A pet’s coat is their finest outfit, and their skin is the foundation that holds it all together. Keeping them looking and feeling fabulous is a must, not only for the insta but primarily their health and wellbeing. If you had to wear the same pants and shirt every day, you’d probably want to look after them. So to maintain their stylish (and functional) appearance, it’s essential to groom them regularly, choose a balanced diet, and provide parasite prevention. Besides looking good, a healthy coat and skin also serve as a protective barrier against infections and environmental elements. So, roll out the red carpet and give your pets the superstar treatment they deserve.

Common Coat and Skin Ailments:

Fleas: Like a bunch of unwashed and uninvited guests at a party on your pet’s skin, 

fleas are external parasites that feed on your pet’s blood, causing itchiness and irritation. As your pet scratches and bites to relieve the itch, they may damage their skin, leading to inflammation and secondary infections. Not to mention they will make a b-line for you too. To evict these unwanted party crashers, use flea preventatives regularly, and keep your pet’s living environment clean and free of potential hiding spots for flea eggs and larvae. 

Dermatitis: Dermatitis is a general term for skin inflammation, often caused by allergies, infections, or irritants.  Think of it like a red, itchy Christmas sweater your nan bought you and you can’t take it off. That’s dermatitis. Dermatitis makes your pet’s skin irritated and inflamed, which isn’t fashionable at all! When the skin’s protective barrier is compromised, it becomes susceptible to inflammation and infection. To soothe your pet’s itchy “sweater,” your vet will help identify and eliminate the underlying cause, and provide appropriate treatment, such as medicated shampoos, creams, or oral medications. 

Mange:  mange is a skin condition caused by microscopic mites that burrow into the skin, leading to hair loss, redness, and intense itching. Tiny critters, called mites, move into your pet’s fur like microscopic squatters, causing hair loss and itchiness. Which is hardly runway material. There are two main types of mange: sarcoptic mange (also known as scabies) and demodectic mange or demodex. Each type is caused by a different mite and requires specific treatment. Mites are also a sign that your pup may have another underlying immune condition. To evict these unwelcome tenants, consult your veterinarian for accurate diagnosis and appropriate treatment, such as medicated baths, creams, or oral medications. 

Our pets’ joints are like the hinges of a door, allowing them to run, jump, and perform all those zoomies. But, just like doors, these hinges can get rusty, and we need to keep them well-oiled for our pets to enjoy smooth moves. Ensuring joint health involves keeping our furry friends at a healthy weight, providing proper nutrition, and engaging them in regular exercise. Additionally, preventative care, such as supplements and early detection of joint issues, can help maintain their flexibility and comfort as they age.

Common Joint Ailments:

Arthritis: Kind of like a squeaky door hinge that makes your pet’s joints stiff and painful. Their body is creating too much “rust” (inflammation), making it harder for them to dance the night away. Arthritis occurs when the protective cartilage that cushions the ends of bones in the joints wears down, causing friction between them. This friction leads to inflammation, pain, and stiffness in the joint. Helping your pet maintain a healthy weight and providing them with joint supplements, like glucosamine and chondroitin, can support joint health and reduce the discomfort caused by arthritis.

Hip Dysplasia: Picture a door with a hinge that doesn’t fit quite right. That’s hip dysplasia – when your pet’s hip joint doesn’t fit snugly, making them waddle like a penguin. Hip dysplasia is a genetic condition where the ball (femoral head) and socket (acetabulum) of the hip joint don’t develop properly, causing instability and abnormal wear on the joint surfaces. Over time, this can lead to arthritis and pain. Early diagnosis, weight management, and physical therapy can help manage hip dysplasia and improve your pet’s quality of life. 

Ligament Tears: Imagine a door held together with rubber bands, and one snaps! Ouch! This is similar to a ligament tear, where the stretchy bands in your pet’s joints break and cause them pain. Ligament tears commonly occur in the knee joint, particularly the cranial cruciate ligament (CCL) in dogs. The CCL helps stabilize the knee, and when it tears, it causes pain, inflammation, and instability. Injury, obesity, and genetics can contribute to ligament tears. Treatment options include rest, pain management, and surgery, depending on the severity of the tear. Preventative measures include maintaining a healthy weight and providing regular, low-impact exercise for your pet. 

