Fall Tips to Keep Your Pet Safe :)

Category: Cat Care, Dog Care, Pet Health, Pet Tips | Tags:

Date: November 17th, 2015

 

Help keep your pet safe this Fall by keeping in mind these tips!

(1) Dogs can get the flu too!  If you see a dog coughing, keep your dog away.  Before going into a dog park, check out all the dogs first, to see if you notice any symptoms of a sick dog.  If your dog does develop a cough, contact your vet!

(2) Holiday stress can affect your pets too!  Lots of unfamiliar faces and loud talking can stress your pet out.  Exercise your dog beforehand and give him a special chew toy to keep him distracted.  If he still seems stressed, put him in a quiet room away from all of the commotion.  Be sure cats have access to a quiet room where they will probably hide all on their own 🙂 For other small caged pets, transfer their cage to a quiet area too.  If you are getting ready for a trip, try to remain calm and keep your anxiety down (your pets can sense your stress).  Also, try to pack where your pet cannot see the suitcase, some pets get stressed out as soon as they see you packing!

(3) Keep pests out!  As the weather gets colder, rats and mice may decide that your house would be a great place to stay warm and dry.  Be mindful of how you prevent these pests from entering your house.  To keep them out, close up any entry holes and choose anti-rodent products that are non-toxic.  Rodenticides are extremely toxic to dogs and cats and other small pets, so it is best to discuss a safe control plan with a professional exterminator and your vet.

(4) Keep school supplies like markers, pencils, glue sticks away from your pets and off the floor- they can be toxic if ingested!

(5) Snakes can get grumpy as they are preparing to hibernate and don’t take kindly to being disturbed by curious pets.  To protect your pets from venomous snake bites, know which snakes are poisonous and where they usually hibernate.  Walk your dog on a leash away from those areas.

(6) Mushrooms that pop up in your field can make your pet sick if they eat them.  A few of the mushrooms are actually deadly, so if you know your pet has eaten one go to your vet ASAP.

(7) Just like people, your pets can have seasonal allergies too! Symptons are sneezing, itchy skin, ear infections and watery eyes.  Call your vet if you think your pet has allergies to discuss testing and a treatment plan.

(8) Car coolants are highly toxic to pets.  Clean up any spills immediately, keep any coolant out of reach of pets, and dispose of used coolant.  You can also switch to a propylene glycolic-based coolant- while it isn’t completely non-toxic, it is significantly less toxic than the other engine coolants.

HAPPY FALL!!