September 1st,  2012  I hope everyone made it through the storm ok. We had a few limbs down and some water damage. We are glad to get back to work. Everyone was tired of being cooped up. What to expect in the fall?  Small Animals-  Hopefully the fleas will start to be less of a problem but continue your flea prevention. If your pet has a skin issue it will usually get better in the fall with less humidity and insect exposure. As for mosquitos, these tend to be a problem year round due to our low lying coastal area so continue your heartworm prevention year round.  Large Animals- As with the small animals flies should begin to wane. Watch for respiratory issues in your horses. The dry dusty fall season exacerbate some of these conditions. You can help your horses by managing dust. Feed hay on ground. Wetting the hay at night before feeding helps cut down inhaled allergies. Lightly wetting the stall will keep shaving dust down. Keep your pastures mowed to reduce pollen exposure aswell.                                                                  See you next month,                                                                                          Dr. P