Getting Ready to Spring Into the Nola Summer

With just a few weeks left of calendar spring in New Orleans, it's time to talk about one of our least favorite subjects, the return of hot and humid weather and the health concerns that come along with it for you and your pets.

Our client, Sadie, chilling safely indoors.

We seem to have a catch 22 situation going on here in the Crescent City when it comes to our weather; either conditions are too wet - which means lots of mold and ideal breeding grounds for mosquitoes, or too dry - meaning hot, humid, and without rain. Both these situations are prime conditions for allergens and other health concerns, including and especially fleas.

Even if your fur baby doesn't spend prolonged time outdoors in leafy or grassy areas, chances are you do - and that could mean picking up a hitchhiker in the form of a flea or tick when walking through or brushing up against tall grass or weeds. All it takes is one, and if eggs get inside the house...

Flea bites are a top cause of allergic reactions in pets, and if unchecked can lead to other problems such as dermatitis or even infection. Because bites are not easy to spot on companion animals it's important to check your pets regularly (see the link below), especially if you see an increase in licking, biting or scratching at their skin. Don't forget - fleas can also spread tapeworms so it's important to be vigilant!

Our client, Olive, enjoying some time in the yard.

Hot weather and more mosquitoes mean an increased potential for heartworms. Just because your fur baby stays indoors it doesn't mean they aren't at risk. Every time you enter or exit your home, bring in groceries or packages, hold the door open for a guest... mosquitoes have an excellent opportunity to slip inside - even in a multi-story apartment building. While cats are considered more resistant to heartworm than dogs, not only can they get it, they can develop serious lung issues from it. Worst of all, there is no heartworm treatment for cats.

According to the Companion Animal Parasite Council (CAPC) there are more than 70 species of mosquitoes capable of transmitting heartworms, and believe it or not, people can be infected as well. Even though like cats, incidents of heartworms in humans is way less than in dogs, multi-pet households will do well to take preventive measures.

Heartworm facts; click for enlarged view 

Since mosquitoes can transmit serious diseases to humans as well, you'll want to do everything you can to discourage them from visiting your home, but take care using repellent sprays and lotions. The last thing you want is for your fur baby to become a victim of accidental poisoning.

Ticks may not be as big of a threat to indoor animals as fleas and mosquitoes, but they are still of concern to every pet parent of a dog, especially those who take their BFF on outings such as hikes and camping trips. In addition to Lyme disease, ticks carry bacteria that can lead to other illness, and it's possible for a single tick to infect a human or animal - including non-canines - with more than one disease.

Tick populations continue to increase and the CAPC is predicting higher than normal incidents of Lyme Disease for this year. Fortunately there was only one positive case found in Orleans last year, (none so far this year) but the disease was found in a couple surrounding parishes so keep that in mind if planning a hike, camping trip, or other outdoor adventure.

The 2018 CAPC Lyme and Heartworm Disease forecasts. 

Other biting and sucking insects of potential concern to pet parents include lice and mites. Though generally less common of a problem than fleas and ticks, these critters can come into the home as hitchhikers or slip in through cracks on their own. Their effects range from skin irritation to the causing of diseases and transmitting tapeworms.

Our curious clients, Pizza and Sonny, peering outdoors. 

It should be noted that parasitic diseases can be passed on to us accidentally by our own pets as well as strays and ferals through contact with garden soil and sand boxes. Click this link to learn more about two prevalent parasitic U.S. diseases.

Things to remember:

--Use a heartworm, flea & tick preventative monthly to protect your dog or cat. If one brand isn't working try a different one. Talk to your vet about which treatment is right for you pet. The prescription brands, while more expensive, are usually the most effective and safe. 

--Keep pets clean and healthy to lessen their risk of exposure, and never bring a bird's nest found outdoors into the home.

--If your pet is scratching a lot, repeatedly licking and chewing its paws, don't just blow it off; have a look - even if they are not suffering from a parasite reaction/infestation it be sign of an allergy.

--Make your yard less hospitable to ticks by keeping the grass cut and keeping weeds under control.

--By the way, all those feral chickens roaming around the city? They could be carrying bird mites.

--If you live in an apartment building pests can spread to your home from other units.

--While many allergies are seasonal for both pets and people, your fur baby can experience year round symptoms.

--Anything you put on your skin, from sunscreen to mosquito repellent, can end up on your pets as well and even potentially in their mouths.



See also:

Spring Has Sprung

The Heat is On

Springtime Pet Care



Useful Links:

Spring Health Tips

ASPCA's Hot Weather Safety Tips

Favorite Hiding Places of Fleas and Ticks

What Does a Flea Bite Look Like?

