The arrival of spring delights the masters, but not necessarily their furry companions. The rise in temperature is inevitably accompanied by the reappearance of fleas, which experience a peak of resurgence at this time. The tick also takes advantage of the return of heat to poison the life of your animal.
Precautions are therefore in order: animals living mainly in apartments are particularly exposed to parquet fleas, whose larvae can incubate for a year in the wood before colonizing the coat. The tick, which is found in forests and gardens, can transmit serious canine diseases, such as ehrlichiosis and Lyme disease.
Prevent pests
Spotting the presence of unwanted insects on your pet is not easy: the discovery of small black balls – which are actually excrement – indicate that your pet is a carrier of fleas. If he is scratching, or if you notice hair loss on his belly, back, and the ends of his legs, it’s time to treat him.
For ticks, it’s easier since the insect is larger: just observe the animal carefully or carefully run your hand through its hair to feel their puffy presence under your fingers. Three days being sufficient for the tick to transmit a disease, it must be removed as quickly as possible, taking care to grasp it fully, including the head (using tweezers or tick tweezers that you turn on itself without pulling until the tick unhooks). A vaccine against piroplasmosis (tick disease) exists: ask your veterinarian.
In the event of contamination by parasites, the consequences for your companion will be less unpleasant if you have administered a preventive treatment, applied at the end of winter, purchased from a pharmacy or from a veterinarian. Necklace, spray or diffuser, many formats exist. It will also be necessary to take care to treat the baskets, the carpets, the armchairs, as well as all the places to which the animal has access. Do not put off this task: once on the animal, the flea lays up to 100 eggs per day!
Big Spring cleaning
This period is often the occasion to carry out a major cleaning; it is more than likely that your pet will shed and the hair will invade your environment. Do not hesitate to carry out regular brushings… which will also have the advantage of helping you to better detect parasites. If it is recommended to wash your dog from time to time in order to get rid of dust and various skin problems, you should also know that too many baths will damage his skin. If your animal is particularly reluctant, a wet glove passed over its coat will do the trick.
For cats, it’s simpler: they are naturally clean and wash daily. However, during moulting, a cat can absorb a large amount of hair by licking itself, which can be dangerous and cause an occlusion. Regular brushing will prevent this accident.
And don’t forget: your pet can also be affected by allergic reactions, such as dermatitis. Do not hesitate to go to your veterinarian for a complete check-up.
Nature, a danger
In spring, everything blooms! But be careful during your walks, small plant bodies, such as spikelets, which cling to the coat and sometimes get lodged in the eyes and ears… sometimes have severe consequences. Daily brushing is strongly recommended, as well as an inspection of the coat after each walk, especially for dogs and cats with long hair.