We offer licenses here at MSPH as a convenience to our clients.
Rabies vaccination is currently required for dogs and cats on an annual basis.

Our local weather can be very cold in the winter, and we usually have 2 to 3 weeks of bitterly cold weather in December and January.

We recommend that all dogs be given shelter when outside for over a few minutes especially when the temperature is lower than 40 degrees. Toy breeds require more shelter than larger dogs.

Freezing damage can occur in small dogs in a few minutes if the temperatures are below zero. Allergies are common and can either improve or worsen when moving to a new area.

Common clinical signs of allergy are itching and scratching, especially on the feet, inside legs, and inside the ears. Pets with previous allergies will often improve for 1 to 2 years, and then develop their allergies again.
The dry climate frequently causes dry flaky skin in people and their pets when moving from more humid climate.

Some adaptation will occur over time. The condition can be helped by the use of soap-free shampoos which do not dry the coat as much. Humectant sprays that moisturize the coat, room humidifiers, and fatty acid food supplements are also beneficial.

Advice for your Cat | Advice for your Reptile

Heartworm disease in dogs is spread from dog to dog by mosquitoes. The incidence of heartworm disease in Colorado Springs has been on the increase for the last 5 years, probably due to the influx of pets from more severely effected areas. Treatment involves arsenic injections which are very toxic for the dog. Prevention is easily accomplished with monthly medicated treats, which are well tolerated by dogs.

We currently recommend annual testing and heartworm preventative medication given once monthly from May 1 to October 1. Travel to warmer climates outside these months may necessitate additional doses. Please call with any questions.

Fleas and ticks are present, and cause problems during the warmer months from May to October. Fleas can transmit the plague, and ticks can transmit a variety of infectious diseases. We recommend "Frontline", an easily applied topical flea treatment that lasts an entire month in dogs and cats, even if bathed. In our area, treatment of the house and yard is rarely required.

Bubonic Plague is present in our area, and is transmitted from the bites of infected fleas to dogs and cats. Fleas get the infection from infected rodents, predominantly rabbits and squirrels. Clinical signs of plague in dogs and cats take two forms. The "Pneumonic form" is characterized by a high fever and signs of pneumonia such as coughing. The "Bubonic form" is characterized by large swollen lymph nodes draining infectious material. Both forms are contagious to humans, and suspected cases should be handled cautiously and examined ASAP.

Prevention is centered around limiting contact with rodents, and flea control as mentioned above. Dogs and cats that spend any time outdoors are at risk, and should be treated with some type of flea control product.

Lyme disease is not currently a problem for dogs in Colorado, and we do not currently recommend vaccination unless a dog is traveling to an area that has this problem. To our knowledge, Lyme disease has not been contracted by a dog in Colorado yet. All effected dogs in the state have been thought to have caught the disease outside the state. The nearest that Lyme disease has gotten to us is in the fox and coyote populations of southern Wyoming.

Parvo virus and Corona virus are present in the area, and are characterized by depression, fever, and diarrhea which is frequently bloody. Most cases we see are in puppies from 12 to 16 weeks of age, that have not yet completed their puppy vaccination series. Prevention is easily accomplished through vaccination. Puppies should have their contact with strange dogs and public places limited, until two weeks after their final vaccinations.

The altitude of 6500 feet above sea level can be a problem for some animals, but is usually a lot more of a problem for the owners. Adaptation to the lower oxygen levels normally takes place in a few weeks. Gradual introduction of exercise over a 8 week period will suffice for most pets. An existing cardiac condition will sometimes require an adjustment in medication when moving to the area.

Rattlesnakes are present in the areas surrounding MSPH, and bites are not uncommon. Rapid treatment is the key to survival. It is important to realize that the degree of swelling at the area of the bite does not indicate the severity of the bite. Most deaths are caused by shock resulting from the toxins in the bite. Most pets can be saved by prompt, aggressive treatment.

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