Pet of the Month – Rocko We all love our pets, big or small. Send in their photo to make them known to all.
Email your photo and a brief description of your family pet to tami@villagerpublications.com. Below are some handy tips from your local vet. Meet Rocko the Mutt Hound, rescued from Texas back in 2020. Rocko has been in Ilderton for five years as of this past April. He loves playing outside in the winter but prefers spring weather, especially with the squirrels coming out from hibernation. You can see him out and about, walking all over town on a squirrel patrol. He loves Ilderton wing nights, Donna at Ruff Trax, meeting other dogs, and his new baby brother – especially the food being flung from the highchair.
Please say hi if you see him around town. Fur parents Adam & Abbey Guenther
Parasites – A Closer Look (Part 1) by Dr. Christina Douthwaite DVM, Ilderton Pet Hospital Regular parasite prevention is essential to protect your pet and reduce the risk of transmitting diseases to both you and your pet. Parasites can live outside your pet (fleas, ticks, mites and lice) or inside your pet (worms and protozoa). This month, we will focus on external parasites, and next month, internal parasites will be highlighted. Fleas are reddish-brown, jumping insects that are 1-4 mm in length. Flea bites can cause itching, skin infections and allergic reactions and if ingested, can lead to intestinal tapeworm infections. While outdoor fleas die off in winter, they can survive year-round in homes or on animals. Given that they can produce 50 eggs per day, it doesn’t take long to end up with an infestation. Flea prevention should begin April 1, when adults start to hatch. Ticks are members of the spider family and can range in size from a poppy seed to 5 to 10 mm when fully fed. In Ontario, ticks are active when the temperature is above 0*C. The primary tick-transmitted diseases in Ontario are Lyme disease, Ehrlichiosis, Anaplasmosis and Babesiosis.
Since ticks take time to transmit diseases, prompt and careful removal is crucial. It’s recommended to keep any ticks removed from your pet and contact your veterinarian for further steps. Start monthly tick prevention when the temperature is above 0*C. Choose rapid-acting products that reduce the risk of transmission to humans and other pets. It is important to only use veterinary-approved products for cats, as many tick products are toxic to this species. A Lyme disease vaccine is also available for at-risk dogs. For more information about the safe removal of ticks and tick diseases, visit www.ticktalkcanada.com and www.ontario.ca/page/tick- borne-diseases. Lice and mites tend to be host-specific and rarely cross over from a cat or dog to a human. Many monthly preventative products include protection against these parasites. A comprehensive parasite prevention plan and maintaining a clean environment reduces the risk of parasites for all family members. Join us next month for a closer look at internal parasites.
IldertonPetHospital.com 125 King Street, Ilderton (519) 666-2288
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C atty S hack THE London Animal Care Centre – Licensing, Bylaw Enforcement, Adoption and Lost/Found Services: 121 Pine Valley Blvd., (519) 685-1330 The Catty Shack: 756 Windermere Rd., (519) 432-4572
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Ilderton and Area Villager May 2025 • Page 5
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