Lucky's Pet Resort & DaySpa

Buying a puppy can be a stressful process. First, there’s the decision to bring home a new member of the family. You must decide about what type of dog you want; a large breed, small breed, or maybe something in the middle. Second, decisions have to be made about who will care for the pet.

Many folks use the holiday season as a time to bring home new pets. There are a couple of important factors to remember when bringing home a puppy or kitten during the holiday season.

For some, the holidays can be a stressful time of year with out of town guests visiting and large holiday meals to be prepared. Remember, as soon as you bring home your pet, they will need your attention. Young pets have a knack for finding trouble when they are unsupervised. When you bring home a pet, time must be taken to start the training process of your new family member. Your pet should be slowly introduced to their new home and new family members.

Most puppies and kittens, as well as rescue animals, are easily scared in groups of strangers. As the holidays are a time when many houses are filled with people, this can lead to a stressful situation for your new pet. You might want to consider bringing home your pet when there aren’t as many people around.

Holiday time also means holiday decorations. Tinsel and ornaments are just two examples of dangerous holiday items. Make sure your curious new pet doesn’t get into any of the holiday decorations.

Here’s a quick checklist of items you will need for your pet when they come home.

Buying a puppy or a kitten, or adopting a new pet is an exciting time for any family. Follow the above suggestions and you can be sure that you will be better prepared when your bring home your new family member.

Colder temperatures are on the way and the time that your pet can spend outside may start to be limited. Exposure to cold outdoor temperatures can be dangerous for your pet so increased time in the house may be a necessity. It’s important to make sure your pet is stimulated during any extended periods of home alone time.

Many owners have anxiety about letting their pet roam free in their homes. When our pets get bored, they are more likely to “look” for trouble. This may include chewing on furniture, rugs, or rummaging through closets to nibble your favorite shoes.

Here are a few ideas of indoor activities for your pet to keep them busy while they are home alone. It’s a good idea to test these ideas out while you are at home so you can better judge which of these keep the interest of your pet.

Bones – Chewing on bones is another way to entertain your pet. While there are tons of different types of bones, it’s a good idea to avoid the raw hide bones as they will splinter and can be dangerous for your pet. Many bones are flavored with chicken flavor, liver, or peanut butter and are very enticing to your dog. Bones can also serve an important health role. Chewing helps to break up built up tarter on the teeth of your dog.

Hide and Seek Games – A great way to simulate your pet is to hide treats throughout the house for your pet to find while you are away. While the goal is not to have your dog tearing up the house looking for food, it is mentally stimulating for your dog to have to seek out their treats. It is quite natural for many dogs to sniff out their favorite treats.

Any other games that you can create for your pet will be helpful during the times that you are gone. Be mindful that some breeds of dogs are more susceptible to separation anxiety than others. While some breeds will sleep away the lonely hours, other breeds will “lose their minds” if left alone even for a few minutes.

Alternatives to leaving your pet inside the house include a fenced yard, if weather permits, or if you have to leave your pet during the day, doggie daycare. Doggie daycare allows you to leave your pet for the entire day. While you are working, your dog gets to play with other dogs all day. Most importantly, you don’t have to worry about your dog being home alone.

Leaving your pet home alone can be quite worrisome. Take away some of the anxiety by incorporating a few of these great indoor activities for your pet and keep your dog mentally stimulated while you are out of the house.

Exercising with your pet is essential to their health. With daylight savings time approaching, don’t let the early evening darkness dissuade you from your walk with your pet.

Exercising with your pet is an excellent way to cement the bond between you and your pet. Your pet needs the daily exercise and will enjoy the stimulation that comes with being outside in the fresh air.

Hey Guys, my name is Lucky and the team at Lucky’s Pet Resort and Day Spa has asked me to pass along a few tips about disaster plans.

The hurricane disaster in the Gulf Port region was a reminder to all of us that having a disaster preparedness plan is a safe way for each of us to be ready when a disaster hits our hometown.

