National Lyme Disease Awareness Month

This month is National Lyme Disease Awareness Month. As the weather gets warmer and we spend more time outside it is important to remember to check yourself and your fur kids for ticks every time you go out. Even if your fur baby is on flea and tick prevention, they and you could still carry ticks into the house. Tick like especially moist dark places on our bodies. Make sure you check head to toe on yourself and your fur babies.

I recommend Revolution. For cats and kittens, it prevents fleas, ticks, and heartworm. It is not sold over the counter so you will have to talk to your veterinarian. If you pick up a stray or bring home a cat who has been living outside. Capstar is a good product to kill fleas quickly. Make sure you get the right size pill for your cat or kitten.

Did you know that dogs can get Lyme disease as well as other tick-borne illnesses? Ehrlichia is another common tick-borne illness in dogs. Our vet screened for this disease when we brought our dog in for his first visit. If you adopt a stray dog, make sure that your vet tests him.

Enjoy the time you spend with your animals and use your quiet time to look for ticks. Grooming and exploring your fur kid's body helps the bond you have with them. It gives you a chance to keep them healthy by making sure they don't have any lumps or bumps that were not there before and removing ticks before they decide to crawl over to you.

Have fun outside with your dog and remember that even indoor cats can get

fleas that you track into the house, and heartworm from those pesky mosquitos that follow us in.