A few things to watch out for with your pets in Spain that may not have been an issue in your home country.

Starting in October, pine tree caterpillars begin to nest in pine trees. Their eggs hatch in March, April and May, when thousands of caterpillars literally fall out of the trees. These small, black furry creatures can cause rashes in humans, dogs and cats. The rash may then secrete a caustic substance that can burn off the animal's lips, tongue and gums. Please note that the secretion of this substance is a medical emergency and should be treated immediately. The deterioration or loss of the tongue and lips are desperately painful to the animal and can create severe eating and drinking problems. To prevent the caterpillars from hatching, spray pines in October and brush down any of their spider-like nests. Keep animals away from the pines.

Grass awns are dry, grass-like weeds that abound in the Spanish countryside, from the beginning of July through the end of January. They stick in animals’ fur and can migrate and eventually burrow into the skin. Once under the skin, they can produce an abscess. Grass awns are usually found between the toes, in the ears, eyes, up the nose and can be quite painful. They've also been known to migrate into the lungs. Prevention is the best medicine: Brush your animal thoroughly after taking it for a walk, looking carefully between the toes and in the ears and eyes.

Worms are a worry in Madrid due to the large concentration of animals in a relatively small area. Your animal should be dewormed at least 3 times a year, and as often as every 2 to 3 months.
Make sure your cat is properly vaccinated as feline leukemia runs rampant in Madrid. It's an AIDS-like disease without a cure, so it is important to vaccinate your cat annually.

Cats falling from terraces is not just a cartoon fiction but a common occurrence in urban Spain. Watch your cat closely; a cat may survive a fall, but it could suffer internal damage.

Leishmaniosis is an AIDS-like disease in dogs for which there is no cure. Leishmaniosis is widespread here and is a public health issue as it can also be transmitted to humans. It is spread by the sand fly, which injects protozoa into a bite wound. The protozoa multiply rapidly in the body's defense tissue (spleen, lymph nodes and the visceral linings of the organs). The disease can be localized (cutaneous) and systemic (visceral). At first, the infection causes crusty, scaly skin, moth-eaten hair loss, and persistent cutaneous lesions, especially in elbow areas and around the mouth and eyes. This begins very subtly, worsening over the months. If the disease is systemic, the organs are damaged, causing muscle wasting due to malnutrition. Even though the animal may be eating with gusto, it is not gaining weight, and as we say in Oklahoma, it is an ADR (Ain't Doin' Right) animal. The animal’s coat will also be dull and scaly due to malnutrition. Dogs usually become infected in the spring and symptoms appear in the fall. The sand flies can be found in humid areas, such as rivers and consistently moist yards, and they come out mainly at dawn and dusk. Northern Madrid is known to have problems with this disease. Spraying the animal with "Biocare" can help prevent infection. There is no cure and therapy is palliative, expensive and, most of all, psychologically trying on the owner. The earlier an infected animal is treated the better. A blood sample will detect the disease. If you are concerned, check your dogs every fall. While you should be aware of this important disease in Spain, you should know that animals living in apartments have a very low chance of contracting Leishmaniosis.

Micro Chip Identification is mandatory as of this year. A vet can inject the new-age ID tag under the dog’s skin for about 30 euros.

Do you have any questions about animal care for the vet? Send your queries to aahvet@terra.es.