Pet Party Line is a column written by Beth Byrd and is featured weekly in The Citizen News, one of our local newspapers.

Heartworm, Fleas & Ticks, Bites & Stings, & Hazardous Plants

Heartworm disease can be fatal to your dog and is transmitted by mosquitoes. Here in the South, dogs and cats need to be tested yearly for the disease and it is recommended that your pet be on preventative medication year round.

Fleas and Ticks: Check with your vet to make sure that certain products (sprays, powders, and flea pills) are safe for your type of pet. Some ticks can transmit Lyme disease and Rocky Mountain spotted fever. Any tick found on your pet should be removed promptly. An easy method is to surround the tick with petroleum jelly (let it sit for a little while so it can suffocate the tick) then it will be easy to pull off with a paper towel!

Bites and Stings: Unusual swelling or soreness may be a sign of a bite or sting. If swelling persists, contact your vet immediately.

Hazardous Plants: Many plants and flowers are sprayed with insecticides and treated with fertilizers, which may cause physical irritation to your pet’s system. Plants can also cause allergic dermatitis or skin rashes in animals. Some common potentially hazardous plants include caladiums, azaleas, Easter lilies (especially cats), hibiscus, tomato plants, rhododendron and oleander. There are more and accurate identification of the plant in question is essential. Help keep your pet healthy and safe!

The Trenton Peach Festival - A special thanks from All God’s Creatures to 1) Flowers by Janet who donated balloons for our parade trailer 2) The National Wild Turkey Federation who donated a signed and numbered Black Lab print for our raffle. The lucky winner was Venetia Northrop of Trenton.