5 Ways Indoor Cats Can Get Fleas or Ticks

7 Ways to Mosquito-Proof Your Apartment

April - LASPCA profile & Pet days

Spring is a very busy time in New Orleans with an increase in outdoor activities, including a plethora of festivals. For many it's also allergy season, and this year the oak trees were producing super early because of the lack of any real winter weather.

For pet parents, the month of April is also chock full of special awareness days for the health and safety of fur babies, including the ASPCA's Prevention of Cruelty to Animals Month, The Red Cross' Pet First Aid Awareness Month, as well as The American Heartworm Society's Heartworm Awareness Month.

It may seem silly to have a bunch of "made up" holidays dedicated to animal welfare, but these are all very important issues for everyone as information such as dog bite prevention (awareness dates for 2017 were April 9-15) has an impact on all members of a community.

While April seems to be the unofficial kickoff to festival season locally, two events this month included fur babies - The Freret Street Festival and the LASPCA's Brunch Fest. Petit Pet Care's Christy Bracken Hackenburg took part in the Freret Street Festival (held the first Saturday of the month), handing out treats and helping pups cool off at the Doggie Pit Stop.

Remember when we asked Has New Orleans Gone to the Dogs? Anyone visiting our city during this month could easily think so. Brunch Fest, a fund raiser for the LASPCA, was originally intended to be held in March, but had to be rescheduled to April 22 because of bad weather. Leave it to New Orleanians to turn festing into a fur baby pastime.

As mentioned above, April is Pet First Aid Awareness Month. Would you know what to do if your pet had a first aid emergency? Christy is Red Cross certified for cats and dogs in both first aid and CPR, but for those times in between sits, we've compiled information on a number of  topics to help maintain your fur baby's well-being on our Pinterest board, Pet Health and Safety.

For Heartworm Awareness Month, the American Heartworm Association wants you to know that heartworm is a serious concern for both dogs and cats that threatens their health in just about every state in the U.S. (It's an issue outside the states as well.) Heartworms are spread by mosquitoes, and millions of dogs are known to be infected

The top five states for infection in 2016 were Mississipi, Louisiana, Arkansas, Texas, and Tennessee. On the gulf coast we know all too well what a nuisance mosquitoes can be. In addition to talking to your vet about preventive care, be sure there aren't any areas around your home where standing water can provide a breeding ground for mosquitoes.

It is also Lyme Disease in Dogs Prevention Month. Most people know that lyme disease is carried by ticks. Specifically, it's cause by a bacteria called Borrelia Burgdorferi; an infected tick can transmit the disease within 12-48 hours, though symptoms may not show for 2-5 months. Keep grass cut and check your BFF thoroughly after spending time in wooded areas. See the link below for more information on Lyme Disease and prevention.

National Pet ID Week is designated for the third full week of April. A disturbing number of pet parents do not put ID tags on their pets. Even if your fur baby stays indoors or is never off-leash, things happen and you need to be sure they can be recovered.

If you follow Petit Pet Care on Facebook and Instagram, you've no doubt seen the "Cute Pet of the Day" and other photos posted. Christy has long had a love for photography and regularly volunteers at the LA-SPCA here in New Orleans photographing pets that are up for adoption.

The Louisiana SPCA has been committed to animal welfare since 1888. It is the oldest organization protecting companion animals in the state, and besides offering animals for adoption, engages in a variety of programming including a community clinic, pet lost and found, humane law enforcement, and a feral cat program. They also provide training assistance and conduct workshops to assist in improving the lives of animals and their humans. Recently we've been sharing weekly dog training tips from the LASPCA on our Facebook page.

While the SPCA's mission is year-round, April has been designated to amp up efforts to prevent animal cruelty across all communities. Prevention of Cruelty to Animals Month is a time for supporters of animal rights to make a collective effort to raise awareness about the important issues related to animal welfare.

Three other important pet days in April are International Guide Dog Day, celebrated the last Wednesday; Hairball Awareness Day, celebrated on the last Friday; and National Adopt a Shelter Pet Day, celebrated on April 30.

As we said, April is a busy month! How did you spend National Pet Day? Comment below and let us know!


Helpful links:

April: Pet First Aid Awareness Month

Protecting Your Pet From Lyme Disease

National Pet ID Week: Everything You Need to Know About Microchipping

Louisiana SPCA

Heartworm Basics

Spring Has Sprung!

It's spring in New Orleans and that means the return of warmer weather, as well as lots and lots of rainy days. It also means the return of mosquitoes and other undesirable insect pests, and because of the unseasonably warm 2015 winter, for many it may also mean battling with a worse than usual allergy season.

