Follow these pet safety tips to keep your furry friend healthy in the fall.
For many people, fall is the perfect time of year: there are great seasonal activities, fun holidays, and we finally get a break from the heat. Some of these benefits hold true for your pets as well, but there are also some seasonal fall pet safety concerns you should be aware of for the fall.
Outdoor Disease Risks
Fleas, ticks, heartworms, and other pests are not just a summer nuisance, especially when you’re spending a lot of time outdoors. To ensure pet safety, make sure you’re keeping your pet up-to-date on all vaccinations. You should also continue to use flea and tick treatments, even as we move into the cooler season.
Outdoor Digestion Risks
Having fun outdoors is a great way to bond with your pet and get them some exercise, but you have to be careful about what they might ingest when you’re out and about. Mushrooms can be particularly troublesome this time of year since we often have rainy, wet, and cool conditions that encourage their growth. Many types of wild mushrooms are perfectly safe, but some can be deadly, and most people cannot tell the difference just by looking at them. Chemical spills, particularly antifreeze and rodenticides, are an unfortunate reality this time of year as well. If these are products you’re using, clean up spills immediately (and in the case of rodenticide, find a safer alternative). If you see odd spills or stains on parking areas, avoid them. Ingesting these chemicals can be toxic for pets.
Outdoor Activity Risks
For many dog owners, fall is the best time of year for outdoor activities, especially hiking and hunting, but both of these pose a potential risk to pet safety. When hiking with your dog, always keep him or her on a leash. Allowing your dog to run off-leash, even a very well-trained dog, could lead to potential injury. Your pet might meet up with another dog that isn’t as well trained or even a wild animal further from you than you can safely manage. There’s also the possibility that he or she might find and investigate dead animals on a trail (which could have diseases). When hunting, make sure that your dog has a yearly wellness exam, wears clear identifying markers and reflective equipment, and has a microchip. Be aware of the weather when you’re out, too, to avoid heat exhaustion or hypothermia.
We Would Love the Opportunity to Care for Your Furry Friends!
Alexander Animal Hospital is a full-service animal hospital located in Severna Park, Maryland, serving the Severna Park, Pasadena, and Arnold Areas. Our goal is educating clients on the needs of their pets and understanding the importance of individualized veterinary care in order to strengthen the human-animal bond between owners and their pets.
We understand you have a choice when deciding on the care for your pets, and we strive to provide you with unparalleled services including wellness exams, vaccines, lost pet microchip ID, dental care, surgical services, digital radiography, and in-hospital laboratory services and diagnostics. Other highlights of Alexander Animal Hospital are the separate cat and dog waiting and exam rooms, as well as after-hours on-call emergency services.
Please take a look around our website and then give us a call at 410-777-8678 to set up an appointment.We’re social! Follow us on Facebook, Twitter, and Pinterest for all the latest updates!