The days gradually become longer and warmer, trees bud, tulips begin to bloom, and everywhere you go you can hear the birds singing. 

 As new plants and flowers burst into life this spring, so too do the symptoms of hay fever. But humans aren't the only ones who suffer. Blooming plants, grasses and flowers can trigger allergic reactions called Atopy in dogs and cats.  Atopy can be a very serious condition, for more information click here.

Springtime also brings out various insects, including fleas, ticks, and mosquitoes.  DPR advises year-round flea and tick treatment and heartworm prevention.  Most people are aware of diseases fleas and ticks can transmit, like Lyme Disease and West Nile Virus.  But, did you know Heartworm Disease is transmitted by mosquitoes, and can be fatal?   Heartworm disease is a silent killer; you can ensure that your dog stays heartworm free with a monthly chewable tablet.  If your Dobe is not on regular heartworm prevention, we strongly recommend discussing prevention with your veterinarian and minimally having him/her tested annually. 

Springtime also brings on a dreaded chore in our home.  In our home every year, we swear to follow the dogs around the yard with a scoop, be it sleet, or hail, or raging blizzard. But... every year the temperatures drop to minus forty degrees and our previous determination from last spring is frozen solid, much like what we swore to collect in a timely fashion. So every spring, we’re out in the melting snow, picking up dog piles as they are exposed.  From spring until the cold of winter, the dreaded "doo-ty" becomes an evening chore to be picked up each day.  Why Bother?  Why not just let it sit there and degrade? Aside from the fact we humans like to enjoy the yard and prefer not to have it on our shoes, dog poop is a health hazard. Left alone it can gather maggots, parasites from other animals, pass parasites to other animals, which in turn pass them back to the dogs, and possibly us humans as well. The smell alone is also a good incentive to pick it up. Picking it up is also the best solution if you have a dog who like to snack on "poop-sicles" (coprophagia), or who enjoy rolling in it and then come inside and lay on the furniture.

Dog’s love spring as it is the beginning of more time outdoors, by keeping tabs on your Dobe’s health and by being a responsible master, you can make this a fantastic season for both you and your pet(s).