Tailored to your pet by Aussie Vets!

Spring Has Sprung here in Australia!

With the warming weather, increase in outside adventures and escalation of play dates it’s time to do a quick clear out of the winter clutter and prep for the good times. From a deep clean to a medication check and grooming, there’s lots that can be done to ensure the well-being of pets as the weather blossoms. Dr Evan from FleaMail give us some tips on how to make this one a Spring to remember right from the get-go. 

Wash Everything 

If Fido’s favourite teddy is starting to get woofy, throw a load of toys in the wash! Use an all-natural, unscented detergent, not bleach; line-dry or on low without a scented dryer sheet, and check for loose parts before returning to its owner. Dr Evan adds: “Even toys with squeakers and crinkles can make it through the washer unscathed, although let them air dry to be perfectly safe. Spring is as good a time as any to take an accounting of exactly what a pet is playing with, what a pet has heavily damaged and what has been dismissed. If you find things that your pet has not used for ages, why not make a donation to a pet rescue group?” 

Over winter with everyone indoors the fluff and dust well and truly piles up especially in your little buddy’s bed. Dr Evan explains; “Like people-pillows, a pet’s bed should be renewed each 1-2 years if it contains foam or stuffing. Fleas, dust-mites  and other vermin love a dirty bed as they are full of dead skin, saliva and hair which is like a buffet to a critter.” Ewwwwww!! “To deodorise and clean, a simple sprinkle of baking soda over carpet and other vacuum-able surfaces will absorb pet smells and kill bacteria. After applying, let it sit for half an hour then vacuum thoroughly, making sure to reach every nook and cranny.” 

Dr Evan also urges owners to toss pet food bowls and plastic toys into the dishwasher but skip the heated dry setting to avoid a complete meltdown. For heavy duty rubber toys, he suggests a 15-minute soak in one part vinegar to two parts hot water for 15 minutes before hand scrubbing.

Dress down and Groom up.  

Nothing says spring like a new hair-do and some new attire, meaning it’s time to loosen the jackets and get that hair-did! “A groom of the winter coat will help your pet regulate heat, keep them clean and combat the nasties that want to munch on your bestie,” says Dr Evan. “However, one thing that is really, really important and something that any quality groomer will tell you, is to never ever, EVER shave your dog. Now, I know you might be thinking, “but I wouldn’t like to wear a fur coat in summer.” Well, that’s true and neither would I. However, I am not a dog or a cat and one of the worst things we can actually do as humans is a thing called “anthropomorphise” them. Or in Laymans terms, give them human characteristics or behaviours. They are not little people.

For dogs especially, shaving their coat can actually make them extremely susceptible to overheating and sunburn, plus it makes them extremely uncomfortable. The main thing people need to realise is that humans have three layers of skin and most importantly we can sweat. Dogs only have two layers of skin; the third layer is their fur. It’s incredibly important to keep them safe and protected not only from heat but also from physical things like branches, other dog’s claws, the corner of the coffee table and even just rolling on the ground. Dogs also, like almost all mammals with the exception of humans, can’t sweat. Yes, they can sweat through their paws but this is not how they thermoregulate. They pant and one of the biggest tools to keep themselves cool is their fur. I always tell people to think  dog’s coat like a big esky. It keeps them warm in winter and just as importantly, cool in summer.” 

“Brushing your dog or cat not only makes them look dapper but it is also essential for healthy coat maintenance. Long-haired pets need brushing regularly to remove any knots or tangles that can become painful matts and poor insulators. A good old-fashioned grooming session at home is not only a great opportunity to bond with your buddy, but also to check their skin for fleas, ticks, cuts, scabs or lumps. Particularly fluffy pets should be brushed outside, where extra fur can become one with nature. It’s also fantastic for your garden.” 

Health and Medication Check 

Spring’s warmer weather means that fleas, ticks, and other parasites will be making an appearance soon. These pests can cause trouble for pets, especially if they spend quite a bit of time outdoors. Parasite prevention helps protect your pets from potentially serious illnesses and other health issues. Dr Evan explains, “Fleas might be more of a nuisance than a major health threat for most pets, but some have allergic reactions to flea bites. Then there are the deadly ones. Heartworm can lead to life-threatening health problems and paralysis tick just outright kills pets. Having your pet up to date with prevention is far cheaper than the cure. You might wonder if your pets even need any parasite prevention if they stay indoors all or most of the time. Keep in mind that even indoor pets get heartworm, tick and flea problems by catching parasites catching a lift on you.” 

