Springs SPCA urges pet owners to prepare for spring health risks
Warmer weather brings a rise in parasites and allergies, prompting local animal welfare experts to issue crucial care advice for pets.
As temperatures rise, the Springs SPCA is urging pet owners to take extra precautions to protect their animals from seasonal health risks.
According to Springs SPCA manager Annecia le Roux, warmer weather brings an increase in ticks, fleas, allergies and viral diseases, while unsterilised animals enter their breeding season.
“Spring brings a surge in external parasites like ticks and fleas, an increase in airborne and environmental allergies, and a rise in viral disease transmission as animals become more active outdoors,” said Le Roux.
She said warmer temperatures can cause tick and flea populations to increase rapidly in gardens, making preventative treatment essential, adding that prevention is always cheaper and safer than a cure.
Le Roux advised owners to maintain monthly, veterinarian-approved parasite control, including spot-on treatments, oral chewables or tick collars. Regular grooming and washing pet bedding weekly in hot water can also help reduce infestations.
She said that pet owners should also be alert to signs of parasites.
Dogs and cats suffering from fleas may scratch, bite or lick themselves constantly, particularly around the base of the tail and belly. Other signs include red or inflamed skin, small dark specks in the fur, known as flea dirt, and hair loss.
Le Roux highlighted that ticks can appear as small bumps on the skin, particularly around the ears, neck, toes and gums. Sudden lethargy, loss of appetite and pale gums may also indicate a tick-related illness.
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Recognising allergy symptoms
Spring allergies are another concern, with Le Roux explaining that pets often show allergies through their skin rather than through sneezing as humans do.
“Look for persistent scratching, chewing or licking of the paws, red and inflamed skin, recurrent ear infections, hair loss, or watery eyes,” she said.
Common triggers include pollen from flowering trees and grasses, weed spores, dust mites and flea saliva.
She noted that owners can reduce exposure by wiping their pets’ paws and coats with a damp cloth after walks, vacuuming regularly, keeping grass short and maintaining year-round flea control.
Pet owners are encouraged to be careful about what plants and garden products they keep around their animals.
She said that lilies are extremely toxic to cats, while azaleas, daffodils, clivias and cycad palms can also pose serious risks. Le Roux warned that cycad seeds are deadly to dogs.
Garden products such as snail bait, fertilisers and pesticides can cause severe poisoning, seizures and organ failure. Compost heaps containing mouldy food can also be dangerous.
As pets spend more time outdoors during spring, owners should make sure fences and gates are secure to prevent animals from roaming.
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Le Roux said that dogs should be walked on a leash in public places and owners should ensure their pets wear updated identification tags, with microchip details registered.
Walks should also be avoided during the hottest parts of the day to protect dogs’ paw pads from hot surfaces. Spring can also bring changes in animal behaviour, particularly among unsterilised pets.
“Unsterilised animals experience strong hormonal surges in spring, prompting males to dig out of yards or fight over females,” said Le Roux.
This can increase the risk of dog fights, motor vehicle accidents and animals becoming lost. She urged owners with unsterilised pets to have them sterilised as soon as possible.
“Sterilisation not only prevents unwanted litters that overcrowd local shelters, but it also drastically reduces roaming, territorial aggression, and serious health risks such as uterine infections, pyometra, and mammary or testicular cancers,” she said.
Le Roux also encouraged owners to check that their pets’ vaccinations are up to date, particularly rabies and the 5-in-1 vaccination for dogs, as well as the 3-in-1 vaccination for cats.
Deworming and monthly tick and flea prevention should also be prioritised at the start of the season. She warned owners against using unsafe home remedies or the wrong products when treating parasites.
“Applying dog tick/flea products containing permethrin to cats is toxic and fatal,” she said.
Le Roux also cautioned against using engine oil, paraffin, bleach or dish soap to treat ticks or skin conditions, saying these substances can cause severe skin damage or poisoning.
Skipping parasite treatments can also allow infestations to become established again in the home and yard.
Le Roux’s advice to local pet owners this spring is to be proactive by microchipping pets, securing yards, sterilising animals and keeping up with monthly parasite prevention.
“Responsible care today prevents unnecessary suffering, lost animals, and emergency vet bills tomorrow,” she said.
