If you have an outdoor pet you’re familiar with all the nasty things they can get into.

And with summer just around the corner, pet owners are on high alert.

Warm weather means mosquitoes, which can transmit heartworm to your pet by biting them and laying eggs.

Starting right now, pets can begin treatment to prevent them from contracting heartworm. A variety of products are available through your veterinarian, but not all products are the same and one that is OK for dogs might not be for cats, says Lisa Samotowka, a registered veterinarian technician.

“Cats and dogs are not the same creatures.”

Many heartworm medications are only available over the counter at an animal clinic so a veterinarian can tell the pet owner the specifics about the medication, she said.

If a pet is exposed to heartworm they may not show symptoms for about nine months, the incubation period for the ova. Treatment cannot begin before the nine months.
Once the pet begins treatment, if it is continued diligently, they won’t necessarily need to be checked for heartworm again the next year. The treatment can just be continued through the summer months to prevent another transmission.

Pets can also get into other things that are a bit trickier.

Ticks can latch onto an animal if they spend a lot of time in tall grass and wooded areas. But just because you live in an urban area it doesn’t mean your pet is safe from ticks, said Samotowka.

“Ticks are in many environments.”

If an owner finds a tick on their pet, their veterinarian can remove the tick. After the removal, however, the tick should be sent to the department of natural resources for examination and to test for Lime’s disease, said Samotowka.

An animal that likes to hunt can also develop a tapeworm by eating infected raw meat from mice and birds. Tapeworms are also treatable and preventable through medication.
The best thing to do is bring your animal to a clinic for regular check-ups so a veterinarian can build a profile of the animal and base treatments on their specific needs and lifestyle, said Samotowka.

This will keep your pet healthy, happy and free of problems.