WEST HAWAII TODAY | Friday, March 4, 2016 5A PIKE’S CORNER Well Spring has sprung and with it all manner of pollens and allergens have come out to play. Hawaii does have seasons and seasonal allergies are a huge part of that. This year with the lack of rain, we are seeing more parasites than usual and a lot more itchy scratchy pets are coming in. We know all that itching and scratching is bothering you just as much as it is bothering them. Be proactive and get them in at the fi rst signs of trouble before they self-destruct. There are numerous things you can do for your pet at home until you can get in. Bathing them and making sure their skin is free from dirt and anything that cause irritation is the fi rst step. Use a mild pet safe soap and make sure to rinse them very well. Make sure their bedding and areas they are in the most are clean and free from debris and dirt. Making sure they are on a reliable parasite control is another. All of the parasite medications are not created equally and some work much better than others. Often times these are medications only available from your veterinarian. Make sure during your spring cleaning you also get rid of old or expired medications. It is tempting to keep these things around for longer than the date on the bottle but the reality is the effi cacy of the products change over time and will not work the same. Using expired products can actually cause a problem to get worse rather than better. Make sure you always continue to give medications like antibiotics until it is gone to insure your pets illness is completely gone. Speaking to your veterinarian about how to take care of your pet and their health is the fi rst step. Protecting your pets from things like Heartworm and fl eas, ticks, various intestinal worms and diagnosing allergies are something that cannot be done at home. Make your appointments today and get your pets spring off to the right start. Remember an ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure.~ Ruff Keauhou Veterinary Hospital, Experience your pet deserves, Experience you can trust. 808-322-2988/Fax 808-322-2303 7:30-5:00 Monday-Friday 78-6728 Walua Road • Kailua Kona www.keauhouvet.com 8-5 pm on Saturday Emergency call 24/7 Pike
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