Spring health checklist for Fido and Fluffy

Spring is a good time to do maintenance on your homes and cars. But don't forget your pets!

On "The Early Show" Friday, resident veterinarian and CBS News correspondent Dr. Debbye Turner Bell went through a health checklist for dogs and cats:

ANNUAL PHYSICAL EXAM WITH VET

If your pet hasn't seen your veterinarian for more than a year, now is the time to get her checked out thoroughly. There are many diseases that can be successfully treated at a minimal cost, if caught early. That's why a yearly physical exam is so important. As your pet ages, it may be necessary to increase the frequency to twice yearly.

Heartworm prevention and treatment

As we thaw out from winter's freeze, mosquitoes become active again. While mosquitoes are largely a nuisance to people, they can be deadly to your pet. They can carry a parasite called dirofilaria immitis. These grow into heartworms in your pet and can kill them if not treated. Heartworms are completely preventable. And heartworm preventatives are quick and easy to give. But first it is important to have your dog tested for heartworms before starting preventative medicine. If your pooch is free and clear, and you live in a region that gets hot and humid in the summer (where mosquitoes flourish), then you want to start your dog on a heartworm preventative. Heartworms can cause extensive damage to the heart and lungs of cats and dogs. Left unaddressed, the resulting cardiovascular disease can be fatal. Now is a good time to check your dog's heartworm status. Hopefully she is free of these potentially fatal blood-suckers. But if not, it is vital to catch the disease as early as possible and treat as soon as possible.

Flea and tick control

Fleas and ticks carry intestinal parasites, Lyme Disease, Rocky Mountain Spotted Fever, to name just a few. Fleas are also a common culprit in allergies in dogs. Fleas spend most of their life cycle in the carpet, furniture and pet bed. So you cannot successfully treat a flea infestation without also treating the environment in addition to the pet. Regular vacuuming, washing bedding and rugs will go a long way in the battle against fleas. As for ticks, you will mainly find them on your dog's neck, ears, groin, skin folds, and between toes. When you are out playing (and especially hiking) with your dog, you should check their entire body for ticks, so that they can be removed immediately.

It is important to use flea and tick control products as directed by your veterinarian. It is possible to poison your pet with the flea control if used improperly. Never use a dog flea product on a cat. Each formulation is for a specific species and weight. You can overdose a small animal, if you give them a flea control product that is made for a much larger animal. Be particularly careful when treating very young, very old, sick, or pregnant animals. They can be especially vulnerable to the poisons in flea products. A very effective way to rid your pet of fleas is to take her to a professional groomer or veterinarian for a "flea bath." This will kill all the fleas on the pet's body. But this bath is of no value if you don't also treat the environment where the pet frequents. Without treating the environment, the newly flea-free pet will simply go back home and get re-infested. And the cycle starts all over again.

Consider using a product with insect-growth regulators (IGRs), which are not pesticides. These will prevent the next generation of fleas but will not kill insects already on your pet. These are mainly available by prescription from your veterinarian. There are other products that are pesticides but have fewer side effects than over-the-counter products that are available through your veterinarian.

GROOMING

Good grooming is not just for the sake of beauty with your pets. There are important health benefits to keeping your pet brushed, trimmed, and clean. The following three areas are by no means an exhaustive list but a good place to start in keeping your pet looking good on the outside and feeling good on the inside.

Clipping nails

Depending on the dog's size, age, activity level, and shape of nails, a dog's nails should be trimmed as frequently as every couple of weeks to every couple of months. When the nail grows to a sharp point, touches the ground before the foot is fully planted, or has curved backward toward or into the foot pads, then it is time to trim them. Overgrown nails can make walking awkward or difficult for the dog. Ingrown (severely overgrown) nails can be painful and cause infection. So trimming your pooch's nails is important.

It is best to train a dog to tolerate manipulating her feet as a puppy. This will make nail trimming much easier. There are several types of nail trimmers from guillotine-style, to scissors, to grinders. Perhaps let a professional groomer experiment with the best tool to use on your dog.

Dog's nails have a blood supply and lots of nerves. So if you trim the nail back too far, it will hurt and bleed. It's important to avoid trimming back to the "quick" (the blood and nerve supply of the nail.) That is easy to do with nails that are white or light colored. It gets a little tricky with dark colored or black nails. If you dog has dark nails, trim the nail in short clips. Stop when the nail is just above the ground when the foot is fully planted. You may have to trim more often but that is better than cutting into the dog's quick. Trust me, neither the dog nor you will enjoy that. If you do accidentally cut into the blood supply of the nail, apply firm pressure or use a styptic stick to stop the bleeding.

