Given the warm winter we had in many areas of the country ticks have been active for a while now, and if you live in Lyme disease country this post is for you.

Lyme disease affects both people and pets and can have serious health consequences for both. If you live in the Northeast or upper Midwest you live in what is called a Lyme disease endemic area (see map below).

That means your chances of coming into contact with a tick that carries the bacteria responsible for Lyme disease is pretty darn good. The chances that your dog will encounter an infected tick is even better, considering how they like to play in the woods and run through the brush where ticks hang out.

My sister-in-law lives in Massachusetts and has a summer house in New Hampshire. She has had Lyme disease twice and one of her dogs tests positive for Lyme.

Continue Reading "A Lyme Disease Primer for Dog Owners" »

Since it seems like winter is going to pass us by this year, the warmer weather is getting people outside and active a little earlier. To ensure your four-legged sidekick is ready, here are a few easy medical tips to provide your pet with a lifetime of good health.

Continue Reading "Getting Ready to Get Outside" »

Lots of pet owners are under the impression that fleas and ticks are a “summer problem”. Actually, during the wintertime, these critters are looking for a warm place to live, and your pets fur is the perfect spot. Ticks will crawl or fall onto your pet, attach to the skin and eventually swell up with blood, which is when they can infect your pet.

Continue Reading "Pesky Wintertime Parasites" »

Many pet owners are well aware that fleas and ticks become a big problem during the summer. These critters are looking for a warm place to live, and your pets fur is the perfect spot. Ticks will crawl or fall onto your pet, attach to the skin and eventually swell up with blood, which is when they can infect your pet and pose a serious threat to your pet’s health.

Continue Reading "Tiny Ticks can Cause Big Problems" »