April Showers bring May flowers... and TOADS! Bufo Toads rear their poisonous little heads in spring... toxic to our inquisitive and curious Cavaliers.
Be on the look-out, keep bushes and grass trim and clear. Keep an eye on your pups, no unattended roaming around, especially for night time walks.
Tick-tock! Spring and summer are also peak times for ticks.
Ticks tend to be most active in late spring and summer, (mostly all year in South Florida), but species and disease transmission can vary based on where you live. They can be found living in tall brush or grass where they can attach themselves to dogs and outdoor cats and are more prominent in warm and humid climates and certain wooded areas of the Northeast, like maybe a summer vacations. Lyme disease is a real threat to dogs in most areas of the United States. Going for a walk in the woods or even in a field with long grass can mean ticks galore. Pups, purebred or not, are not immune to ticks.
Always do a thorough check of your pup when you get home from walking them or when they come inside from running around outdoors. With the lighter coloring of Blenheims and Tri-Colors, the search can be easier than Rubies and Black and Tans, but with their long coats and feathers, check carefully in these main areas:
In and around the ears
In-between the toes
Groin area
Around the eyes, neck and collar area
KNOW WHAT TO DO
If you find a tick that is not yet attached to your Cavalier King Charles Spaniel and it’s just crawling around, promptly pick it up and dispose of it. If, however, you find a tick that is attached to your dog, be sure that you know the proper way to remove it.
You’ll need alcohol, tweezers, a pair of rubber gloves, and a plastic bag. You also might want someone to help you move the fur away from the area so that you can have a better view of what you’re doing.
Use the tweezers to grasp the tick as far down toward your dog’s skin as you can.
Do not squeeze or twist because you want to pull the head out with the body.
Gently pull in a perpendicular motion away from your dog’s skin.
Disinfect the area with alcohol after removal.
Keep the tick inside the plastic bag in a safe area of your freezer so that you can bring it to your vet if you notice signs or symptoms of Lyme disease.
We at CRF are not veterinarians, but our goal is to arm you with information so that you can be an advocate for your dog’s well-being and health. Our objective to assist in educating you so your dog can live their longest and healthiest life possible and have the best start for a second chance.
The best way to prevent your Cavalier King Charles Spaniel from becoming infected with these parasites is to maintain a regimen of consistent flea and tick treatment.
The following information is shared with you so that you can research the effects of several popular preventatives on the market today, widely recommended by veterinary professionals. If you use or have used any of these products, we urge you to review the information contained within these links.
FLEA/TICK CONTROL RECOMMENDATIONS
Less preferable but acceptable products:
Comfortis and Advantage II
Natural sprays okay, but only if necessary.
Love, the Cavies! XO
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