After the cold, we are all looking forward to going outside, taking advantage of the sunny hours and the more pleasant temperatures. Also our dogs and cats. However, as much as they adapt naturally, the long-awaited spring brings a series of changes that can affect their health. Not only will you have to adapt to this transition stage, but you will also have to take into account everything that comes with enjoying a more spring-like climate. These are some of the problems that can appear in dogs and cats when this season begins.
The increase in temperature and humidity helps external parasites to roam freely, which can transmit diseases to our dog or cat. This is the case of ticks and fleas, which are usually found in areas covered with grass, shrubs and areas with trees. They can also catch them if our dogs and cats come into contact with other domestic or wild animals that inhabit those areas and that are not dewormed.
However, the fact of catching this type of parasite is not just a matter of bites. Nasty ticks are behind the transmission of bacteria like the ones that cause Lyme disease or Rocky Mountain spotted fever. And the annoying fleas are not far behind. These can transmit bacteria such as the one that causes bartonellosis and even parasite larvae that cause digestive problems. And not only that, at the time of the bite, the saliva of the fleas can cause, in both dogs and cats, an allergic skin reaction that causes itching and scratching.
Therefore, it is worth taking a look at our dog or cat after going outside to see if they take any of these parasites home with them. Ticks love to go where the skin is thinner because they can more easily access blood vessels and therefore feed better. Thus, we can find them in and around the ears, between the fingers, around the tail, between the hind and front legs, on the belly, under the collar, and even around the eyelids.
It is important that, if we find any of these intruders in our dogs and cats, we do not forget to check ourselves to rule out that they could have been transmitted to us or that we are the ones who bring them into the house.
If we live or move to a geographical area where there are mosquitoes that transmit certain diseases, such as leishmaniasis or dirofilariosis (the so-called heartworm), our dog or cat must be adequately protected with pipettes or collars that repel them. There are many options on the market that we can use alone or in combination. In fact, you don’t just have to be alert to external parasites. Our dog or cat can contract internal parasites if it comes into contact, for example, with contaminated water, feces or infected tissues from other animals. And although they may seem totally harmless to us, slugs and snails can also be transmitters of internal parasites.
On walks through the woods and rural roads, we must also be alert to the presence of the pine processionary moth, a type of caterpillar that, as its name suggests, moves in an orderly line, like an Easter pass. These insects are covered in stinging hairs, so if dogs or cats step on them or lick them, they release a toxin that is very dangerous, especially if they swallow the caterpillars. In this case, the hairs would settle on the tongue and larynx and cause a great inflammation that could block the passage of air and compromise the life of the dog or cat.
If our dog or cat comes into contact with the hairs of a caterpillar, it is vital to go to our veterinarian. Also, we should not try to remove the hairs by rubbing, since we would break them and release more toxins, worsening the situation. In any case, if the hairs have stuck to an accessible area, wash it with plenty of water, preferably hot, to reduce the activity of toxins.
Spending more time outdoors also implies a greater risk of accessing toxins such as snail and slug poisons, fertilizers, fungicides, herbicides; or also from suffering snake bites or bees attracted by our garden or the plants that are in your walking area. Some types of plants more common at this time of year, such as hydrangeas or azaleas, can also be toxic to them. Remember that poisoning is considered a veterinary emergency, in which, as a general rule, the faster we react, the better the prognosis.
If your dog or cat scratches incessantly, keep in mind that we are not facing one of the most common medical problems during this time of year: allergic dermatitis. The main symptom is the appearance of itching and skin lesions due to inflammation and scratching, to the point of damaging the skin so much that the hair falls out in certain areas of the body, revealing areas of alopecia in the dog’s coat or the cat. Other symptoms linked to spring allergies, and which you should look out for, are coughing and tearing, which are usually caused by environmental allergens in allergic dermatitis, such as flea saliva and grass pollen and other floors.