When your owners are preparing the disaster plan for their family, make sure the pets are not left out of the plan. Too many pets were left stranded by Hurricane Katrina.

Here are a few helpful tips for your owners when preparing a disaster plan for your pets.

The most important thing you can do for your pet is to microchip your pet. This is a simple process that allows vets or animal shelters to identify your pet if the pet is lost or separated from your family..

Microchips are permanent identification tags for your pet. Inserted under the skin, the micro chip will remain active in your pet for their entire life.

Once the chip has been inserted, you must register your pet with a company that will keep the pet’s chip information on file.

It is relatively inexpensive to register your pet once it has received the micro chip. The cost will be well worthwhile if your pet is ever lost. With the microchip, a lost pet that is found by a vet or animal shelter can simply be scanned for the microchip. Once the chip has been identified, the vet or animal shelter will have all of the pertinent information about the pet.

Disaster preparedness is a task nobody wants to undertake. However, with a little planning, you can reduce the risk of your pet being left behind or separate from your family.

Lucky's Favorite Recipes

Hey Guys, my name is Lucky and the team at Lucky’s Pet Resort and Day Spa has asked me to pass on a few of my favorite recipes for homemade dog treats.

The best thing about homemade treats is you always know what ingredients are in them. Making treats with all natural ingredient, and no preservatives, means you and I will be eating healthier treats.

Not to mention the money your owners can save by baking the treats at home instead of buying them at the store.

Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Combine oil, peanut butter, and water. Add flour, one cup at a time, and then knead into firm dough. Roll dough to ¼” thickness and cut with cookie cutter. Place on an ungreased cookie sheet. Bake at 350 degrees for 20 minutes.

Directions – Preheat oven to 325 degrees. Combine flour, cornmeal, chicken broth and margarine. Knead dough for 3 minutes. Apply a light layer of flour to rolling surface and pin. Roll dough to ¼” thickness and cut with cookie cutter. Beat Egg and Milk together and apply to top of biscuits with brush. Bake at 325 degrees for 35 minutes on an ungreased cookie sheet.

1 ½ Cups Shredded Cheddar Cheese
½ Cup Softened Margarine
1 ½ Cups Whole Wheat Flour
1 Clove Mined Garlic
¼ Cup Milk

Directions – Preheat oven to 375 degrees. Cream together cheese and margarine. Add flour, garlic and milk. Mold mixture into ball and roll dough to ¼” thickness. Cut dough with cookie cutter and place on ungreased cookie sheet. Bake at 375 degrees for 20 minutes or until edges start to brown.

Many of the recipes have no additives or preservatives in the ingredients. Because of this, it is important to take the following step to make sure the treats are preserved and do not go bad before your canine friends can enjoy.

After you finish baking the treats, let them sit and cool. Once the oven has cooled down, return the biscuits, on the cookie sheet, to the oven. Leave the cookie sheet in the oven overnight. This will result in the biscuits losing any moisture they might have and will serve to preserve the treats.

Ingredients -
1 Quart Vanilla Yogurt
1 Banana (medium size)
2 Tablespoons Natural Peanut Butter
2 Tablespoons Honey

Directions – Puree the banana in a food processor. Add the peanut butter and honey and continue processing until smooth. Add the yogurt and process just long enough to blend all ingredients together. Place 18 small paper cups in a baking pan (one 9x13 or two 8x8 pans will work). Fill paper cups to about 2/3’s full. Use an ice cream scoop or measuring cup to make the job easier. Freeze until solid.

Transfer the frozen treats to zip-lock bags for storing in the freeze.

Hey Guys, my name is Lucky and the team at Lucky’s Pet Resort and Day Spa has asked me to pass on a few tips to all of our friends about choosing the perfect pet for your home.

Here are a few helpful tips to make sure the newest addition to your family is a perfect fit.

