This time of year, with temperatures and humidity rising, flea numbers are at their all time high. If you do not already have a year-round flea management programme in place, now is the time to start one! You should be treating your pets with a flea product that rapidly kills any adult fleas on the pet (only 5% of the entire flea population) and a product that kills the the flea eggs and immature stages of the flea in the pet’s surroundings  (the remaining 95% of the entire flea population). Many products contain ingredients which kill all stages of the flea cycle, so check the product label information to ensure you have covered all bases. And don’t forget to vacuum and wash your pets’ bedding regularly, to help break the flea cycle!!

The tick season is well underway, and many pet owners are duly prepared to combat the deadly paralysis tick. The paralysis tick is prevalent right down the east coast of Australia, but can pop up in inland pockets,  since native mammals act as the main hosts for these dreaded parasites. Any pets with access to bushland (or visiting native mammals in their yard), bush tracks and bushy beach areas should be using a tick control product; these are available as oral chews, spot-ons, sprays / rinses and tick collars. All owners should keep a tick-remover with them for removing any ticks they may find on the pet.

Pets should be checked for ticks every day, as no product can guarantee 100% protection. If you find a tick or if your pet shows any weakness, wobbliness, low exercise tolerance, or other unusual behaviour, contact your vet immediately for advice. Owners taking their pets to the coast for holidays should start their pets on the tick control product at least two weeks before leaving home, to ensure the product is working at an effective level. Hundreds of pets are treated for tick paralysis each year - many do not survive...prevention is better than cure!!

Australia has the highest number of top-10 most deadly snakes in the world, with tiger and brown snakes in the top three! Others such as the red-bellied black and copper-head are also very dangerous to pets. If you live close to bushland, keep your grass short and do not leave piles of garden material, wood, tin etc around your yard, as these act as ideal, cool shelters for snakes. Be warned that the compost bin is another possible hide-out for snakes!! If walking dogs on bushy tracks, keep them on a short lead and never allow them to explore off the track. If you see a snake near your pet, or you have any reason to suspect your pet may have been bitten by a snake, keep the pet as calm as possible and seek emergency vet advice immediately. Many dogs die each year from snakebite!

Summer is a great time to be out and about with your dog, and cats LOVE finding a spot in the sun to while away the hours. However, pet owners must ensure their pets do not become overheated and dehydrated, as this can be life-threatening! Ensure pets have access to a good supply of fresh drinking water, which is kept in a shaded area. On hot days, leave an extra bowl or bucket of water out when you are away from home. Many dogs may enjoy a gentle hose-down or a play under the sprinkler on hot days!!  When walking or running with your dog, take extra water and a collapsible water bowl for your dog. Also, keep in mind that one dog year is equivalent to 6-8 human years, so be aware of the stamina, heart and  joint condition of dogs over five years of age; you may have a burning desire to complete  a marathon soon, but don’t subject your dog to excessive exercise which their body may no longer be able to cope with!

Many garden plants are toxic to pets - especially berries and seeds, and you should never allow your pet to chew any indoor or outdoor plant material other than the odd blade of grass. Garden areas may have to be fenced off from pets, especially puppies. Many pets will develop contact allergies to plants including grasses, so if your dog scratches madly after rolling in the grass and develops a very red tummy, you should minimise the time he spends in contact with the grass. Perhaps one of the nastiest plant allergens for pets is Wandering jew also known as the Spiderworts(Tradescantia sp), a very common and fast-spreading ground cover plant. This plant comes in many varieties and appearances, but the most common ones I know are shown below.

This plant can rapidly cause a severe contact allergy, typically along the tummy, groin and armpit, face and ears. The allergy can appear as severe redness of the skin,  or as pimples and open sores. Dogs will scratch at the area, causing a skin infection, usually requiring a visit to the vet for some antibiotics and anti-inflammatories. You should remove all Wandering jew( a constant battle, as it spreads relentlessly) or prevent your dog accessing the area.

Owners are loath to leave their pets in kennels if there is any way they can avoid it! And with more and more accommodation venues spouting the “pets welcome” motto, Fido may be tripping around Australia with the family during the holiday season! By law, all pets travelling by car must be securely restrained using a snug-fitting car harness, and cats in a cat carry-cage. This avoids injury to the pet and a car accident caused by a driver distracted by a fidgety pet!

Never leave pets alone in the car, as the temperature in a car can sky-rocket in just a few minutes. Make sure you take frequent stops for your pet to get some fresh air, have a drink, and go to the toilet - all of which can help stave off a bout of travel sickness. If you pet does not travel well, plan a visit to your vet well before holiday time to discuss the options for managing travel sickness. If travelling to a tick area, start your pet on a tick-control product several weeks before travelling. Check the details for the vet clinics in the towns where you will be holidaying, including vet emergency services available in the local area.