Community Guide 2017
Pets in the Valley By Robert Baker, DVM, with update by Diana Rocha The Valley is a great place for pets, but there are a few local peculiarities and pitfalls to be aware of. Foxtails and other grass awns are a major problem for dogs and cats. As the grass dries up, usually in May, the seeds find their way into our socks and into any and all orifices of our pets. For dogs, the usual fox tail sites are ears (sudden scratching, tilting head and pain), nostrils (sudden violent sneezing), and between the toes (pustular draining tracks). Cats are more likely to get foxtails under their eye- lids, resulting in a closed, weepy eye. When possible, keep dogs out of dry, grassy areas. Whacking and bagging grasses around the house will also help. Ticks are a year-round problem here, but their main population explosion is after the fall rains begin in Novem- ber. These ticks can transmit Lyme disease and other tick-borne illness to dogs and cats, which in most cases manifests itself by achiness, fever and lethargy. A simple blood test can check for the disease and if positive, anti- biotics started. Cats often get chiggers (tiny larval ticks) around and in their ears in the fall months. Chiggers cause extreme itchiness. Look for tiny orange dots in the ear folds, or little scabs on the ear margins. To prevent tick-borne illness in both dogs and cats, it is advisable to use tick preventative medications. There are many tick preventatives to choose from; consulting with your local veterinarian is helpful for finding the right choice. (See page 146 for more information on ticks.) Fleas, like ticks, are a year-round problem but the warmer months are the worst. The newest generation of topical and/or oral flea products have been a wonderful help in controlling and preventing flea infestations. Heartworms are transmitted by mosquitoes and can cause severe heart disease and death if not prevented. Dogs are at greater risk of getting heartworm disease, but cats can get it as well. Though we don’t have a severe heart- worm problem in Marin County, mosquito borne illnesses are spreading due to climate change and it is advisable to have your pet on heartworm preventative medication year round. This is especially important if you plan on traveling with your pets to surrounding areas where heartworm dis- ease is more prevalent. Rattlesnakes, though rare, are a threat to dogs, par- ticularly those that hike with us in the hills. It is best to keep dogs on the trail and close at hand, especially in the warm summer months. If your pet is bitten do not attempt to tourniquet or cut the wound, just get your pet to a veterinary hospital as soon as possible. Fortunately, most snake-bitten animals survive with prompt treatment. If you believe your dog is at a high-risk for rattlesnake exposure, there is a rattlesnake vaccination available.
Those who hike or bike the trails with their dogs, need to be aware of their canine compan- ion’s physical limits. Cut pads, sprains, dehydration and collapse are frequent occurrences, particularly in older, overweight or out of condition animals. There seems to be an increase in the popula- tion of wild predators (bobcats, coyotes and
Carson (Photo by Debra Amerson).
mountain lions) in the San Geronimo Valley, and with it, the worry that our pets may be at risk. Although reports of pets disappearing are not that common, it does happen. It would seem prudent to take reasonable precaution, espe- cially if you live near or frequent our open space areas. The biggest problem for Valley cats is the common fight wound abscess. The best way to protect your kitty is to keep it indoors, especially at night, and to keep food and water inside. Keeping your pets up-to-date on their rabies vaccine is always advisable. The nearest veterinary clinics are the San Geronimo Val- ley Veterinary Clinic (415-488-9791) and the Pet Emer- gency & Specialty Center of Marin (415-456-7372). The ASPCA Animal Poison Control Center Hotline is (888) 426-4435 and is available 24/7. Please note, a con- sultation fee may apply.
Thirteen Crows by Albert Flynn DeSilver
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SGVCC
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