The first step is to choose what type of animal to bring into your family. Dogs, cats, birds, or even snakes, each present their own unique responsibilities. As the new pet owner, it is your job to understand the responsibilities that are connected with each type of pet. I personally prefer dogs but I know that cats, birds, and fish also make great pets.

When choosing a new pet the first question to answer is, do I have the time to commit to take care of a pet? All pets require a different level of care and commitment. The biggest investment in a new pet is time. For example, puppies can not be left alone when first brought home and must be constantly monitored.

Plus, when you get a new pet, you are making a life time commitment to your pet.

The next item to consider is do you have the space for the type of pet you want to adopt. A small apartment is not the best place for a large breed dog. Also, is there a good area for the dog to exercise on a daily basis? Making sure your home is a good fit for your pet must be considered before bringing home your new pet.

The cost of a pet is another important consideration because there are never any “free” pets. Food and medical costs can quickly add up for any type of pet. The necessary financial commitment is one that will yours as long as the pet is a part of your family.

Once you decide to get a pet, a dog for instance, the next decision is what breed. There is a wealth of information available at bookstores or the library about every breed of dog. Take the time to read up on a variety of breeds before making a decision.

Also, as the perspective owner, you should evaluate your own personality traits. Once the personality of the owner has been determined, a breed can be easily matched to the owner. Folks who like to be outside, enjoy running or hiking, should look for a breed that is athletic and enjoys exercising.

Children in the home are also a major factor when getting a new pet. Small children will frequently “annoy” pets by pulling their tails or pulling on their coat. Some breeds are naturally more patient with children and should be sought out if there are small children in the home. Children must be taught the correct way to interact with the new pet.

Adopting pets is a great way to help an animal with an uncertain future. When deciding to adopt, make sure to think about the same questions mentioned above.

It is important to remember that in some cases adoption or rescue dogs can require more time and patience than other dogs. Many rescue dogs are victims of abuse and need extra TLC to help socialize them.

Once you adopt a pet, have your new family member checked by your vet for any health related issues and vaccinated for any shots that are not up to date. At home, give your pet extra potty breaks because they will be prone to accidents in the new environment of your home. House training your pet is a difficult process that take times but can be accomplished with some patience.

It may take a little while, but with a lot of time and love, your new pet will be a happy and healthy part of your family

Hey Guys, my name is Lucky and the team at Lucky’s Pet Resort and Day Spa has asked me to pass on a few tips to all of our friends about Pet Socialization.

Here are a few helpful tips to help your best friends learn to cope and respond to various environments, persons or dogs they come into contact with.

Socialization is a lifelong process by which your pet is introduced to various environments, stimuli, and people. A well socialized animal will be better able to deal and respond to in a healthy manner with the spectrum of people, places, and things that they come into contact with.

While socialization is a lifelong process, puppies, between the age of 3-14 weeks, are the most impressionable. At this age, they should be introduced to various persons and environments. Interaction with other dogs should be limited because puppies at that age have not been vaccinated and are susceptible to illness.

Pets that have not been properly socialized can be terrors. Frequently, un-socialized dogs do not relate well to visitors to your home or other dogs you encounter at the park or on walks. However, a dog is never too old to work on their socialization.

There are many ways to work with your dog on their social skills. You could work with a trainer or attend a class, but the best way, by far, is to go to Doggie Daycare.

Doggie daycare, like child care, is a service where the dogs are dropped off in the morning and picked up after work. We dogs get to spend our days playing with each other. This is an important part of the socializing process. For a dog to be well socialized, it’s important that they are comfortable around all breeds of dogs. Doggie day care is an excellent way for your pet to work on their social skills.

The benefits of Doggie Daycare are clear. First, your pet does not spend the day alone at home while you are at work. I know when I am left at home alone, I like to start investigating the house looking for trouble. At Doggie Daycare, my parents don’t have to worry about me because I am playing with my friends.

