Universal Press Syndicate
Fleas, ticks and mosquitoes can make our pets itch and scratch. But did you know that each one of these pests can transmit serious diseases to your pets -- and to you as well?
In a pet with flea allergy dermatitis (FAD), even one flea bite can cause a cascading reaction of itching, irritation and secondary bacterial infection. Far from being a rare overreaction to fleas, FAD is the most common allergic skin disorder in pets. And allergic or not, all pets can be infected with tapeworm from the bite of a flea. Fleas can also bite humans, and a few fleas can lead to a complete infestation of your carpets, bedding, upholstery and yard.
Once it's in full bloom, a flea infestation can be extremely difficult to eradicate.
And what about mosquitoes? These pests make people itch, but their risk to pets goes far beyond discomfort. Mosquitoes can transmit heartworms, a parasite that's a serious problem in dogs and increasingly in cats (even indoor cats). Many cases of feline asthma and bronchitis are now thought to be caused by heartworm infection. Heartworm disease can be debilitating, lengthy, difficult and expensive to treat, but it's easy to prevent with medication from your veterinarian. More information on canine and feline heartworm disease can be found at www.heartwormsociety.org.
Probably the most dangerous of all the pests that afflict our pets is the tick. Ticks can spread Lyme disease, ehrlichiosis, Rocky Mountain spotted fever and babesiosis. These immune-system disorders can be hard to diagnose and difficult to treat. Because their symptoms can mimic so many other diseases, they are often not detected until well-advanced, at which time it can be too late.
Symptoms of tick-borne diseases include fevers, lameness that can shift from limb to limb, difficulty breathing, lethargy, and not eating. Ticks can be as tiny as the period at the end of this sentence, so relying on combing or hand-searching to control ticks is not effective. Worse, removing them by hand can increase the likelihood they'll transmit disease to your pets.
Even if your dog has been vaccinated against canine Lyme disease, don't let up on the tick-prevention effort. There are no vaccines for any of the other, even more dangerous tick diseases. Many ticks carry multiple diseases and can transmit more than one at the time they bite your dog.
The SNAP 4Dx test is an in-office test your veterinarian can give to your dog to detect canine heartworm disease, Lyme disease, and two tick-borne diseases: ehrlichiosis canis and anaplasmosis (formerly known as ehrlichiosis equi). This test is a valuable tool in detecting diseases that, left untreated, can cause life-threatening illness in dogs. The test is available to veterinarians through IDEXX Laboratories.
Given the seriousness of the diseases spread by ticks, fleas and mosquitoes, there's no question that prevention is the best course. In the past, pet owners had to rely on messy, time-consuming and non-environmentally friendly dips, bombs and sprays. Those days are gone with the introduction of topical preventives that repel and kill fleas, ticks and mosquitoes. Some even control internal parasites and ear mites.
Diseases carried by parasites vary from region to region, although in today's increasingly mobile society that's less true. Talk to your veterinarian about the problems in your area and about the products that can protect your pet.
SIDEBAR
Two new pest-control products for spring
Two new preventives have come on the market this bug season. One is Bayer's Advantage Multi, a prescription topical preventive that comes in both canine and feline formulas. Unlike other topicals, it prevents heartworm as well as a number of intestinal parasites (also ear mites in cats). It does not, however, prevent or repel ticks. You can find out more at www.animalhealth.bayerhealthcare.com.
Sergeant's Pet Products has also come out with a new product, Sergeant's Gold Flea and Tick Squeeze-On for Dogs. It contains both a flea- and tick-killer and an insect-growth regulator, which kills flea eggs and larvae. It's available at retailers. More information is available at www.sergeants.com.
Remember: Knowing which product is right for your pet and the pests in your area is something for you and your veterinarian to discuss. Most pest-prevention products cannot be used together, and many cannot be used on, or even around, cats. Be sure to ask your veterinarian about a pest-protection program for your pet. -- Gina Spadafori
Q&A
Pets, planes and airport security
Q: Regarding your recent column on flying with pets, will you let readers know about the risk of losing a pet in the airport?
Most people don't realize that if they take a pet as carry-on baggage, they'll have to take the pet out of the carrier and hold the animal while the carrier itself goes through screening. I found this out the hard way with a cat who hates to be held!
Everyone who takes a pet aboard a plane as carry-on luggage should have a harness and leash in place to avoid having the animal take off running through the airport. -- J.P., via e-mail
A: You're absolutely right. While a small dog having a bit of a freak-out at the airport can probably be held firmly and without too much difficulty, a cat in full flight-or-fight mode can really create a dangerous scene. That's why your suggestion is important: Make sure any pet -- but especially a cat -- is equipped with a harness and leash before removing the animal from the carrier at the airport screening station.
I've flown with pets as carry-on a few times and have put larger pets in cargo a few times more -- never (knock on wood) with any problems whatsoever. I've always found airline staff to be caring, helpful and understanding of the needs and worries of pet lovers.
One myth about flying with pets that just won't go away is the assumption that pets need to be routinely tranquilized for flights. Not only is this not true, but it's also dangerous. Tranquilizing limits the ability of their bodies to function normally, and they need all that ability to cope with the stress of flight.
The default mode for pet air travel should be no tranquilizers, although there are exceptions, so a pre-flight talk with the veterinarian is a must. (You'll need to be there for a pre-flight health certificate anyway.)
Maybe we think pets should be tranquilized because we wish we were? It sure would make the flights seem faster for us, wouldn't it?