In the same way as with people, our dog or cat may need to take drugs to cut the itch-scratch cycle and treat secondary infections. Spring allergy can manifest not only through skin symptoms but also with respiratory symptoms as in the case of asthma in cats. In this chronic disease, just as it happens in people, the cat’s airways become inflamed making breathing difficult and causing coughing and exercise intolerance. Despite this, with appropriate treatment you can improve your quality of life.
Environmental temperature and daylight hours also affect molting, the normal process by which dogs and cats lose a large amount of hair. The molting phase, which lasts approximately 5-6 weeks, is an adaptation mechanism by which a warmer and less harsh environment, environmentally speaking, causes dogs and cats to shed the layer of hair they used as protection against low winter temperatures in such a way that, with the finest fur, they acclimatize and accommodate to high temperatures.
A good diet, especially those that have a significant amount of omega 3 and 6, makes the hair of cats and dogs strong and shiny, and their loss more progressive and smooth. It is essential to brush and sanitize the hair with the help of cards and combs, especially in cats, to avoid the production of knots, remove excess hair and remove any that is about to fall out. In dogs, the fact that some lose more or less hair is genetically regulated. Even short-haired dogs like the Chihuahua, English bulldog, boxer, or beagle lose more hair than the schnauzer or poodle, with a longer coat.
If you have a dog, you have to be especially careful with leptospirosis, a disease whose name comes from the bacterium that causes it, leptospira. This bacterial disease is contracted mainly by ingesting contaminated water from places such as ponds, lakes, or puddles, and by drinking the urine of other infected animals. We must prevent them from drinking water from these sites and keep vaccinations against this disease up to date.
Another issue that must be taken care of is the spikes, which in the spring proliferate in the fields and on the edge of the roads, so that they do not settle on the fur, the legs or the tongue, and can generate inflammation and pus. In fact, they can even enter body openings, such as the ears, nostrils or eyes, causing incessant itching, tearing or sneezing that requires removal and veterinary handling. Every time you take a walk in areas where there are spikes, check your dog well before returning home.
Spring can not only bring environmental problems such as parasites or spikes, but also its behavior can be affected. If you see your cat downcast or not wanting to play, it may be normal at this time of year and that the decrease in their activity is the first change related to spring. With less activity you may eat less precisely because your body doesn’t need it. However, paradoxically, if your cat moves less and eats the same, he may end up gaining weight. Therefore, if you know that he has a tendency to gain weight, you should adapt the diet to his level of activity to help him control his weight.
In the case of female cats, with spring comes the mating season. Unlike bitches, their reproductive cycle begins depending on the temperature and, above all, the amount of light in the environment. With his arrival, it is possible that your cat emits exaggerated vocalizations at night —with that sound she wants to attract the cats—, that she is more affectionate than usual or tries to escape to go in search of a male. The heat in cats can last from 2 to 19 days, even chaining several stages due to the mild ambient temperature and the light that remains stable. This can be undesirable for the cat, so consult a veterinary expert to help you avoid the stress of chaining one heat after another, as well as provide them with a calm environment. Make sure you also close windows and doors tightly.
This time of year is not without certain dangers, but knowing them will help pet parents to ensure the well-being of their dog or cat, as well as that of the rest of the family. Keeping an eye on everything that involves going abroad, especially in rural environments, keeping an eye on them on outdoor walks, keeping them properly dewormed, using methods to repel mosquitoes and consulting the veterinarian if we see any alarm signs, will do May spring be synonymous with joy and enjoyment.
*Sources used to make this article:
1- https://www.ultima-affinity.com/es/es/perro/problemas-asociados-a-la-primavera-en-perros
2- https://www.ultima-affinity.com/es/es/gato/problemas-asociados-a-la-primavera-en-gatos
3- https://www.ultima-affinity.com/es/es/perro/pulgas-y-garrapatas-en-perros/
4- https://www.ultima-affinity.com/es/es/gato/como-manejar-el-celo-en-gatitas/
