April is Heartworm Awareness Month! The Butte Humane Society Clinic is a proud member of the American Heartworm Association and we are committed to keeping our clients informed and educated to best protect their pets. Did you know that both cats and dogs have been diagnosed with heartworm in all 50 states? While heartworm is more common in dogs, cats are at risk for contracting heartworms as well.
The best offense is a good defense when it comes to preventing heartworm infections! Because of the large mosquito population in Northern California, there are as few as 6 and as many as 25 confirmed heartworm infections per veterinary clinic in our region! Monthly heartworm prevention should be given for the life of your pet; we recommend that your pet starts on monthly heartworm prevention by the time they are 6 months old and have a heartworm test every year to make sure everything is working as it should.
Unfortunately, if left untreated, heartworm disease can be fatal. Heartworm disease affects the heart, lungs and pulmonary blood vessels of pets and can be fatal to both dogs and cats. Annual testing and monitoring is important- even if they are on heartworm prevention, because prevention (as with human flu vaccines, etc.) are not 100% effective, and infected dogs can be successfully treated. The earlier the infection is caught- the easier it is to treat! There are no approved treatments for cats, but supportive care can help manage complications.
Has it been over a year since your pet’s last heartworm test? Give our clinic a call today to schedule your exam and heartworm test with our vet and pick up your pet’s heartworm prevention prescription today!
Written by loving adopters, the Geiger family
When volunteers sign up to join our team we ask for a 6 hour a month minimum, but some volunteers go above and beyond that request and Marty S. is one of those volunteers. Marty joined our BHS team in 2011 and over the years she has accumulated over 1,397 hours! She is an incredible volunteer that takes the time to socialize with our cats, giving them the attention they need, and helps us out with the laundry and dishes load.
Spring is just around the corner! With the upcoming season change, now is the perfect time to prepare your pets for warmer weather and all that accompanies it! One of the biggest complaints we hear from pet owners as the weather starts to warm up is: the fleas are back! We recommend keeping your pet on a year round flea preventative which helps prevent fleas from ever entering your home- it’s important to make sure your pet is up to date on their flea prevention as warm weather makes them more susceptible to becoming a host for those pesky bugs. Warmer weather also often means spending more time outside for your pets, and specifically more trips to parks or other pet friendly venues for dogs. Make sure your pet is up to date on their vaccines before allowing them to visit areas frequented by other animals to help give them the best chance of being protected from catching a virus from a “carrier” or another sick animal. Not sure what treatments or vaccines are best for your pet based on your lifestyle? Has it been longer than a year since your pet’s last check-up with a veterinarian? Vet care for your furry family member isn’t one size fits all, contact our clinic for information on the best options for your pet! 
Written by loving adopter Megan H.