Did you know that your pets can have seasonal allergies just like humans? Allergic rhinitis, also known as hay fever or seasonal allergies, is very prevalent in pets, especially dogs. Any dog can have these allergies, but they are especially prevalent in pit bulls, boxers, bichon frises, cocker spaniels, German shepherds, and Golden retrievers.

Identifying Seasonal Allergies in Your Pet

While both humans and pets can have seasonal allergies, they don’t usually show up in the same ways. Humans have more respiratory symptoms, while pets tend to present their allergies through their skin. Look out for these symptoms when deciding whether or not to visit your vet about seasonal allergies:

• Red, inflamed skin
• Biting, gnawing, or scratching at the skin
• Excessive shedding
• Bald spots in the fur (known as hotspots)
• Constant licking of the paws
• Licking at the anal gland
• Rubbing the anal gland on the floor
• Red, waxy inner ears
• Foul smell inside the ears
• Drainage from the ears
• Rubbing their face and snout on the carpet or furniture (mostly in dogs)
• Respiratory problems (mostly in cats)

Treating Your Pet’s Seasonal Allergies

If you believe your pet is suffering from seasonal allergies, contact your local veterinarian immediately for advice and care. If you live in Tampa Bay, call Affordable Pet Hospital at (813) 991-9898 to schedule an appointment. It’s essential for a veterinary professional to evaluate your pet’s symptoms and condition so a proper treatment plan can be developed. In the meantime, follow these steps to keep your pet’s allergies at bay and reduce symptoms:

• Bathe your pet regularly to remove allergens from their fur
• Wash their ears out with a pet-friendly solution
• Wipe off their paws after every visit outside
• Keep your pets on a flea and tick preventative. Many of the skin symptoms caused by fleas mimic seasonal allergy symptoms.
• Use anti-itch sprays or creams developed specifically for pets
• Limit outside time
• Try an over-the-counter allergy medication, only after consulting with your veterinarian first. Some allergy medications that are safe for pets include:
  • Diphenhydramine (Benadryl®)
  • Loratadine (Claritin® – Note: NEVER give your pet Claritin-D®. It can be lethal even in small amounts! Use original Claritin® only!)
  • Cetirizine (Zyrtec®)
  • Chlorpheniramine (Chlor-Trimeton)

Spring Allergy Care for Your Pet

Don’t wait to get your pet relief from spring allergies. If you’re in Tampa Bay, contact the veterinary professionals at Affordable Pet Hospital for compassionate, competent, evidence-based care. Call us at (813) 991-9898 or contact us online today!

Spaying and neutering your pet can be a controversial subject, but it shouldn’t be! The evidence is clear… spaying or neutering your pet has many benefits and should be a first step for owners of a new pet.

When should I spay/neuter my dog or cat?

Dogs

You should wait at least 6-12 months to spay or neuter your small or medium-sized puppy. For larger canine breeds or breeds prone to orthopedic issues, we suggest waiting until they are at least 9-18 months.

Cats

It is standard practice to spay or neuter kittens at around 5-6 months old.

Behavioral Benefits

There are several behavioral benefits to spaying or neutering your pet as early as possible, including:

• Females do not experience estrus (do not go into “heat”) or exhibit any associated behaviors
• Males are less likely to roam
• Less territorial behaviors like spraying, humping, howling, or aggression

Medical Benefits

Along with the behavioral benefits, your pet will also enjoy the following medical benefits after being spayed or neutered:

• Longer life
• Reduced risk of uterine infections (pyometra) in females if spayed before the first estrus
• Reduced risk of breast tumors in females if spayed before the first estrus
• Reduced risk of testicular cancer and prostate issues in males
• Lower chance of contracting feline AIDS or feline leukemia (due to lowered aggression, resulting in less biting and fighting)

Community Benefits

When you have your pet spayed or neutered before they are able to reproduce, you aren’t just doing what’s best for their health and quality of life; you are also doing your local animal shelter, pet rescue organizations, and feral dog and cat populations a huge favor by reducing the number of unwanted and homeless pets in the community. Not only do these unlucky pets cause havoc by getting into trash, spreading diseases, and reproducing uncontrollably, they can also cause automobile accidents, fight with pets and other wildlife, and attack and frighten children and vulnerable people. The sad reality is that many of these feral animals are euthanized, when a combination of spay/neuter programs for feral populations, along with responsible pet ownership, could solve the problem and save so many lives.