You can also form lasting friendships at Doggie Daycare. All of our regular clients have dogs that they enjoy playing with. All of the dogs also have their favorite activities at day care – whether it’s playing fetch or chase. I am a fan of chasing the tennis ball!

The health benefits of Doggie Daycare are significant as well. These benefits include keeping muscles and heart fit and keeping off excess weight through exercise as opposed to sleeping all day at home. Also, a tired dog is a well behaved dog!

Puppies as mentioned above are their most impressionable between the age of 3-14 weeks. At this age, they should be introduced to various persons and environments. Interaction with other dogs should be limited because puppies at that age have not been vaccinated and are susceptible to illness. Between four-five months, puppies are ready for “puppy classes”.

Puppy classes are a great socializing experience. The dogs have the chance to play with and interact with other puppies. You should only take your puppy to a class that requires vet records for each dog at the class. This will ensure a safer and healthy environment for your pet.

When it comes to socializing an older dog, it is never too late in life to work on their social skills. Socialization is a lifelong process.

Many dogs that are adopted into homes were not socialized or treated well in their old homes. These dogs need the help of their owners to develop social skills.

All dogs can be socialized through work with their owners or professional trainers. Adoption dogs or older dogs that were not socialized as puppies may require some effort to break bad habits that the dog has been formed. I know lots dogs that are scared of men or scared of women. These fears can be alleviated through simple training and development of social skills.

As dogs get older, some get grumpier. All they seem to want do is bark, bark, bark. If your pet has become less social in older age, there may be reasons other than just grumpiness.

Frequently, dogs not do well with change. For example, if there is a new baby in the family and the dog receives less attention, the dog may start to be less social to family members and visitors. Anytime a pet is taken out of their comfort environment it is a possibility that the change could bring about attitude changes.

Socializing your pet is one of the most important parts of being a pet owner. When your dog develops social skills, they will be able to play with all breeds of dogs, welcome visitors to your home, and be an all-around better pet and friend.

Hey Guys, my name is Lucky and the team at Lucky’s Pet Resort and Day Spa has asked me to pass on a few tips to all of our friends about Pet Safety during the Winter months. Winter weather conditions produce a variety of seasonal hazards for all pets. Here are a few helpful tips to keep your best friends safe when the temperature starts to drop.

While the safest place for dogs and cats during the winter months is inside, some dogs and cats are outside pets. If your pet lives outside, pay close attention to their outdoor housing.

Their shelters should be insulated, elevated off of the ground, and protected from the rain, wind, or snow. Since us dogs use our own body heat to keep warm, make sure the shelters are small enough to preserve the heat of the dog or cat.

After a night of rain or snow, make sure your pet’s house is dry for that night’s sleep. A wet shelter can be very dangerous for dogs and cats.

Dehydration frequently occurs with outdoor pets because their water freezes and pets can’t stay hydrated licking frozen water or by eating snow. Water must be readily available for outdoor pets at all times. Electronically heated water bowls are available and should eliminate the problem of frozen water bowls.

Inside dogs also experience problems during the winter months. While not the same as their buddies who sleep outside, dogs that live inside commonly have skin problems during the winter months.

Irritated skin occurs due to the low humidity of the winter months. One way to help your pet with this condition is to not bathe your dog unless absolutely necessary. Bathing a dog washes off the dog’s natural oils which help the skin from drying out.

If a bath is necessary, and yes, we dogs do get smelly once in a while, give your pet an oatmeal bath, which is excellent for all skin conditions.

Exercising year round is essential for a healthy dog. Just because the temperatures are colder, the exercising needs of your dog can’t be ignored.

While long walks or runs are not advisable in cold temperatures, shorter walks should occur to ensure the health of your pet.

Take special precautions for puppies or geriatric dogs when exercising in the cold weather. The protective warmth of a doggie sweater or jacket may be jut what your pet needs to be comfortable during walks in the winter months.

Walking your dog in the winter poses a number of concerns that must be considered.

