Warm Weather News Letter

A Note From Dr. Taylor And The RVH Staff
 Warm weather is here and so are fleas, ticks, and mosquitoes. These pests are more than an annoying nuisance; they each carry diseases that can be potentially life-threatening to your pets. Heartworms affect both dogs and cats and are spread by mosquitoes. The disease is easily preventable. Have your pets tested annually and keep them on a monthly prevention year-round, such as the 6 month injection ProHeart, or the monthly chewable Heartgard.   For cats we recommend topical Revolution.
Ticks can carry several diseases that affect pets, such as Rocky Mountain Spotted Fever, Lyme Disease, and a blood pathogen called Ehlichia. Fleas cause many skin problems and may carry Hemobartonella that causes anemia in cats. For canines we recommend either, Nexgard  a monthly chewable flea and tick preventive or  Bravecto  a 3 month oral flea and tick preventive . Frontline Gold is a monthly topical treatments that is for both felines and canines.
Please ask our knowledgeable staff to help you determine which preventatives are right for your pets.
Just a friendly reminder to leave your pets at home in hot weather! Even on cooler days, cars can heat up to dangerous temperatures. Even on mild sunny days, even keeping the windows slightly open won't stop the inside temperature from climbing to 102 degrees in 10 minutes, and to 120 degrees in 20 minutes. Pets can succumb to heat stroke or death after being left in cars unattended while their owners work, visit, shop, or run other errands.  Be safe and leave your pets at home.