Monday, October 28, 2019

4 Tips to Help Keep Your Pet Safe in the Car



Whether it’s for a joy ride, a road trip, or moving to a new home, lots of pet owners love taking their pets for a ride in the car. While this can be fun for everyone involved and is often necessary, there are inherent risks involved when it comes to taking your pet for a car ride. Fortunately, there are preventative measures you can take to make sure that your pet stays safe and happy in the car.


1) Keep Them Cool


One of the most common causes of pets being harmed in a vehicle is when they are left inside a hot car. It can be tempting to leave your pet inside your car while you run an errand that you think will be quick, such as a trip to the grocery store, but even just ten minutes inside a hot car can cause the temperature to increase to dangerous levels. 


According to the American Veterinary Medical Association, in ten minutes in 80 degree weather, the temperature inside the car will increase to nearly 100 degrees. After an hour, the air temperature inside a vehicle may be forty degrees hotter than the air outside. These temperatures are hot enough to cause illness or even death to your pet. Unfortunately, safety measures like cracking a window do little to maintain a safe temperature inside a parked vehicle. 

If you are planning to frequently travel with your pets, you may wish to look into vehicles such as safety features which will allow you to lock the vehicle with the car running and the air conditioning, with your keys safely in your pocket. If this isn’t an option and you can’t have someone sit in the car with your furry family member with the air conditioning running, it’s best to leave your pet safely at home.

2) Use Safety Restraints

You are probably well aware of the safety benefits of using restraints like seat belts and booster seats in cars when it comes to children. Just like humans, pets are much safer when they are restrained in a moving vehicle. There are different methods that you may want to use depending on the size of your pet. Small animals, like a cat will often be more secure if they are traveling in a carrier. Dogs (or more curious cats!) often do well with a harness. There are different styles and you can discuss which option is best for your particular pet with your veterinarian. One popular style is a harness that can be clipped into the car’s existing seat belt. This can greatly reduce the risk of serious injury if you are involved in a car accident. 

3) Keep Them in the Back Seat

Just like children, pets are often much safer in the back seat of your vehicle. This is because the airbags that are installed in the front seats of vehicles are designed for average adults — not children or pets. An airbag can cause serious injury if your pet is sitting in the front passenger seat or in your lap. Sitting in the front seat also makes your pet more likely to go through the front windshield in case of a collision. Keeping your pet in the back seat will also help you make sure that small pets stay out from underfoot. The last thing you need is to be distracted by your cat getting under your feet while you’re trying to drive!

4) Keep the Windows Up

While your pet might enjoy the breeze if you let them ride with their head sticking out of the open window, this unfortunately isn’t very safe for them. Your pet might be able to jump out of the window into traffic if the window is open very far. No matter how much you trust them or how well behaved your furry friend normally is, all it takes is one temptation to make them jump. If your pet has their head out the window when you are involved in a collision, they are likely to be seriously injured. They also may be injured by debris in the air whipping into their face, such as particles hitting their eyes when you’re moving quickly down the road. Turn the air conditioning up to make sure your pet has a breeze in the car.

Do you have questions about the best ways to keep your pet safe in the car? One of the best things you can do is bring those questions to your veterinarian so they can go over options and troubleshooting with you. Contact Bregman Veterinary Group today to get in touch so we can help you keep your furry copilot safe and happy!

Tuesday, October 1, 2019

The Best Flea and Tick Treatment for Fall


Ticks and fleas are two of the most common causes of concern for pet owners in America. While your pets are playing outside, it can be extremely easy for them to come in contact with ticks and fleas. And, when a pet is not armed with effective protection, ticks and fleas can easily be brought right into your home. It’s important to take the necessary precautions against ticks and fleas - for both your pet and your family.


What are Ticks & Fleas? 


Ticks are related to spiders. They have eight legs. They have flat, oval bodies that swell when they eat.  They feed on the blood of all kinds of animals, from birds to dogs, cats, deer and even humans. Ticks are very small. Adult ticks are only about the size of an apple seed, unless they’ve just fed. They can be hard to spot, which is partly why they’re so good at passing along illnesses without getting caught.

Ticks spread disease by passing along bacteria, viruses, and parasites (organisms that feed off their hosts).  There are several diseases that can be transmitted to your pet from a tick bite. Some of the most common tick-borne diseases seen in the United States are Lyme disease, Rocky Mountain spotted fever, ehrlichiosis, American canine hepatozoonosism and tick paralysis. Tick bites can cause blood loss, anemia, tick paralysis, skin irritations and infections. Tick bites can also cause Cytauxzoonosis in cats, a lethal infection that can cause high fever, loss of appetite, difficulty breathing, jaundice, coma, and eventually death.  Protecting your dog or cat from ticks is an important part of disease prevention.

Fleas are parasites that can spread several diseases on your dog including dermatitis, tapeworms, and anemia. Many dogs suffer from flea allergy dermatitis (FAD), an allergic condition caused by flea bites. This is one of the most common reasons pet owners take their dogs to the veterinarian. Flea bites can trigger an immune response in your dog with symptoms that include intense skin irritation and itchiness that extends beyond the location of the bites, hair loss, and skin infections. Therefore, it’s important to keep fleas and ticks away from your pets and your home.

Veterinarian Recommended Flea & Tick Treatments 


  • Oral Medication: There are a number of oral medications that Bregman Veterinary Group will prescribe your cat or dog depending on your pet’s flea and tick situation. It is important to visit your veterinarian so they can assess the situation and prescribe the right medication to protect your dog or cat.
  • Tick Collars: Tick collars are the most popular item for preventing ticks among pet owners. Bregman Veterinary Group will recommend the tick collar that will be most effective for your pet and their condition.  Some pets may experience irritation from a tick collar. If you notice any reactions to the collar you should contact your veterinarian immediately. 

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It is very important to speak with your veterinarian about your pet’s tick and flea situation. Your Veterinarian will recommend the best tick and flea solution to help remedy the situation and keep you and your pet safe. For more information on which treatment is the most effective flea and tick treatment for your pet, contact Bregman Veterinary Group.