When it rains, it pours, and Texas found the truth behind that saying in the month of May. According to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) of the National Centers for Environmental Information (NCEI), May was the wettest month on record in a 121-year period. As we enter hurricane season, we can only expect more rain in the coming months, and with it, mosquitos and disease.
Contact our hospital to speak with an experienced veterinarian on how to keep your pet away from harmful diseases brought on by mosquitos, ticks and fleas.
Rising Heartworm Cases
Pets are especially susceptible to the diseases transmitted through the pesky insects that multiply in your yard during rainy days.
Dog and cat populations are experiencing a rise in heartworm disease and other tick and flea ailments. It’ll only worsen during the summer months. If your pets spend a lot of time outdoors, make sure to check them daily for any suspicious markings and flea/tick infestations. Talk to our veterinarians about a flea and tick preventative care plan as well as heartworm medication. Preventative treatments are the only effective method when dealing with vector-transmitted disease.
Insects Around Your Home
Enforcing a few safety precautions to keep you and your pets safe and sound this rainy summer season is the way to go. Check out these tips to reduce mosquito populations around your home:
- Get rid of standing water – Places where water can accumulate are breeding grounds for mosquitos, particularly in humid areas. Cover, drain and clean areas that may hold water around your home, and encourage your neighbors to do the same.
- Install or repair screens – Any tear in a screen door or window is enough for a few mosquitos to get through. To maintain an insect-free indoor living area, make sure your home’s exterior is safely sealed.
- Avoid peak-mosquito hours – Insects tend to come out and play during the early evening, dusk and dawn hours, so make sure you and your pet get in some playtime before then.
- Keep your lawn and other plantlife trimmed – Mosquitos, ticks and fleas linger in unkempt lawns where weeds and shrubbery run rampant. Make sure to keep your lawn trimmed after rainy days to prevent a larger insect population.