Now that we've (hopefully) seen the last blast of really cold air, we can all feel more encouraged to get out and enjoy the beautiful weather, revitalize the garden, and get more exercise with our four-legged friends. For those who suffer with seasonal allergies it's not as easy to get motivated to get up and get out, and parenting a pet with allergies presents a whole other set of challenges altogether.

A common springtime question in garden centers is "what plants are safe/harmful around pets?" While there are a number of plants in the harmful category, the answer really has a lot to do with the age, size, and type of pet you have as well as the amount of plant chewed or consumed.

Because of the multitude of indoor and outdoor plants that can potentially pose a hazard to your four-legged family members, we've begun compiling a resource on Pinterest with links from a variety of sources to provide you with the most comprehensive information available.

Tulips, lilies, kalanchoes, azaleas, oleander, foxglove, and sago palms are just a sampling of common plants that can be poisonous to pets. It should also be noted that many products such as fertilizers and herbicides (including those labeled organic) can potentially be harmful to pets that spend a lot of time outdoors. Remember, pets sometimes groom their paws so anything they step on could end up in their mouths.

Safe garden plants for pets include catnip and mint, basil, marigolds, cornflower, strawberries, coreopsis, and lavender. Indoor plants generally considered safe around pets include ferns, spider plants, African violets, and air plants. Please note that while some plants are safe for dogs, such as certain types of lilies, they are NOT safe for cats. If you have both dogs and cats be sure to choose plants that are safe for both.

As mentioned above, warm weather means the return mosquitoes, ticks, and fleas. Mosquitoes are known for spreading heartworm, while ticks transmit Lyme and other diseases that affect both pets and people. Fleas can transmit tapeworms, harmful bacteria, and even cause anemia. Check pets regularly for fleas and ticks and take pet-friendly preventive measures to control insects in your yard.

Spring is also the time of cleaning and clearing and you want to be sure that you tackle those tasks with your pets in mind. Don't let a mop bucket lead to a pet emergency, and make sure all cleaners are non-toxic and pet-friendly.

Shedding is one of the most challenging issues when living with a pet as hair gets everywhere, including on visiting guests. Lint rollers, brushes, dryer sheets, and squeegees are some of the tools that can help keep pet hair under control. (See below for specific tips.)

Good weather also means more outdoor partying, and spring is the start of festival season in New Orleans as well. Make sure pets are kept away from all party foods, beverages, and waste, and be sure that any visiting house guests are mindful of potential pet hazards as well.

Happy Spring!

For more tips and info see our Pinterest board, Springtime Pet Tips 

Helpful Links:

6 Tips For Your Pet Health Spring Checklist

Spring Cleaning Tips for Pet Owners

An In-Depth Look at Seasonal Allergies in Dogs and Cats

A Pet Parent's Spring Cleaning Checklist

Garden and Houseplant Safety

How Do I Know if My Dog Has Allergies?

Refreshing a Pet-Friendly Home

16 Ways to Save Your Home (and Sanity) During Shed Season

Summer Safety Tips

Dogs pant to cool themselves.

Summer in New Orleans is pretty miserable. It’s hot. It’s super humid. Just consider how much worse it must be for our four-footed, furry friends who can’t sweat! Here are some important things to keep in mind:

Never leave your pet in the car! Did you know that in “only” 70 degree weather in 10 minutes the inside of a car can reach 86 degrees, and 104 degrees in only a half an hour! Our days are usually in the 90s. If it’s 90s degrees outside, inside a car it can reach 109 degrees in 10 minutes and a staggering 124 degrees after a half an hour.

Keep your dog and cat’s heartworm prevention current. Mosquitos spread heartworms and you know how many of those pests we have down here. Treatment for heartworms in dogs is expensive and takes time, and there is no treatment for cats.

Watch for signs of overheating and heat stroke. Dogs and cats can’t sweat to cool themselves like we can. Know how to cool down your dog or cat if they do get overheated.

Keep plenty of fresh water available
for your pets at all times.

Keep clean, fresh water available for your pet at all times so they don't get dehydrated. In the summer, they may drink more, plus the water evaporates faster. Put down additional bowls of water if you need to. I dump out the water and fill bowls with new water at least once a day for my cats and the pets I care for.

The 4th of July means parties, grilling out and fireworks. Check out these tips to keep your pooch and kitty safe and comfortable.

Summertime also means thunderstorms. If your dog has storm anxiety, talk to your vet about treatments to help them, provide a quiet place for them to hide, buy a wrap or play soothing music. I have a friend who swears by playing Frank Sinatra to keeps dogs calm.

And then there is the threat of hurricanes. Make sure you have an emergency plan and a destination you can take your pets with you. Have copies of their up-to-date vaccinations in your emergency kit.

Hope some of this information helps. Follow the links for in depth information. Stay cool and have a great summer!