“While you are at it, if your pet is on medication you should check they are all up to scratch. Lots of factors shorten the shelf life of pet meds. There are use-by dates, of course, but also environmental factors like humidity and temperature extremes which Australia is very accustomed to. Administering medications that are degraded can have dangerous health results for your pet,” Dr Evan says. “Some may be ineffective because they’re expired.” 

Now is also a good time to browse through your pet health paper to evaluate when you need to take him or her to the vet for a check-up too. 

Water. Water everywhere.  

And finally … Dr Evan advises; “As the weather gets hotter make sure your pets have a ready supply of clean water at all times, both in and outside. Remember to change frequently as with warmer weather bacteria build up a lot faster, which can make our little buddies quite sick.  Choose a non-toxic disinfectant to ensure that you do not compromise your pet’s health and have more than once source of water per pet.” 

In today’s FleaMail blog we will go over the basics of heartworm. What it is, how to prevent it and what to do if you suspect your pet has been infected.

 What is heartworm?

Heartworm, or dirofilaria immitis, is a parasitic worm that lives in the blood vessels of your pet. Like their heart, arteries and lungs where they feed on blood and can grow up to 12 inches long! The heartworm’s life cycle starts with an infected mosquito biting a dog or cat and then introducing larvae into their bodies via the mosquito’s saliva. There are some other common ways pets contract heartworm besides mosquitoes. They include heartworm larvae in the rain, coming into contact with other infected pets or even fleas that carry heartworms.

Heartworm larvae can stay in a pet’s body for up to a year before reaching adulthood and moving on to the heart where they will reside, mate and produce more heartworm larvae. Even though cases are far more common on the east coast, the best way to think about heartworm is, “if you have ever seen a mosquito where you live, your pet is at risk of heartworm.”

What can it do to my pet?

Heartworm is very serious business! It can cause severe damage or even death if not treated in time. Some of the problems heartworms may cause are; heart disease, severe lung disease, potential organ damage, fluid build-up around the abdomen (peritonitis) and death if left untreated. Initially, you’re going to see not much, which is a problem because there’s a bit of lead time between the infection and an owner noticing the dogs got a problem; it can even be up to a couple of years. All the while this crawly bugger is doing damage to your pet.

Difference between cats and dogs.

While primarily affecting dogs it is now quite common in Australian cats too. However, how they will affect your pet is very different.
Dogs –  The dog is what’s called a natural host for heartworms, meaning the entire life cycle is undertaken in a dog. If untreated, their numbers can increase, and dogs have been known to harbor several hundred worms in their bodies. Heartworm disease causes lasting damage to the heart, lungs and arteries, and can affect the dog’s health and quality of life long after the parasites are gone. For this reason, prevention is by far the best option, and treatment—when needed—should be administered as early in the course of the disease as possible.

Cats

Heartworm disease in cats is not the same as dogs. The cat is an atypical host for heartworms, and most worms in cats do not survive to the adult stage. Cats with adult heartworms typically have just one to three worms, and many cats affected by heartworms have no adults. While this means heartworm disease often goes undiagnosed in cats, it’s important to understand that even immature worms cause real damage in the form of a condition known as heartworm associated respiratory disease (HARD). Moreover, the medication used to treat heartworm infections in dogs cannot be used in cats, so prevention is the only means of protecting cats from the effects of heartworm disease so is wildly important.

What should I look out for?

Signs of heartworm disease in dogs may include a mild persistent cough, reluctance to exercise, fatigue after moderate activity, decreased appetite, and weight loss. For cats it’s very hard to see any signs of heartworm infection on the outside, blood is causing havoc internally.

As heartworm disease progresses, pets may develop heart failure and the appearance of a swollen belly due to excess fluid in the abdomen. Dogs with large numbers of heartworms can develop a sudden blockages of blood flow within the heart leading to a life-threatening form of cardiovascular collapse. This is called caval syndrome, and is marked by a sudden onset of laboured breathing, pale gums, and dark bloody or coffee-coloured urine. Without prompt surgical removal of the heartworm blockage, few dogs survive.

