For many people, the fall is their favorite time of year. People love breaking out their most stylish sweaters and jackets. The holidays are right around the corner. The cool weather gives you a chance to snuggle with pets and loved ones.
While you and your pet may be ready to cool down after the summer’s heat, there are some safety considerations that come with this time of year.
Read below to learn pet health tips to prepare you and your pet for autumn.
Pet Health Tips that Go a Long Way
Keeping your pet safe during the fall means a lot more than just watching out for the cold weather. Your pet can get into so much trouble in the fall if you’re not paying attention to them. Here are just some things to watch out for.
Poisons
It goes without saying that poison isn’t good to consume. Many pests want to escape the cold by coming inside your home or garage. People use rat poison or other rodenticides to deal with the issue.
If you are using a poison to deal with a pest problem, be sure you keep your pets away from it! Your neighbors may also be using poisons if they have pests. So always watch your pets when you let them outside to make sure they don’t consume anything that will harm them.
Antifreeze
Antifreeze is a necessary ingredient to make your car run well in the winter. Pints of antifreeze may be kicking around your garage, so make sure to put them out of reach of your pet. Antifreeze tastes sweet and is irresistible to many pets.
It doesn’t take much for a small animal to die of antifreeze toxicity. A ten-pound dog can die from consuming as little as two teaspoons of the stuff! So be sure to clean up any spills and hide the containers when you’re done using them.
Mushrooms
In many areas, fall is just as wet as spring. All that moisture can help the growth of mushrooms in forests or even backyards. While the vast majority of mushrooms are nontoxic, some are not. If your pet gets a hold of some toxic mushrooms, it’ll lead to a bad trip to the vet.
Candy
In the US, fall starts off with all the supermarkets filling up with Halloween candy. While trick-or-treating is a great time for kids and adults alike, make sure your pet stays away from the treats. Most people know that chocolate can kill dogs, but grapes are harmful too. So, make sure you eat all the Raisinets first!
These pet health tips tell you what to avoid, but what precautions should you be taking with your pet this fall?
Plan Ahead with These Pet Health Tips
Of course, there are foods that you should not give your dog any time of year. When the Fall comes, you should also keep in mind the following pet health tips and precautions:
Exposure to the Cold
It goes without saying that the fall is when temperatures begin to drop. You’ll want to make sure your pet is prepared. If you have pets with very thin coats, maybe help them out by adding an actual coat. You can even consider some booties if your pet has especially sensitive feet.
Pick up the Leaves
The beautiful amber and gold leaves that are the showcase of fall turn into huge piles that you have to clean up. It’s usually well worth the rewarding view. But make sure you check over your pet if they’ve been playing in the leaves. Ticks love to hide in the thick piles and can hop a ride on your pet. A tick repellant or just checking over your pet occasionally should be enough to avoid ticks but getting rid of their homes works too.
Grooming
Many pets look best when they’ve been groomed or shaved during the summer. It helps them keep cool. But in the fall, consider letting their coat grow out. It will help keep them warm and will let you spend more time outside with them.
With these pet health tips, you can be sure you and your pet will be ready for the fall. Enjoy the season!