Top 7 Summer Pet Tips

Summer is upon us, green grass, fresh flowers, planting gardens...and bugs! Here are seven seasonal tips that will help keep your pet safe and healthy this Summer;

1. Make sure your dog always wears a dog collar, including current dog tags.


2. Fleas don't like to take a bath. A simple bath with soap and water will kill off the majority of fleas.


3. Ticks are plentiful in most environments, especially in warm humid areas. They love high grass and wooded areas. If you have areas in your yard that have high grass, remove the grass and bushes and clean the area up.


4. It's becoming common to mulch a garden with the fragrant spent shells of cocoa beans. But just like chocolate, dogs like to eat them and they are toxic.


5. Spring cleaning is an annual tradition in many households. Make sure you store all cleaning products and chemicals out of reach of children and pets.


6. Treat your yard to reduce the tick population and your pet's exposure, and apply preventative medicine, like Advantix or Frontline Plus to decrease the risk of tick infestation or transportation into the home.


7. Heartworm disease is transmitted by mosquitoes and can be fatal. There are several good heartworm medications on the market like Heartgard Plus, Revolution or Sentinel. Check with your veterinarian to see what they recommend in terms of heartworm prevention.