Spay and Neuter Services in Tampa

If you’ve brought home a new puppy or kitten and want to give it the best start in life possible, check out our Puppy and Kitten Wellness Plans quality veterinary care during their first year. Our Puppy Gold and Kitten Gold plans include spay and neuter services, so you’ll be 100% covered when the time comes for surgery! Our wellness plans allow you to make monthly payments instead of having to come up with the entire amount for care at once, making responsible pet ownership easier and more affordable than ever. Call us at (813) 991-9898 or request an appointment online today!

It’s that time of year again! The weather cools down and the outdoor decorating heats up as we approach Halloween, Thanksgiving, Hanukkah, Christmas, and Kwanzaa. With all the celebration and conversation, it’s easy to overlook common hazards to your pets around the holidays. Protect your furry loved ones this holiday season by keeping an eye on these top holiday hazards:

Visitors

We love all the company that comes around during the holidays, but well-meaning guests might not always do the right things concerning your pets. The constant in and out of friends and family members can be very stressful for your pets, especially cats and timid dogs. Make sure your pets have their own dedicated space away from all the holiday hustle. If you notice your pet showing signs of extreme anxiety, such as hiding all day, tremors, or unusual whining, consult a vet for possible treatments. You may even want to consider boarding your pet until everything calms down.

Another threat posed by holiday guests is accidentally letting a dog or cat outside. Many pets live inside exclusively and don’t know how to behave or defend themselves outdoors. Other pets may be inclined to run off and find themselves lost with no idea how to return home. Make sure even indoor pets wear proper identification and preferably are microchipped, during the holiday season. Fencing in outside areas is a great way to give your dog time outdoors without fear of losing them. 

Decorations

There are literally endless possible threats when it comes to all the decorations that come in and out of a typical household during the holiday season. Christmas trees, lights, ornaments, garland, tinsel, and more all combine to present a smorgasbord of dangerous objects for your pets, especially young and inexperienced ones. If you have a pet that loves to chew and eat decorations, avoid placing garland, tinsel, and ornaments at the bottom of your Christmas tree. You may even want to consider a small tree placed on top of a table to be out of the dog’s reach altogether.

Lights and wires are also tempting chew toys for both dogs and cats, sometimes with disastrous consequences. Not only is the pet risking a painful shock, but fires can start from damaged wiring. Cord organizers and covers can be great ways to enjoy the holiday twinkle and keep curious chewers away.

Cats present a unique problem for Christmas celebrators. Their instinct to climb your Christmas tree might get the best of them, so get ahead of the problem by securing your tree firmly in a tree stand large and stable enough to handle it. A large tree teetering in a small, flimsy tree stand might land your Christmas tree and all its decor on the living room floor. There is also a risk of fire caused by falling trees.

Food & drinks

You’ll want to continue avoiding all the usual culprits of gastrointestinal issues in pets, such as chocolate, grapes, cherry pits, avocados, apricot pits, apple seeds, coffee, Xylitol, and garlic. But, the increased consumption of alcohol and baked goods during the holidays bears mentioning that both alcohol and unbaked doughs are also dangerous for pets to consume.

Foliage

Many flowers and plants popular during the holidays should be off-limits to pets, including:

• • Poinsettias (not as toxic as people think, but they still cause mild irritation)
  • Azaleas
  • Chrysanthemums
  • Juniper
  • Ivy
  • Holly
  • Mistletoe
  • Lilies
  • Amaryllis
  • Evergreens, like pine

Outdoor deicing chemicals

Antifreeze and other deicing chemicals are very dangerous, yet alluring to pets since they often taste sweet. Keep these types of chemicals completely away from areas where pets have access. If you think your pet has ingested one of these chemicals, take them to an emergency vet immediately.

Gifts

Children aren’t the only ones that love opening holiday gifts.. .dogs and cats are notorious for spoiling holiday surprises by getting into the gifts under the tree. Gifts that contain food items are especially tempting, so think about storing these gifts somewhere out of reach until you give them out. Gifts that include batteries also pose a problem for nosy pets, especially button batteries. If you think your pet has swallowed a battery, contact a vet immediately.