So, what should you do if you suspect your pet is suffering from heartworm?

There are quick and easy heartworm tests you can have your veterinarian run. They do this by taking a blood sample and checking it for heartworm antibodies. As I’m sure you can tell (or know) these tests aren’t always cheap. The best (and cheapest) way to fight heartworm is with preventative medications.

Prevention is key!

The takeaways from all of this?

 1. Cats, once infected with heartworm, unfortunately cannot be cured as the medication we use to kill adult heartworm is poisonous to cats. 2. Heartworm treatment for a dog is incredibly expensive, very long-term (generally daily medical treatments for months) and, for dogs with adult heartworm, surgical intervention is generally needed. This is why prevention for heartworm is exceedingly important.

As we know parasites are always around, regardless of the season, which is why it’s important to keep your pet on regular heartworm prevention medications throughout the year. The best way to prevent heartworm is by giving your pet regular preventative treatments. This can be done at a vet clinic where they will administer heartworm prevention medication as an injection, heartworm control spot-ons or chews.

This is done to prevent heartworms from developing in your pet’s system. Thankfully we can handle all this for you at FleaMail. We offer heartworm prevention in a monthly chew form for dogs and a spot on for cats, which is easy to give to your furry friend and allows you one less thing to worry about when it comes to your pet’s health!

There may be a lot of information to digest in this blog, but it’s important to know because heartworm is not something you want your pet to get.

FleaMail offers your pets monthly protection from fleas, ticks and worms shipped straight to your door so you never forget! You can find information about our service through our website FleaMail.com.au. Or contact us directly through Facebook, Instagram or email us at info@fleamail.com.au.

Despite these threats, our knowledge of Australian ticks and tick-borne diseases is actually in its infancy.

Paralysis tick

Even though there are many species, Australia has (as it always does) one particular species of tick that is 100 times worse than any of the others.
The paralysis tick, Ixodes holocyclus, is a species of tick that lives on the East Coast of Australia, from the tip of North Qld all the way down around to Geelong. Side note – These paralysis tick maps you find on Google are actually very old, very outdated and in no way correct. Now, thanks to climate change and urban spread, paralysis ticks have even been found affecting dogs ,cats and kids in Tasmania.  As the name states, this species of tick secretes a toxin in its saliva that causes muscle paralysis in mammals which can lead to respiratory arrest and eventually, death.

They grow from an egg to a larva (about 1mm long and brown) and then to a nymph (about 2mm long and pale brown). They also don’t fly or jump but crawl up grass or twigs then drop onto passing animals or humans, attaching themselves to the soft skin to feed on blood to grow. Once they have attached, they inject a chemical to stop the blood clotting so they can feed for days.

What are the signs of Paralysis Tick envenomation?

One of the first things an owner will notice is a change to their pet’s vocalisation (meow or bark), especially in dogs. The tick’s venom generally affects the vocal chords which can make the pet “sound funny” (kinda like when your voice broke as you were growing up). Another tell-tale sign (no pun intended) is a limp or lax tail.  If you notice any of these signs in your pet, it’s best to get them to a vet immediately to have a thorough check and to maybe administer antiserum.

What can I do to reduce risk?

Two things that I think are really important to talk about. One, not everybody lives in a paralysis tick zone and has to have tick protection and even those on preventatives should still check their dog or cat for ticks daily, especially if they are outside pets. Don’t worry though, a tick check is very simple, only takes about 1 minute and you don’t need any special devices to find them. It’s basically a glorified pat so your pet will generally be happy to oblige.

When your pet has returned from a walk or simply been outside, is the best time to check them over. It’s best to start at one end and work your way down so you don’t miss anything.   Simply running your hands all over your pet (the glorified pat) and feeling for any small lumps or bumps is the easiest way to start. Ticks tend to be found around the head, neck, ears, underarms, groin and feet. These places are generally a little damper and warmer so ticks love them. Make sure you check inside the ears as well as between the toes. Daily grooming with a good brush can also help to remove any ticks from your pet’s fur as well.

By following these simple steps you can have your dog or cat live happier, healthier lives. All day, every day!

One way for you to protect your pet is to make sure they are treated all year round. FleaMail will help you to keep up to date on your pets treatments each month with zero hassle. Get FleaMail today! Click the link below for more!