Emerson Animal Hospital - Helpful Hints

Main: Helpful Hints

Our Mission : To offer the best in modern veterinary care to Central Texas pets and their families.

Here are some very important points to remember about pets no matter what the time of year:

Be certain your dogs and cats are taking their heartworm medicine properly during the entire 12 months of each year! Mosquitos transmit this deadly disease, but it is easily prevented with the proper medication given correctly. This applies throughout the year in Texas and the Southern states. Our winters are seldom cold enough to completely eliminate the mosquitos that transmit this parasite, so continued prevention is necessary.

Use Advantage or Frontline to control fleas and ticks. Pets can easily be attacked by both of these vicious parasites in Texas throughout the year. Ticks are less common in colder weather, but fleas still seem to thrive, simply because they have the ability to survive on nearly any mammal (squirrels are a good example because they are often covered with fleas, and they are active throughout the year.). Both suck blood, and sometimes they can kill a pet just by doing that. At other times, they transmit diseases to your pet. Fleas carry tapeworms, and ticks carry Erlichia, Rocky Mountain Spotted Fever and Lymes Disease, among others. They also cause many cases of skin problems.

Protect your pets from the heat!!!!

Do not leave your pet in a parked car while you go to the mall or anywhere else.

NEVER, NEVER DO THIS. Leaving a pet locked in an overheating car is one of the fastest way to kill it. Heat stroke in pets in Texas can occur as early in the year as February, and if we have warm winter days, it can occur even sooner.

When pets are outside in the back yard, provide plenty of water and shade. Heat stroke can occur at home, too.

When exercising your pets, running or any other strenuous activity, allow a time for rest and water if they are not in shape. Once again, you have to remember the dangers of heat stroke.

Parvo, a deadly digestive tract virus, is causing many dog deaths at this time. Be sure your pet is properly protected with the best vaccine. The virus destroys the lining of a dog's digestive tract, and they cannot digest their food. They die of dehydration and secondary infections caused by all of the viral damage. This disease, which is most severe in puppies, is easily prevented by vaccination.

Make sure all warm blooded pets, dogs, cats, horses, calves, sheep, goats and any others for which there is a vaccine, are protected against RABIES!!!! This disease is running rampant at this time in Texas. We are experiencing the greatest outbreak in years, so have your pets vaccinated by your veterinarian.