Spring Pet Safety: Keep Your Furry Friend Ready for the Season

Spending more time outside with your pets is fantastic when the days lengthen and the temperature rises. Spring does, however, also have several hazards for which you should be aware. Problems for your animal companions might come from allergies, fleas, ticks, even garden plants.

You have to be alert for these springtime hazards if you want your animals to be healthy and safe. This is a basic guide to help you enjoy the season with your pets and guard them.

1. Seasonal Allergies: Know the Signs and Help Your Pet

Like people, pets can suffer from seasonal allergies. Problems in spring usually start with pollen, grass, mould, and dust mites. Your cat or dog might lick and scratch more than normal, sneeze, have watery eyes, or itch.

What your options are:

• Regular brushing and bathing your pet will enable allergies to be gone.
• Wipe their paws to keep them clean after every walk.
• See your veterinarian if your pet seems depressed or suffers with skin problems. The vet might suggest a specific shampoo or allergy meds.

2. Protect Your Pet from Fleas, Ticks, and Heartworms

Mosquitoes, ticks, and fleas get more active as the temperature rises. If not treated, these bugs can cause fatal infections including heartworms and Lyme disease.

Actions to take:

• Give your pet monthly heartworm, tick, and flea prevention medication.
• Maintaining a tidy yard and cutting your grass will help to prevent tick hiding.
• After spending time outside, always look for ticks on your pet.

3. Look After Your Pet During Spring Cleaning

While many cleaning agents can endanger your dogs, spring cleaning helps your house smell better. Toxic chemicals such bleach, ammonia, and phenols could make your pet ill.

How might you keep your pet safe?

• Keep any cleaning supplies out of reach for your pet in a secure location.
• Where you can, use natural or pet-safe cleaners.
• Till everything is dry, keep pets away from cleaned areas and open windows for fresh air.

4. Outside Time: Watch Over Your Pet

Walking and outdoor play are perfect activities in spring. More time outside does, however, potentially carry some hazards including traffic, lost direction, or running across dangerous animals.

How might you keep your pet safe?

• Use a leash always or let your pet play in a gated yard.
• To remain current, check the microchip information and ID tags on your pet.
• Pack a folding bowl and some water for extended walks or hikes.
• Steer your dog away from motionless water to prevent possibly harmful bacteria or parasites.

5. Shedding and grooming help your pet remain comfortable and clean

For many animals, particularly those with thick coats, spring marks their shedding season. Frequent grooming helps control loose fur in your house and keeps your pet comfortable.

Easy grooming tips:

• Frequent brushing of your pet will help to control shedding and maintain a healthy coat.
• Clip their nails and look for any evidence of an infection in their ears.
• If your pet spends more time outside especially with a dog door installation, regular grooming becomes even more important.
• Spring is the perfect time to start moving; go for walks, play fetch, or just enjoy the backyard with her.

Microchips and ID tags help you to keep your pet safe

Pets have more chances to go off via a free gate or pursue a squirrel as they spend more time outside in spring. See whether your pet's ID tags match your current phone number.

Tell your veterinarian straight away whether your pet does not yet have a microchip. A microchip stays with your pet and, should it go missing, facilitates quick reunification while collars can fall off.

Prepare Your Pet for Spring Vacuum

This spring, organizing a road trip or weekend getaway? See that your pet is ready for travel. See first whether all of their vaccines are current. Then pack the basics: food, drink, leash, and any meds.

Before you travel, look for housing or hotels that welcome pets. Protect your pet in the car with an appropriate pet carrier or seatbelt harness as well.

End Note

Fun and fresh air abound in spring. Your pet is kept safe in part by good grooming, veterinarian treatment, and outside safety tips. Ask your veterinarian anything you are not sure about. Now head outside, grab gear, and let your animal friend enjoy the season.