Spring has sprung and many people are itching to get into their garden or maybe your focus is on Easter celebrations, spring cleaning, and much-needed home improvement projects. Whatever you’re doing, your pets are likely to follow along. Here are some precautions to look out for during this season.
Easter Treats and Decorations
Keep Easter lilies and candy bunnies in check – chocolate goodies are toxic to cats, dogs, and ferrets, and lilies can be fatal if ingested by our furry friends. And be mindful, kitties love to nibble to on colorful plastic grass, which can lead to an obstructed digestive tract, severe vomiting and dehydration. Moreover, while bunnies, chicks, and other festive animals are adorable, resist the urge to buy – these cute babies grow up fast and often require specialized care!
Screen Yourself
Many pet parents welcome the breezy days of spring by opening their windows. Unfortunately, they also unknowingly put their pets at risk – especially cats, who are apt to jump or fall through un-screened windows. Be sure to install snug and sturdy screens in all of your windows. If you have adjustable screens, make sure they are tightly wedged into window frames.
Out and About
Warmer weather means more trips to the park, longer walks and more chances for your pet to wander off! Make sure your dog or cat has a microchip for identification and wears a tag imprinted with your home address, cell phone, and any other relevant contact information. Canines should wear flat (never choke!) collars, please. Studies show that more pet emergency room visits involving dogs and cars occur moments after their owner has let them off their leash.
Buckle Up!
While every pet parent knows dogs love to feel the wind on their furry faces, allowing them to ride in the bed of a pick-up trucks or stick their heads out of moving car windows is dangerous. Flying debris and insects can cause inner ear or eye injuries and lung infections, and abrupt stops or turns can cause major injury, or worse! Pets in cars should always be secured in a crate or wearing a seat-belt harness designed especially for them.
Spring Cleaning
Spring cleaning is a time-honored tradition in many households, but be sure to keep all cleaners and chemicals out of your pets’ way! Almost all commercially sold cleaning products contain chemicals that are harmful to pets.
Home Improvement 101
Products such as paints, mineral spirits, and solvents can be toxic to your pets and cause severe irritation or chemical burns. Carefully read all labels to see if the product is safe to use around your furry friends. Also, be cautious of physical hazards, including nails, staples, insulation, blades and power towels.
Ah-Ah-Achoo!
Like their sneezy human counterparts, pets can be allergic to foods, dust, plants, and pollens. Allergic reactions in dogs and cats can cause minor sniffling and sneezing as well as life-threatening anaphylactic shock. If you suspect your pet has a springtime allergy, please visit your veterinarian as soon as possible.
Pesky Little Critters
April showers bring May flowers – and on onslaught of bugs! Make sure your pet is on year-round heartworm preventative medication, as well as a flea and tick control program. Ask your doctor to recommend a plan designed specifically for your pet.
Poisonous Plants and Garden Hazards
When designing and planting your green space, it’s important to keep in mind that many outdoor plants – including sago palm, rhododendron, and azalea – are toxic to cats and dogs. Check out a complete list of toxic plants to dogs, cats, and horses at ASPCA.org.
