The Roanoker - March/April 2020 - 74

"MAINTAINING YOUR DOG AND CAT ON
MONTHLY HEARTWORM PREVENTATIVES
THAT CONTAIN INTESTINAL DE-WORMERS
IS KEY TO KEEPING THEM HEALTHY,"
-DR. COURTNEY WIEGARD

"These details will help your veterinarian decide
if allergies are seasonal versus year-round and help
pinpoint how to diagnose or treat," Wiegard says.
"Fortunately, now in veterinary medicine we have many
ways to diagnose allergies from skin allergy testing,
serum or blood allergy testing, hypoallergenic food
trials and more."
Wiegard, as well as other sources, highly recommends
having your pet examined by a veterinarian if you
suspect they suffer from allergies, as this is the only
way to determine their specific irritant and treatment.
According to petsbest.com, "Reduce the chance of
your cat having a spring allergy by keeping them indoors,
particularly on dry, windy days. Also, keep kitty inside
after mowing the lawn, weed pulling or gardening."
Petsbest.com also suggests wiping a pet's paws
upon re-entering the house from the outdoors to keep
allergens from following your pet inside the house.
A problem some pet owners might be surprised to
learn could affect their animal is a fear of rain, which can
present significant challenges during these rainy months.
Wiegard says helping your animal cope with this fear
is tricky but desensitizing them to the water slowly is
the key to success.
"Start by getting your dog's paws a little wet in the
house or sprinkling water on them. Then, take them out
for a brief time in a gentle rain, and be sure to positively
reward them with special treats as you slowly expose
them," Wiegard says.
Animals may also need desensitization to umbrellas
if they are scared of them and Wiegard emphasizes slow
introductions with positive rewards.
Doctor of Veterinary Medicine Lauren Connolly
says in an interview for AccuWeather.com on helping
pets cope with a fear of storms, "Being afraid of
thunderstorms is just a form of noise phobia. Cats can

MARCH/APRIL 2020

also be afraid of loud noises and storms, but they often
will go and hide under a bed or behind a couch. Because
they are not as destructive as dogs, their fear often goes
unnoticed."
Connolly suggests using calming methods including
petting or sitting with your pet to help reduce their
anxiety.
Spring brings gardens full of flowers, vegetables and
deer tracks, but it can also bring unwanted parasites to
your outdoor animals.
Wiegard warns that many gardens house parasites
that are harmful to pets, including roundworms,
hookworms and whipworms. All of these parasites live
in the soil of gardens with eggs that can survive harsh
temperatures, both freezing cold and extreme heat.
"Maintaining your dog and cat on monthly
heartworm preventatives that contain intestinal dewormers is key to keeping them healthy," Wiegard says.
"It is also recommended to have your pet's fecal sample
checked at least annually to make sure they are free of
intestinal parasites."
Gardeners with pets should also note the types of
fertilizers used in their garden plots. Wiegard says many
organic fertilizers are safe for pets, but concerned pet
owners should contact the Pet Poison Helpline if any
animal ingests large amounts of fertilizer.
Pet Poison Helpline's website recommends storing
all gardening materials, including herbicides and
insecticides, seeds, plant bulbs, potting soil, fertilizer,
and sprays in places pets cannot reach.
"Keep a list of what you have planted, this way if
they ingest a plant you can say for certain what it is. If
you use all of a fertilizer in a pot, note what kind it was
or keep the label taped to the bottom of the pot," says
Pet Poison Helpline. "This way if a pet eats some, the
ingredients are readily available." I

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The Roanoker - March/April 2020

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