EberVet | Keeping your pets safe in summer

Writer: Dr Hilldidge Beer

For many of us, summer is a season to be celebrated. At last we can spend hours outdoors swimming in the sea, taking long hikes in the mountains, hosting pool parties and braais. But for our pets, summer holds a few nasty surprises which, if we aren’t vigilant, can be life-threatening. Here are our top three:

Ticks

Good winter rains coupled with warmer temperatures means ticks are multiplying in their thousands. Now is not the time to neglect your pet’s parasite control. Even if you don’t see ticks in your garden, they’re there. Ticks are not confined to veld or farms; suburban gardens are just as much of a haven for these disease-carrying critters and because they’re so small, you may not find them hiding in the long hair between your dog’s toes, or way down in your pet’s ear canal. Biliary, which is a disease caused by the parasite named Babesia canis rossi is transmitted to pets via ticks. More dogs die from biliary in South Africa than any other disease, yet there are several excellent anti-parasite products on the market that can protect your pets all year round. Ask your nearest EberVet Vetshop for advice on the product best suited to your pet, as what you choose depends on the age and life-stage of your pet.

Click below to read more. (The full article can be found on page 17)