What This Means For Your Dog
Spring is in the air! With the winter weather slowly receding, people and their dogs are steadily making their way back outside. Although we are all eager to return to the great outdoors and enjoy the beautiful weather, it’s important to remember how this change in seasons will affect your dog. From the change in weather, to the pollen in the air, both you and your dog will have to adapt. Here are a few tips and pieces of advice to help both you and your dog have a smooth transition into spring.
The Season Of Allergies
As the weather warms up, the flowers, plants, shrubs, and trees come into full bloom spreading both spores and pollen. Although the bloom of nature is quite beautiful, the resulting pollen and spores can have a severe impact on our allergies. Just like us, dogs are very susceptible to seasonal allergies during the spring and summer seasons and with these allergies come the various symptoms associated with allergic reactions. Some of these symptoms include sneezing, coughing, chronic scratching, chewing of paws and legs, watery eyes, and nasal discharge. If you notice your dog displaying any of these symptoms during the spring season, be sure to consult with your veterinarian for an allergy test and possible treatment such as medications or steroids. If left untreated, these allergic reactions could worsen and potentially lead to skin problems, fur loss, or secondary infections. This spring, pay close attention to your dog’s behavior for any signs of allergic reactions or symptoms to avoid any further side effects or uncomfortableness in your furry friend.
Spring Flowers And Plants Can Be Toxic
Nothing quite encapsulates the beauty and life of the spring season like fresh flowers. Although beautiful, flowers and garden plants can be very dangerous for your dog. There are over seven-hundred different types of flowers and plants that are toxic to animals, including your dog. Something as seemingly harmless as lilies are extremely toxic to all pets and can be fatal to cats if consumed. If you decide to keep flowers in the house, be mindful of which flowers are toxic to dogs and which are not. Here is a list of which ones to avoid. Many are actually common easter flowers. It’s also important to keep in mind what flowers and plants you grow in your garden as many of them can also prove to be dangerous to your dog. According to the Pet Poison Helpline, there are ten commonly grown, yet poisonous plants for your dog that any dog owner should watch out for. They include Autumn Crocus, Azalea, Cyclamen, Kalanchoe, Lilies, Oleander, Dieffenbachia, Daffodils, Lilly Of The Valley, Sago Palm, Tulips, and Hyacinths. While there are plenty more plants and flowers that are toxic for your dog, these are some of the most common. Be mindful of what flowers and plants you keep in your garden this spring to avoid an emergency trip to the veterinarian.
Springtime Bugs
The warmer weather brings more than just the bloom of flowers and plants. Springtime also means bug time! All the typical nuisances including flies, mosquitos, bees, wasps, fleas, and ticks begin to plague us as the weather warms up. As annoying as all these bugs can be to us, they can be very dangerous for our dogs. Fleas, ticks, and mosquitos have been known to carry parasites that can put your dog at risk of some serious diseases including Lyme disease, ehrlichiosis, leptospirosis, and heartworm. These are all very serious diseases that can dramatically diminish your dog’s quality of life and potentially be fatal. Don’t put your dog’s health at risk. Be sure to keep your dog up to date on all of their vaccinations and vigilantly give them their monthly heartworm and flea & tick medicine.
Setting Your Dog Up For Success
The best way to care for your dog this spring is to be prepared. Consult with your veterinarian about preventative measures regarding your dog’s allergies. Knowing what your dog is allergic to can help you avoid those things and potentially stop a reaction before it starts. It’s also important to avoid keeping any plants or flowers in your house or garden that can be toxic to your dog. Dogs typically don’t know any better and if given the chance will eat those toxic plants in your garden without question. Don’t keep these dangerous plants and flowers around your dog and you won’t have to make any emergency trips to the veterinarian. And lastly, be adamant about giving your dog their monthly doses of medicine to prevent heartworms, flea, and tick complications. Your dog’s health and wellbeing may very well depend on it. Try marking it down on your calendar ahead of time as a reminder. By taking all of these proactive preventative measures, your dog will have a fun, happy, and most importantly safe first day of spring. We hope you find this information helpful with your springtime preparations and will aid you in being the responsible pet owner your dog needs and deserves. If you’d like to learn more about being a responsible pet owner, check out one of our previous blogs entitled Responsible Pet Owners Month. It never hurts to learn more about your pet!
0 Comments