KEEPING YOUR PET FIT AND HEALTHY

For pet owners and their four-legged friends, interacting with other dogs provides great opportunities for exercise and socialization. Whether it’s playing at the dog park, hiking through the woods, strolling around town or making new friends at doggy daycare, these activities can improve your dog’s mental and physical wellbeing. They can also put your dog at risk for exposure to health threats.

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“We all love getting out of the house with our furry friends but it’s important to remember that serious danger lurks in the grass, community water bowl or, if you travel with your dog, in another city,” advises Julia Szabo, pet lifestyle expert. “With the right knowledge, advice from your trusted veterinarian and some simple preventive measures, it’s easy to keep your dog happy and healthy.”

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• Always discuss your pet’s lifestyle with health risks and preventive measures.

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• Check regularly for ticks, which will help reduce the transmission. Lyme disease, for example, can impact as your own. to identify potential

• Remember to mention travel if your dog goes on the road with you, areas of the country may represent different health threats than what at home.

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• Keep your pet away from wild animals, as they often carry disease, and don’t allow your dog to drink from unclean water sources given that certain diseases can be spread there.

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“I’ve seen the devastating impact of CIV first hand - both on a dog’s health and the emotional toll it takes on owners,” said veterinarian Natalie Marks, DVM, and co-owner of the Blum Animal Hospital in Chicago. “When CIV H3N2 broke in our area, we were seeing upwards of 15 cases a day at times and were scrambling to stop the spread of this very contagious disease. Now we know what we are dealing with and are able to protect at-risk dogs through vaccination and other measures. I strongly recommend that pet owners with dogs that are social and regularly commingle with other dogs speak to their veterinarian now about what is right for their pet and to fully understand what puts a dog at risk for CIV.”

If you answered yes to one or more of veterinarian to determine whether CIV

these questions, talk with vaccination is appropriate

To learn more about protection against CIV, fleas wellness topics, please visit MyPet.com. (BPT)

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