When the roads become icy, salt is commonly thrown down to help with the melting process. While this makes the roads and sidewalks safer for humans, the salt can do painful damage to the paws of your dog.

After every walk or exercise time outside, “paw checks” are essential to remove packed snow or ice as well as salt. Salt irritates the paws of a dog and that irritation can lead to bleeding. After carefully washing the paws, make sure to completely dry and treat any irritated areas. Ice melting products that are not salt based are available and reduce the risk to your pet.

Anti-freeze is toxic to pets. The sweet taste of anti-freeze is unfortunately appealing to pets. Store anti-freeze out of the reach of all pets. Seek immediate attention from a vet if you believe your pet has consumed anti-freeze. Pet safe anti-freeze products are available and recommended for use.

Cold weather can be especially difficult for puppies and older dogs. Just like in humans, arthritis and other joint problems are worsened by the cold weather.

The best way to keep your pet healthy this winter is to feed your pet a well balanced diet with the amount of food being fed altered based on your dog’s exercise level.

Hey Guys, my name is Lucky and the team at Lucky’s Pet Resort and Day Spa has asked me to pass on a few tips to all of our friends about dog grooming and hygiene.

Grooming your pet is not only important to make sure they look their best, but is also an essential part of protecting your pet’s health. Regular grooming and hygiene will keep your pet healthier and will alert you, the owner, to most health problems before they become increasingly dangerous.

Grooming should be done at home and by a professional groomer. Regular grooming appointments should be a time for haircuts, nail clippings, and emptying anal glands. Many other grooming activities can be done at home.

When grooming your pet, focus on the following body parts to check for any irregularities

Your pet’s eyes should be clear and clear with no excessive tearing or discharge. Cloudy or red eyes are a sign of irritation and should be treated promptly.

A pet’s ears should be free of dirt and a strong odor. Dogs with ear infections will commonly rub their ears against the ground or scratch their ears with theirs paws. Dogs with long ears are most susceptible to ear infections. Ears must regularly be cleaned to avoid serious infections.

Clean and healthy are essential for the health of your pet. While commonly overlooked by pet owners, infected teeth can result in loss of appetite in your pet, red, swollen, and bleeding gums, excessive drooling, blood in the saliva, yellow-brown tartar on the gum line, broken teeth, and foul breath. Daily teeth brushings can help with removing tartar build up on your pet’s teeth. A yearly more thorough cleaning by your vet is also recommended for pets with tartar problems.

Dry, crunchy dog foods and many dog bones such as Greenies are helpful in reducing tartar and bad doggie breath.

Brush your pet’s coat to remove any dead hair, dirt, or dead skin flakes. As your grooming, take note of any irregularities on your pet’s skin including lumps, rashes, bald spots or sores. Brushing your pet’s coat will help to keep the coat from matting. Once a dog’s coat is matted, the only way to get the mats out is to shave the dog.

Your pet’s skin should also be examined for fleas or remnant of fleas. Black specs on the skin can be flea droppings.

Coats that are dry and brittle in the winter may not be a result of lack of grooming. Low humidity in the winter can dry out a pet’s skin. Give your pet an oatmeal bath and use a pet skin moisturizer to aide this problem.

Dry skin can also be caused by over bathing. When a dog is given a bath, the pet’s natural oils are washed off the dog. These oils are what give the dog its rich coat. Dogs should be given baths when dirty or about every 10-14 days.

A dog’s nails should be trimmed regularly and can be done at home or by a professional groomer. Trimming nails can be a difficult task if your dog is not cooperative. Be careful when cutting the nails as cutting too much of the nail can result in bleeding. Remember, outdoor exercise on a hard packed surface will help to grind your pets’ nails down which will mean less nail trimmings.

Proper grooming and hygiene are essential to a healthy pet. By combining home grooming activities and regularly visiting a professional groomer, your pet will be a healthier pet.
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Hey Guys, may name is Lucky and the team at Lucky’s Pet Resort and Day Spa have asked me to pass on a few tips to all of our friends about Pet Health and Fitness.

