Throughout the month of June, American Humane celebrates their annual Adopt-a-Cat Month. Spring is known as “kitten season,” and thousands of newborn kittens join the millions of cats already in shelters across the country. With animal shelters being as crowded as they are, Animal Humane dedicates this month to invigorating potential pet owners into making the leap to dedicated, caring pet owners--and rescuers.

If you’re interested in supporting American Humane and adopting cat, take a loop at this Cat Adoption Checklist. It provides advice on selecting the right cat for your home, how to best take care of your new companion, and how to make your new cat a part of your family. 

We also advise you to check out this article from Click On Detroit, which lists 25 locations in Michigan where you can adopt a pet. There are several shelters in the southeastern region of the state, so feel free to visit several and find the cat that’s best for you! 

This past May, the Michigan State Senate passed a bill that will now allow for dogs to sit in outdoor eating areas—just as long as the business authorizes it and local municipalities do not object under legislation advancing in Michigan.

With this new law, dogs can now join you at your favorite outdoor dining spot. There are a few stipulations, however. Every dog must be leashed and they cannot pass through the inside of the building. Furthermore, dogs must remain on the patio—meaning no keeping your pup in your lap as you eat.

For restaurants, there are now a few more health standards to maintain. Patios now must remain free of all dog hair, and any surfaces contaminated by dog waste would have to be immediately disinfected.

With this new law comes new responsibilities. Now that the state senate has passed this bill, it means that both businesses and pet owners should respect the rules awhile enjoying their new freedom. If you’re bringing your dog out with you to dinner, make sure that they’ve been brushed well, and that make use of the real plants outside so they don’t get tempted by any fake plants the restaurant may have!

Have you ever considered traveling to a state park but were unsure whether or not your dog would be allowed in? Have you ever skipped a day on the hiking trail because you didn’t know if your companion was welcome? There's good news today for all Michigan pet owners, as a new piece of legislation will now allow pet owners to bring their favorite companions on camping trips.

Michigan’s State Department of Natural Resources will begin opening some state parks and cabins starting this November. The parks that will open their cabin and lodge doors to pets are:

• Harrisville State Park
• Sleepy Hollow State Park
• Lime Island State Park
• Leelanau State Park
• Cheboygan State Park

This is part of a pilot project in the state of Michigan, which means the number of parks allowing pets to enter cabins and lodges is limited to these five parks. Depending on how the first season goes, it’s possible that the state could expand this initiative to other parks throughout the state.

Summer is fast approaching and all of us at Ypsilanti Animal Clinic are excited to enjoy this time of the year with our pets. But before getting carried away with outdoor activities, our veterinarians recommend taking a few precautions before heading out into the heat.

• Never leave your pet in a car. It doesn’t matter if your car is running and your air conditioner is on. Leaving your pet alone in a car exposes them to serious health risks. 
• Keep fresh water with you wherever you go. If you’re heading out for a sunny day at the dog park or for a hike on the trail, don’t forget to bring enough water for you and your pet. Even if you’re simply lounging outside, the midday heat can take a lot of energy out of your pet and they need to stay hydrated. 
• Check for ticks regularly. Now that the weather is heating up, tall grass and wooded areas are packed with parasites that pose serious health risks for your pet. It only takes a few minutes to scan your pet’s fur, and those few minutes can mean the difference between health and serious illness. While you’re at it, check with your veterinarian to make sure that your pet’s vaccinations are up to date.
• Consider trimming your cat’s or dog’s coat. Breeds with thicker fur overheat much faster than short hair pets. If your cat or dog is going to be outside often this summer, it’s worth discussing a shorter coat for the hotter months with your veterinarian or with a groomer.
• Watch for signs of heatstroke. These include heavy panting, glazed eyes, a rapid heartbeat, difficulty breathing, excessive thirst, lethargy, fever, dizziness, lack of coordination, profuse salvation, vomiting, a dep red or purple tongue, seizure and unconsciousness. If your pet is exhibiting symptoms of heatstroke, bring them to Ypsilanti Animal Clinic immediately.

Spring is in the air—the weather is warmer, the days are longer, and we can’t wait to get back outside with our pets. As much as we’re looking forward to the spring, we must also remind ourselves—and our wonderful clients—that flea season is about to start. Before you rush out the door, we want to give you a few items to keep in mind to make sure your pet has a happy, healthy, flea-free season in Eastern Michigan.

First, remember that fleas can cause greater health issues than itching. Pets with flea allergies can have severe dermatological reactions. Furthermore, fleas can pass serious health problems to your pet, including tapeworm and cat scratch fever.

Flea Preventives
The first and most important step to take for your pet this spring is making sure your pet is up-to-date on preventive medications. At Ypsilanti Animal Clinic, we offer a range of oral and topical flea preventives, including:

• Vectra 3D
• Trifexis
• Sentinel
• Revolution
• Cheristan
• Nexgard

Making sure your pet has the proper preventives is the first and most critical step you can take to keeping your pet healthy. Without the proper preventive medicine, you may be exposing your pet—and your family—to serious health risks.

A Clean Home
Ensuring your pet has been administered the right preventative medications is not the only step you can take to keep your pet safe this spring. Keeping your home clean and tidy is another surefire way to stop fleas from spreading through your house. It’s said that only 5 percent of fleas in a home are found on pets, while the other 95 percent of fleas are located in rugs and carpets! When the weather begins to warm up, make sure you regularly keep your floors swept and vacuumed to avoid fleas hanging around and repopulating.

Flea Sprays
Dr. Glencer and Dr. Kunoff also recommend using flea sprays that you can apply to your carpets that stop the growth of eggs and larvae. If used throughout the year, there’s a much greater chance of eliminating these pests and keeping your pet safe throughout the warmer months of the year.

If you have any questions about fleas and how to keep your pet healthy this flea season, feel free to schedule an appointment at Ypsilanti Animal Clinic to speak to one of our many experienced animal-care professionals. We can recommend preventives and flea sprays for your pet and check for any possible flea issues if they arise.

At Ypsilanti Animal Clinic, our number one priority is making sure your pet lives a long and healthy life. Most of our veterinarians and staff are proud natives of the Ypsilanti area, which is why we care for our patients as if they were our own pets. We understand the health risks that Eastern Michigan can pose to pets, and we’re dedicated to keeping our clients informed at all times.

That’s why we’re excited to announce the release of our new monthly blog that’s filled with articles to keep you—the pet owner—up-to-date on veterinary news, medical information, timely news articles and much more. We value your loyalty and admire your dedication in your pets’ health. With each monthly blog publication, we strive to keep you in touch with relevant content for both you and your Ypsilanti pet.

In this month’s blog, we discuss flea prevention for this spring. Combining the right preventive medication plan with the right at-home protection is the best way to keep your pet flea-free and healthy through the year.

Dr. Glencer, Dr. Kunoff, and the entire medical team at Ypsilanti Animal Clinic in Ypsilanti look forward to publishing many more articles in the future to help keep you and your pet healthy and happy for years to come. We hope that you take the time to read our articles, and we look forward to seeing you at the clinic!