Can your pet get seasonal allergies? Just like people, dogs can suffer from environmental allergies. Also like humans, peak season for allergies for pets is late spring into early summer. As anyone who has suffered from runny noses and watering eyes and sneezing fits, allergies are no fun. Especially when after a long winter and rainy spring, you’re finally ready to go outdoors and enjoy the fresh air.
Treatment for pets with allergies
Fortunately, veterinary medicine has progressed to the point where pets suffering from allergies can get shots that alleviate the condition, and allow them to enjoy a normal, happy lifestyle with plenty of games. Like other veterinary miracles, however, allergy treatments come at a steep price. For many pet owners, pet wellness plans from companies that provide medical insurance for pets make it possible to receive such treatments.
Pet health care tips for the summer
Like humans, the best pet health care is preventative. With the dog days of summer just ahead of us, it’s worthwhile to recall some basic pet care rules:
- Make sure your pet always had plenty of fresh, clean water to drink.
- Give your pet a cool place to rest and sleep without being disturbed. Cats actually sleep for 16 or 17 hours a day. They need the rest to continue being the graceful, agile creatures they are.
- Never leave your pet unattended in a car on a hot day. Even with the windows cracked open, it only takes minutes for a car to overheat dangerously.
- Schedule games, walks and runs for late evenings and early mornings, when it’s cooler. Make sure your dog or cat dies not get overtired or exhausted.
- Maintain a regular grooming schedule. This is shedding season and specially for cats, the fur should not be ingested.
- Summer is peak season for ticks and fleas. Talk to your vet about which remedies are right for your pet. For a natural flea deterrent, try rose water, which you can get from a health food store. Sprinkle a little on your pet’s bedding or in areas where it sits. Lavender is also a flea deterrent. Avoid essential oils, which can be toxic to pets.
Pet wellness plans give you peace of mind
Americans love their pets and treat them like family. They spend $20.46 billion on pet food each year, $12.56 billion on pet supplies and over-the-counter medicines and $13.59 billion on vet care each year. With pet wellness plans, unexpected injuries or illnesses are no longer a cause for worry or financial hardship.
Pets being what they are, you can never predict when they might suffer an accident or injury. Healthcare for pets does not come cheap. A pet insurance plan ensures that no matter what, you will be able to pay for any medical care needed for your pet, if it should become necessary.