Too many of my friends, cats and dogs, are out of shape. Recent surveys suggest that between 25 and 40 percent of all Pets in America are overweight. Here are some helpful tips to make your pet a healthier pet.

The number one solution for overweight dogs is exercise. Exercise could be a walk in the park or a game of fetch. I know I love a good game of chase every night.

Just like humans, we dogs need to exercise to burn the calories we take in during the day. A 10-minute walk a day can make the difference between a healthy dog and overweight dog.

When you start exercising with your dog, start slow. Build up the length and difficulty of your walks. A dog not use to daily walks will tire quickly.

Lots of my friends are stuck in cages all day while their owners are away at work. You should consider taking your dog to a Doggie Daycare where your dog can participate in supervised play times with other dogs. When hey get home at night, they will already have been exercising all day.

Carefully watch what your pet eats everyday. I will eat whatever my owner feeds me – but that is not always what is healthiest for me. Watch what your best friend eats - not just how much pet food your pet is given each day but also how much people food and treats your pet is receiving.

Affection for your pet does not always have to be shown through food. We like belly rubs just as much as treats.

If your pet is overweight, consider switching to a low-calorie pet food. These products are typically lower in fat and higher in fiber. This allows you the owner to continue to serve a nice-sized portion while reducing the number of calories the pet actually receives.

Please remember to consult a veterinarian before beginning any weight reduction program. The veterinarian can design a weight loss program for your individual pet and help identify specific problems and suggest alternatives along the way. Go to Top

Pet Safety in Vehicles

Hey Guys, my name is Lucky and the team at Lucky’s Pet Resort and Day Spa has asked me to pass on a few tips about traveling in cars.

Transporting your dog or cat whether it be to Lucky’s for vacation or down to the beach requires a little planning to make sure the trip is a safe trip.

When transporting a pet, the number one priority has to be the safety of the pet.

First, the safest way to transport your pet is a traveling kennel that is secured in the vehicle. This ensures that in an accident your pet will not fly through the front windshield but will instead be safe in their kennel.

While cats normally travel in this fashion, many folks allow their dogs to sit on the backseat or in the cargo area of the vehicle. It is important to understand that your pet is not secure when traveling in this manner. Just like a person who is not wearing a seat belt in the rear of the car, your pet is not as safe as they can be.

One safety measure that can be used is a pet seat belt. Many of these items connect to the existing safety belt and strap your dog in.

These safety precautions are especially important for dogs that do not sit in one place while riding in a car but prefer to wander around the car. Dogs moving around the car can be a distraction to the driver which creates an even more dangerous situation for the pet. Never let your pet sit in the front seat of the car as their distraction to the driver is increased and they have a greater risk of injury in case of an accident.

There are a number of other safety items to have in the vehicle when traveling with your pet.

First, you should always have a water bowl so that you can give your dog fresh water. This is especially important on hot days.

Second, if you are going to be traveling for an extended period of time, make sure you have food for your pet and that you schedule a stopping time for you pet to eat. Just as it is important for humans to eat regularly and stretch their legs during long trips, the same is true for your pets.

It’s also a good idea to have a pet first aid kit in your vehicle. Some of the items to include in such a kit are bandages, gauze pads, ointments, eye care products, and tweezers.

One of the most important tips that can be passed along about traveling with your pet is that your pet must remain inside your vehicle at all times. This means no putting a dog in the bed of a pickup truck. This is unbelievably dangerous as the dog could potentially fall out of the truck.

Dogs should also be restricted from sticking their heads out of vehicle windows – especially at high speeds. Debris from the road can blow into your pets’ eyes causing serious damage.

Traveling with your pet can be fun for you and your pet. Just make sure to take these precautions to ensure a safe trip for your pet.