Clothing

We love dressing our dogs and cats up for the holidays (although they may not enjoy it so much), so it’s important to make sure that their clothes are safe too. Avoid outfits with items or accessories that can be chewed off and swallowed. So, no Christmas sweaters with sequins or jewels please! Also, make sure your pet can move freely in their clothes as tight clothing can cut off circulation and cause serious problems.

Our pets are just as much a part of the celebrations as our human friends and families, so be sure to protect them from all the risks and hazards that come with the holiday cheer. If you’re located in the Tampa Bay area and your pet gets into some holiday trouble this year, or they just need a pre-holiday makeover, call Affordable Pet Hospital in Tampa at (813) 991-9898.

Up to 150,000 dogs and cats are bitten by snakes each year in the United States. Since Florida is home to almost 50 native snake species, including six venomous ones, Florida pet owners should be very careful when their pets are outside. Dogs should be kept on a lead or in a fenced area, away from high grass, woodpiles, and rocks. Cats should be kept indoors.

Despite providing the most diligent care, your pet may still experience a snake bite. If you notice the following signs and symptoms, take your pet to a veterinarian immediately: Read more

Heartworms. It’s a word that strikes fear in almost all dog, cat, and ferret owners, and for a good reason. Not only will heartworms leave your dear pet sick, lethargic, and isolated if they are infected, it also requires extensive special accommodations for the infected pet and treatments can be costly.

Climate affects heartworm transmission by mosquitoes.

Florida pet owners need to be even more diligent than most about heartworm protection because of our hot, humid climate, which is perfect for mosquito breeding. Mosquitoes transmit heartworms from carrier animals like coyotes and foxes to your pet right in your own backyard. There have even been cases of human infection reported!

So all you need to do is stop all mosquitoes from entering your yard, right? Don’t we all wish!! While it would be nice to just spray a pesticide and not worry about mosquitoes anymore, that isn’t quite realistic. Even the best mosquito control methods aren’t going to stop all mosquitoes from coming into your space, and just one mosquito is all it takes to infect your pet.

So what can I do to keep my pet safe?

Thank goodness there’s a way to prevent heartworms in pets susceptible to infection – monthly preventative medication. Several brands of heartworm preventative are sold in the US and are widely available, but they all require a prescription from a licensed veterinarian. Some heartworm medications take on the extra job of fighting intestinal parasites or fleas too! Dogs, cats, and ferrets should be tested for heartworms before beginning a preventative and at least annually after that. It requires only a small amount of blood, and the test is usually done quite fast in a lab.

Even so, every year, pet owners try to skip a few of those heartworm pills because they just forget, they want to save some cash, or they’re worried that the medication will have unwanted side effects. Big mistake! The American Heartworm Society says that missing just one dose or even giving it late can leave your pet unprotected.

That’s taking a big risk.

Untreated heartworms can live inside your pet for a long time and wreak havoc on their heart, lungs, and blood vessels. Small pets such as small dogs, cats, and ferrets may not show any sign of infection until it is too late. That’s why regular heartworm testing and a monthly preventative are so important.

So how often should I give my pet heartworm medication? The answer is every single month, on time, for optimal protection.

If you’re still worried that you’ll forget or fearful of side effects, so here are some tips to overcome the obstacles and fears of giving heartworm preventative monthly:

• Set a monthly reminder in your phone’s calendar app to give the medicine and a yearly reminder to get your pet tested.
• Look for coupons or discounts to pet supply stores online, and through organizations, you may already be involved in like AAA, AARP, or even your workplace or school.
• Look up the research and reviews on the type of heartworm medication prescribed for your pet…You’ll find lots of info showing that it is very safe and side effects are minimal.
• Make sure you’re always purchasing your pet’s medications through a reputable brick-and-mortar or online pet pharmacy. Affordable Pet Hospital has a physical location in Tampa and an online pet pharmacy at newtampapet.vetsfirstchoice.com for your convenience.

Giving your dog, cat, or ferret monthly heartworm preventative is a quick and easy way to keep them in the best possible health. Contact Affordable Pet Hospital’s Tampa office at (813) 991-9898 or visit us online at newtampapet.com for information on heartworm preventatives we have available and to schedule an appointment for heartworm testing today!