the hottest parts of the day to prevent overheating, and to check paw pads after exercise for any possible injuries, burrs, sores and ticks.

It is also important to keep your pet leashed when exercising. There are great leash options for runners and when active that function as hands free. Take the time to find the best fit for you and your fur kid.

Bring plenty of extra water on outings. You might consider carrying a collapsable dog bowl or a portable dog water bottle to make drink breaks more accessible. 

Be sure to build in warm up and cool down time, and if out on a run or walk, it's best for your dog’s feet to run on dirt or grass. Pavement can be rough and very hot on paw pads causing injuries. 

You can also perform a tick check on your pet after activity outdoors. This video from Elanco Animal Health shows an easy Two Minute Tick Check you can do at home! 

If you have any further questions about exercising with your dog, you can always discuss with your veterinary team. 

Seasonal Allergies

Not only people get impacted by the changing season and seasonal allergies. While dogs tend to have some differing symptoms, they can be just as debilitating and uncomfortable.

Signs your pet might be suffering from seasonal allergies include:

• Scratching and/or biting their skin and coat

• Licking the paws

• Scooting their bottom or licking their anal glands

• Red, inflammed, or infected skin

• Ear infections or red, irritated ears

• Some dogs may even show breathing changes, coughing, or wheezing

  • If your pet is experiencing any respiratory changes, we recommend your pet be seen by a veterinarian as soon as possible to ensure they are not experiencing a life-threatening issue.

Some pets’ seasonal allergies can be managed with allergy medications over-the-counter and your veterinarian may recommend these medications. Always discuss an appropriate dose with your veterinarian, as dosing between people and pets can be different. 

Some pets require more targeted treatments, like medicated baths, anti-itch sprays, creams, or mousses, fatty acid supplementation, wiping off paws after coming inside with unscented wipes. 

There are medications available that help with significant allergies. These include Cytopoint (an injection that lasts between 4-8 weeks), Apoquel, and a new medication from Merck Animal Health, Numelvi. These medications have proven to be game changers for pet parents and their pets who suffer with these allergies. 

If you are concerned your pet is suffering with allergies, you can schedule a consultation through our Primary Care service for a Telemedicine visit or in-person visit (if the case is severe). 

While there is a lot to keep in mind for the changing of seasons to ensure our pets are healthy and thriving, these key concerns are some of the most important to keep in mind. If you have any questions, feel free to reach out to our team at 609-646-7013 or submit your question to our team below!