Hey Guys, my name is Lucky and the team at Lucky’s Pet Resort and Day Spa has asked me to pass along a few tips about the dangers of heat exhaustion and heatstroke.

With the temperatures rising, heat exhaustion is a major concern for your pet. Heat exhaustion and heatstroke can come on very fast and the impact of not responding quickly can be fatal for your pet.

Heatstroke occurs when a dog’s body temperature rises and your pet is unable to regulate their body through panting. It only takes a rise of three degrees in the body temperature of a dog for the animal to need immediate treatment. An additional rise in body temperature can result in the break down of the heart, brain, liver, kidneys, and intestinal tracts.

Being aware of the early signs of heat exhaustion is essential to the health of your pet. Two of the obvious signs are excessive panting and the skin on the inside of the ears becoming flushed and red. If you observe these, you should try to cool down your pet with wet towels or an ice pack on the back of their neck. Once you have cooled down your dog, contact your veterinarian.

Ignoring these signs can result in your dog having a heat stroke. Heat stroke is indicated by your pet staggering, fainting, continued rapid breathing, dry mouth and nose, rapid heart rate, and gums that lose their natural color.

There are many variables that affect the likelihood of a dog suffering from heat exhaustion and/or heatstroke. The dog’s physical condition, age, coat length, breed, and acclimatization to heat are all factors in your pet’s susceptibility to heat exhaustion and heatstroke.

Remember, dogs can not supervise themselves. Reduce their outdoor time during the hottest months of the year. This does not mean that your pet does not need to exercise during the summer months. While you should try to avoid the warmest parts of the day, walks during the morning hours or after the sun goes down are necessary to make sure your pet is well exercised.

Never leave your pet alone in a vehicle during the summer months for any period of time. A pet in a car with the windows rolled up is at severe risk for heatstroke and death because the car heats up like an oven. Even with the windows rolled down, a car is still not a safe place to leave your pet.

By being aware of the early signs of heat exhaustion and limiting your pet’s time in the outdoors, you can help your pet to avoid this dangerous condition. Make this a safe and fun summer for your pet.

Hey Guys, my name is Lucky and the team at Lucky’s Pet Resort and Day Spa has asked me to pass along a few tips about the dangers of fleas and ticks.

Flea and Tick preventative medicines are an essential part of any pet owner’s attempt to keep their pet healthy. With the summer months upon us, the flea and tick season is at its height. Fleas and ticks are dangerous to our pets for many reasons including a number of serious diseases that can be passed through the bites fleas and ticks.

The most obvious sign that your pet has fleas is excessive itching. Your pet may also become very nervous and act annoyed. Seeing black specs in the fur of your pet is a common sign of flea infestation. Once fleas have been found on your pet, steps must be taken to kill all of the fleas. Failure to do so could result in your pet developing flea allergy dermatitis, a reaction to the flea’s saliva that results in excessive itching, anemia, or tapeworm.

Ticks also present various dangers to your pet. Signs that your pet may have been bitten by a tick include fever, lameness, loss of appetite, sudden onset of pain in your pet’s legs or body, and arthritis or swelling in your pet’s joints. Some of the ailments caused by tick bites include Lyme Disease, Rocky Mountain Spotted Fever, and Ehrlichiosis, a blood disease that cripples your pet’s immune system.

Other preventative measures, along with medicine, can be taken to limit the contact of your pet with fleas and ticks. Keep your yard mowed and rake up any leaves, brush, or clippings. Tall grass is a breeding area for ticks. Vacuuming areas in your home such as carpeted areas or your dogs bed can also help to kill any fleas or flea eggs that may be present.

Many flea and tick preventative medicines also claim to repel mosquitoes from your pet. With the increase in case of West Nile Virus, this is another important factor in the care of your pet. Mosquitoes are not only annoying pests but are also carriers of various diseases. Keep your pet away from standing water, breeding ground for mosquitoes, and inside the home when mosquitoes are excessively active.