It's flea season again!!!

Spring brings out sunshine, beautiful flowers, but also fleas and ticks.  Oregon's moderate climate provides an excellent atmosphere for fleas all year round unfortunately.  Fleas that live on your pet easily spread to your house or yard and vice versa, so it's important to treat both your pet and your environment.  Wildlife can also bring fleas into your area, so just because your dog doesn't spend much time outside or time around other dogs doesn't mean that they won't pick up fleas.  If there is one flea found on your pet, you can count on thousands more being in your home.

Signs of flea infestation may include:  adult fleas on your pet or in your home, flea eggs on your pet's coat (white oval shapes the size of table salt crystals), flea excrement or "flea dirt" on your pet's skin (dark specks that look like dirt that will turn red when wet), excessive scratching, or irritated skin along the backs of the pet's thighs or above the tail area.  Fleas can cause Flea Allergy Dermatitis in some pets, so even one flea bite can make your pet miserable and cause an allergic reaction or even lead to a bacterial infection.

There are many options for preventing flea infestations.  Topical products work well and usually start to work within several hours.  They control fleas for 30-45 days, depending on the product.  We carry Advantage, Frontline, Comfortis, and Revolution.  Once treating the pet, you will need to treat your environment as well.  You may use a flea collar inside your vacuum bag, sprinkle boric acid (Borax) on your carpet then vacuum it, or use Frontline Spray on/under your furniture, and wash your pet's bedding frequently in hot water.  Flea shampoo or dip can be effective, but only for a very short amount of time. 

Ticks!!!

Ticks also abound in the spring.  Dogs may pick up ticks in town, but usually pick them up while hiking, camping, or dogs that live outside of town.  In Oregon, the Western Black-Legged Tick is the only known vector that transmits disease, including Lyme Disease.  Ticks take a large blood meal from its host, then it drops off and lays eggs.  In Oreegon, adult ticks are active primarily in the spring and early summer, but can be found throughout the fall as well.

Removing ticks can be tricky.   If possible, have a vet tech or assistant remove the tick for you.  Tweezers or forceps work well, rather than your fingers.  Gently pull the tick straight out, steadily and firmly.  Do not twist and pull. 

Do NOT burn the tick off with a lit match or fire.  Do NOT use alcohol or cover the tick in a substance to make it fall off.  The head of the tick will NOT continue to live if it is left in the pet.  By squishing the tick while it is still attached to your pet may cause the toxins and bacterium to be released into your pet at a higher rate.

For pets that are at risk for contracing ticks, we carry Advantixx and Frontlineto keep your pets tick-free.  After taking your pets out for hikes and walks, go over them with your fingers to make sure that they did not pick up any ticks on your walk.  It takes several days before the ticks are engorged enough for you to see sticking out on your pet, but you will see the ticks crawling on their fur before they attach.

Here is Dr. Boggs, re-releasing a goose after a concerned citizen brought it in.  We don't see birds, but Dr. Boggs and Dr. Newman examined the goose to make sure it was healthy and confortable. 

Spring is in the air!!!  We want everyone (people and animals) to be safe this spring.  Many animals are mating and nesting this time of year.  Many birds and other creatures will venture across busy streets and into traffic to lead their babies elsewhere.  Keep a look out for these travelling moms and their kids!  If you should come across an injured bird or other animal, please contact your vet and/or the local wildlife rehabilitation facility.   In our area, Willamette Wildlife is the place to call.