Oodles of puddles: 2 things you never thought of

Everyone in our area is aware that it seems to rain EVERY day! We are over average on yearly rainfall by several inches, but have you thought of the consequences this wetness might have on your pets?
Standing water in puddles is a breeding ground for mosquitoes and they carry and spread diseases, like heart worms.  We will not start to see the results of our wet summer for a few months as the dogs trickle in for testing.  Never, never skip your monthly heart worm preventative! It is even more important now.  If you realize that you have missed your doses and it is less than 30 days late, give it immediately, but be sure to tell your veterinary professionals about the late dosing.
Puddles can also be a place where pathogens gather and pets like to drink from them.  Leptospirosis is a disease caused by a bacteria that can be found in the urine of wildlife. It is a zoonotic disease (can be spread to people) and can be life threatening to dogs. There is a vaccination for this disease and if you feel that your dog is at risk (i.e. drinks from puddles, goes hiking or plays in the woods, etc), ask your vet about this vaccine.
Remember to use your relationship with your veterinary staff to your advantage and to the advantage of your pets.  Ask us if there are special things that you need to watch for.  We try to make our clients aware of timely issues like these, both at Applebrook and in things like this blog!

~Kathryn Primm, DVM