Pet Health
Pet Tips for the Cooler Months
Keep ‘em out of reach
It’s back-to-school time, and those of you with young children know that means stocking up on fun items like glue sticks, pencils and magic markers. These items are considered “low toxicity” to pets, which means they’re unlikely to cause serious problems unless large amounts are ingested. However, since gastrointestinal upset and blockages certainly are possible, be sure your children keep their school supplies out of paw’s reach.
Practice recall
If you and your pooch haven’t been active outdoors in a while because of the summer heat, do some remedial recall training. It’s good to brush up on the training skills, for both you and your fine friend.
Mushroom caution
Fall and spring and are mushroom seasons. While 99% of mushrooms have little or no toxicity, the one percent that is highly toxic can cause life-threatening problems in pets. Unfortunately, most of the highly toxic mushrooms are difficult to distinguish from the nontoxic ones, so the best way to keep pets from ingesting poisonous mushrooms is to keep them away from areas where any mushrooms are growing. Contact your veterinarian or the ASPCA Animal Poison Control Center immediately if you witness your pet eating a wild mushroom.
Snakes on a path
Autumn is the season when snakes who are preparing for hibernation may be particularly “grumpy,” increasing the possibility of severe bites to those unlucky pups who find themselves in the wrong place at the wrong time. Pet owners should know what kinds of venomous snakes are in their environment—and where these snakes are most likely to be found—so they can keep pets out of those areas.
Watch auto repair spills
Many people choose fall as the time to change their car’s engine coolant. Ethylene glycol-based coolants are highly toxic, so spills should be cleaned up immediately. Consider switching to propylene glycol-based coolants—though they aren’t completely nontoxic, they are much less toxic than other engine coolants.
Be Responsible
- Keep a current license and identification tag on your pet and consider a tattoo or microchip implant as a means of permanent identification.
- Make sure your pet's collar is a releasing safety collar to prevent it from harming or choking your pet should it get stuck on something. NEVER restrain a dog or leave him tied up with a choke collar on.
- If you leave your pet unattended in a fenced yard, frequently check the perimeter for areas where they may have dug under or created weaknesses in the fence.
- Keep vaccinations and rabies shots current. You can check with your veterinarian’s office if you are unsure. It is common for your vet to send out reminders of upcoming vaccinations needed.
- Frequent brushing of dogs and cats helps keep their coats healthy and reduces shedding. For a lifetime of stress-free grooming, introduce your pet to the brush and grooming when they are young, preferably in a calm environment using small rewards if necessary.
- Supervise your pet's nature calls – don't allow your cat to use your neighbor's garden as a litterbox and always clean up after your dog.
- Spay(female) or neuter(male) your pet and encourage your friends and neighbors to as well. Be an advocate for a future where every pet is a wanted and cherished family member.