Cleaning ears

We all love those adorable floppy ears on our dogs but trouble could be lurking inside, especially for dogs that swim or hike with you. It's very important to keep their ears cleaned. There are a number of "ear washes" on the market that are safe to put in your dog's ear and give them a good cleaning. You should let your veterinarian show you how to do this first, before trying on your own. Dirty ears can really be a nuisance to your dog. Bacteria, fungi, even parasites can grow in the ears and be very painful and uncomfortable. So lift those cute ear flaps and make sure the dog's ears look healthy. The inside of the ear should be a nice pink (not red) color, there should be little or no visible dirt and wax, and there should be no foul smell. Red, swollen ears, lots of wax or dirt, or an offensive odor all mean trouble. Take your dog to the veterinarian if you see any of these.

Cleaning teeth

Man's best friend is notorious for having the world's worst breath. But your pet's malodorous mouth could mean serious health problems. Unusually bad breath could indicate tartar build up or, worse, gum disease. According to the American Veterinary Dental Society, 80 percent of dogs and 70 percent of cats show signs of oral disease by the age of 3 years old. Healthy teeth are an essential part of maintaining a healthy dog. Periodontal (or gum) disease can lead to infection in your dog's blood stream and even heart disease. How do you know if your pet's teeth are clean? Lift lips and look at the teeth. They should be shiny, white, and healthy looking. The gums should be pink but not reddened, swollen or diseased looking. Your pet's breath should be "reasonable" not putrid or rotten smelling. There should be no sores or lesions on the gums.

Consequences of poor dental hygiene:

• -- Dental calculi/tartar (what is commonly known as plaque)
• -- Gingivitis
• -- Periodontal disease
• -- Tooth loss
• -- Mouth sores and ulcers (including oro-nasal fistulas)
• -- Feline Odontoclastic Resorptive Lesions (FORL)
• -- Broken lower jaw
• -- Kidney, liver, and heart disease

So, while it may sound silly, you should keep your dog's teeth clean. All dogs should have their teeth professionally cleaned by a veterinarian at least once a year. Some dogs build up tartar faster than others, so they may need their teeth professionally cleaned more often. Between cleanings, it is a very good idea to brush your dog's teeth. If you start this habit when the pooch is a puppy, they become quite accustomed to it and won't mind a bit. Even brushing the dog's teeth just once a week and go a long way toward a cleaner, healthier mouth. Be sure to only use the toothpastes that are made specifically for pets. Dogs don't spit, so it's not safe to use human toothpaste. Plus the doggy toothpastes come in yummy flavors like chicken and cheese. (well, yummy to the dog!)

POTENTIAL POISONS

There is a long list of chemicals that people use during spring to get their homes, gardens, and automobiles ready for the summer. And almost all of those chemicals are dangerous, even deadly, to pets. It is critical to keep toxic substances out of your pets reach and access. Keep them on high shelves if you have dogs. Or in child-proof locked cabinets for cats or dogs.

Antifreeze poisoning is a big risk during the spring months as car owners flush out their radiators and refill with anti-freeze or coolant. This is a life-threatening medical emergency. If your dog or cat ingests antifreeze and receives no medical attention, they could die in less than a day. Signs of antifreeze poisoning: depressions, lack of coordination, diarrhea, thirst, and seizures (ethylene glycol is the toxic agent. Antizol-vet can be given to stop the effect of the ethylene glycol) there is a safer antifreeze that is made with propylene glycol that doesn't damage the kidneys but it is still toxic and can damage the nervous system.

Other common spring-time products that you should keep away from your pets include fertilizer, motor oil, cleaning products like bleach, herbicides (weed killers), pesticides (bug killers), paint thinner, and paint. In some cases, even a small amount ingested can cause devastating damage to your pet.

Tip from a pet health checklist online - "Avoid spring plants & flowers (a lot of these are Easter flowers to me) - can be hazardous to your pet. Watch out for: calla lilies, ferns, hyacinth, iris, tulip, azalea, crocus, daffodil, rhubarb leaves and foxglove plants and flowers."

What to do if you think your pet has been poisoned:

Animal Poison Control 1-888-4-ani-help or (888) 426-4435

If you think your pet has been poisoned, seek medical attention immediately. One great resource is the ASPCA (American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals) Animal Poison Control Center:1-888-4-ani-help or (888) 426-4435. The center is the best resource for any animal poison-related emergency, 24 hours a day, 365 days a year. It is dedicated to helping animals exposed to potentially hazardous substances by providing 24-hour veterinary diagnostic and treatment recommendations. The center has specially trained veterinary toxicologists on-duty around the clock. They also have an extensive collection of scientific journals and books, as well as sophisticated databases available nowhere else. And, the center's clinical experiences collected over the past ten years can be rapidly reviewed for diagnostic and treatment insight. (Note: you'll need to give them a credit card when you call. A $65 consultation fee may be applied.)