Springtime … finally. For a while, it seemed as though Mother
Nature forgot to close the books on wet weather. Winter-like rain
in April and early May made things pretty soggy around here. But
now the barometer has turned to spring.
Springtime … finally. For a while, it seemed as though Mother Nature forgot to close the books on wet weather. Winter-like rain in April and early May made things pretty soggy around here. But now the barometer has turned to spring.
It’s warm and sunny, trees are in bloom and the garden already is giving us some good veggies for the dinner table. Spring is the season when new life starts all over again. For pets, this season also has special significance. Companion animals are exposed to several serious health risks in the spring. Garden pesticides, foxtails and mosquitoes – all are very real threats to animals. But the danger of these three can be eliminated if pet owners simply take some special precautions.
Snails seem to be everywhere this year. And they can quickly do lots of damage to a garden. There are several products out there that kill these plant-eaters, but be sure you read the label carefully before using any of them. Don’t just buy it, use it and go into the house for a cold drink. Be careful! Read the instructions!
Many snail “baits” contain poisonous Metaldehyde, a chemical extremely toxic to dogs and cats. It only takes just pieces of this stuff to cause even a large dog to go into convulsive seizures. Even worse, dogs think these baits taste good and eagerly will eat them. Don’t use Metaldehyde in any area where your dog or kitty can get to it. Use a “pet-safe” product (one that is not toxic to pets). These are available in many stores. Always read the label before you buy.
Other poisons are available to help rid your home and garden of mice, rats and even gophers. These, too, are very toxic to pets. Always, always … read the label and keep your pets away from them.
Foxtails are everywhere this time of year. Walk across almost any field, and you’ll find them stuck in your socks and shoes, moving in for a free ride. Foxtails can get into the ear, nose or any other body orifice of a dog or cat. The discomfort and infection they bring can be excruciating.
But the real danger of these weeds is their ability to penetrate the skin. Every year, veterinarians see thousands of dogs with swollen feet and legs, infected by a foxtail that penetrated the skin and actually started migrating (moving about) in the subcutaneous tissues. Every year, at least a few dogs end up in surgery because a foxtail penetrated into the chest or abdomen. And every year, a few of these dogs die from infection caused by one of these weeds. Foxtails are deadly.
So get out your weed-whacker and get to work this weekend. And every evening, check your dog’s fur, particularly between the toes. Foxtails “attach” themselves deep in the fur before they pierce through the skin. If you check in the fur every day, you’ll find foxtails before they can do any damage and you’ll save your furry best friend from a lot of danger.
And now about those mosquitoes. They carry lots of diseases, including heartworm infection in dogs and cats. The good news is that heartworm disease can be prevented if your pet takes a monthly pill.
But now, mosquitoes bring a new threat to all of us. West Nile Virus is on its way to California. It will be here this year. West Nile is a killer, and horses, birds and people are most at risk from this infection.
Dogs and cats, while not completely immune to it, seem less threatened. If you have any standing water on your property, do what you can to eliminate mosquitoes. Health officials are diligently working on vector control and will answer any questions you might have. They particularly want to know if there are any areas where mosquitoes are breeding. They also want to hear if there are any areas where birds (crows, jays, etc.) are found dead since this may indicate an area of infection.
Do what you can to eliminate mosquitoes … for your own health and safety and for your pet’s, too.Clear out any stale, standing water in your yard.