Talking to the airline for pet reservations and conditions is a must, as is checking en route for any pets traveling in cargo holds. With all precautions in place, air travel with pets should go smoothly -- and it usually does. -- Gina Spadafori
(Do you have a pet question? Send it to petconnection@gmail.com.)
ABOUT PET CONNECTION
Pet Connection is produced by a team of pet-care experts headed by "Good Morning America" veterinarian Dr. Marty Becker and award-winning journalist Gina Spadafori. The two are also the authors of several best-selling pet-care books.
On PetConnection.com there's more information on pets and their care, reviews of products, books and "dog cars," and a weekly drawing for pet-care prizes. Contact Pet Connection in care of this newspaper by sending e-mail to petconnection@gmail.com or visiting PetConnection.com.
ON GOOD BEHAVIOR
Make nail trims feline-friendly
Want to avoid a tussle when it comes to trimming the claws on your cat? Don't trim them until you can massage your cat's paws gently during lap time. As you massage a paw with one hand, offer an irresistible treat in the other. Make the procedure as pleasant as possible -- for both of you.
Timing and size matters when you start nail trims. A relaxed cat is more likely to be a cooperative one. Go for quality, not quantity. Trim only one nail each day and take off only the tip. If you cut down to the quick -- the living tissue closest to the paw -- it will hurt. And if you cause your pet pain, you won't get much cooperation in the future.
So be careful, and be positive. If done carefully, your cat may not hold out his paw for a nail trim, but he won't mind much if the whole experience is a pleasant one.
(Animal behavior experts Susan and Dr. Rolan Tripp are the authors of "On Good Behavior." For more information, visit their Web site at AnimalBehavior.net.)
PETS BY THE BOOK
Know your cat inside and out
With a new kitten joining the family, I suddenly had a desire to reread some of my favorite feline reference books. And that meant digging in to find the ones by Roger Tabor.
There's just no one who understands a cat better than this British naturalist and biologist, and no one who can explain what makes your cat tick in a way remotely as entertaining. Tabor's "Understanding Cat Behavior: The Complete Feline Problem Solver" (David & Charles, $20) seems like a simple guide to fixing unwanted behavior. But in fact, it's an entertaining masterwork that reveals why we find cats so appealing and so mysterious.
As good as Tabor's text is, the pictures are more than mere illustrations. Each one reveals the secrets of feline body language and ties the actions of our domestic cats to their wild relatives. A pure joy to read, cover to cover. -- Gina Spadafori
THE SCOOP
Plan for a dog-friendly landscape
But you can't just plant whatever you want wherever you want and then throw a bored, unsupervised dog into the mix. Instead, plan your yard to take your dog into account, and mind your dog's needs to get him to leave the plants alone. The basic guidelines:
-- Exercise your dog. A dog with too much energy isn't one you want to leave alone all day in a nice yard -- and yet that's exactly what many people do. If you don't take care of your dog's exercise requirements, he's going to take care of them on his own, by digging a hole to China or by removing the shrubs in your yard.
Dogs who don't get daily exercise are likely to expend that energy and cure their boredom by doing things people don't like -- digging, chewing and barking. Dogs who are well-exercised are more likely to sleep while you are gone. When you leave, you should also offer your dog alternatives to choosing his own amusements: Provide him with chew toys.
-- Work with your dog's habits. Observe how your dog uses your yard and plan accordingly. For instance, many dogs consider it their duty to run the fence line, leaving a well-worn trail where many people hope to put flowers. Go with his natural instincts. Place your beds and plantings away from the fence line.
-- Redirect digging. Breeds such as terriers were developed to dig, and expecting them not to indulge in it is unfair. Give your dog a dig zone, and praise him for using it. Discourage digging in other areas by supervising your dog, keeping him well-exercised and making the digging unpleasant. One trick: Put your dog's own stools in the hole and cover them with dirt. -- Gina Spadafori
PETS BY THE NUMBERS
Skin conditions common
More than one-fifth of all claims submitted to the Veterinary Pet Insurance Co. were for skin conditions. Parasites and allergies were given as the causes for the misery. The top complaints:
1. Atopic/allergic dermatitis (itchy or inflammed skin)
2. Pyoderma/hotspots (lick lesions or moist sore spots)
3. Neoplasia, or benign skin cancer.
Source: www.petinsurance.com
ON THE WEB
Keeping prey on the outside
Many a cat insists on sharing the spoils of the hunt with a not-so-pleased human family. The cat thinks bringing in mice and other small creatures that are still alive is the height of entertainment -- far better than any TV show. But for those of us who must deal with what the cat dragged in, it's no fun at all.
Enter Flo Control (www.quantumpicture.com/Flo_Control/flo_control.htm), the entertaining attempt to keep a cat from bringing prey into the house. Not surprisingly, the project has been undertaken by Quantum Picture, a Washington state company working with image recognition software.
When Flo the cat is coming in with nothing in her mouth, the software recognizes her and allows the cat door to open. When she's carrying something, the door remains closed. Animals with a different profile than a cat -- raccoons or opossums -- can't get in, either.
I won't pretend to understand the technology, but the Web page is a riot. Check it out. -- Gina Spadafori
Pet Connection is produced by a team of team of pet-care experts headed by "Good Morning America" veterinarian Dr. Marty Becker and award-winning journalist Gina Spadafori. The two are also the authors of several best-selling pet-care books. Contact Pet Connection in care of this newspaper, by sending e-mail to petconnection@gmail.com or by visiting PetConnection.com.
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