Now that spring is around the corner, we all couldn’t wait to go out with our pets. Well, yay! After all, the change of season would leave behind the harsh climatic conditions and we would welcome longer, warmer days. While we are equally excited for spring as you and your pets are, we do not want you to overlook the potential hazards your pets may face during this time.
Hazardous Landscaping:
Fertilizers, pesticides and herbicides
Spring season means spending more time gardening. Everyone enjoys mowing their lawns, adding new plants to their garden, and nurturing them with fertilizers. But, fertilizers! While they can be good enough for our gardens, these chemicals can be a big threat to our dogs. Fertilizers, pesticides, and herbicides that we spray in our backyards are typically safe for us but can be highly toxic to our pets if they ingest them. It can lead to gastrointestinal irritations, diarrhea, and stomach upsets in dogs. Therefore, make sure to keep an eye on your dog while you two are basking out in the garden!
Toxic Plants
Spring is a wonderful time to bring home new plants and we couldn’t agree more. However, not all plants are animal-friendly. Ingestion of certain common plants can pose a significant threat to our dogs, so it is crucial to be aware of such plants so that we do not endanger our dog’s lives.
Some of such toxic plants include:
- Daylilies
- Daffodils
- Tulip bulbs
- Bittersweet
- Azalea
- Aconitum
- Hyacinth
- Asparagus fern
- Morning glory
- Nightshade
- Rhododendron
- Ivy
- Sweet Pea
- Foxgloves
- Crocus
- Bluebells, etc.
Apart from these popular garden plants, fungi like wild mushrooms, Christmas trees, acorns, and conkers can also be unsafe for dogs.
Also, check out video on 10 dangerous house plants that you should be aware of:
Twigs and sticks
Dogs, owing to their inquisitive nature, love picking up things they find on their way. And spring is probably the season when you will be visiting the park with your buddy more often. During this time, your furry friend can be drawn towards the twigs and sticks fallen in parks. They might also enjoy playing with those but beware. They are not just the wrong chew toys to play with but can also be toxic to dogs. Furthermore, twigs can break up and injure their mouth or cause a choking hazard. Therefore, always carry your dog’s favorite toys with you, and don’t let those twigs tempt your friend.
Springtime foods:
Better weather, longer days and good food on your plate means the spring has officially begun. It is an excellent time for outdoor/rooftop dinners and barbeque parties. Moreover, the best thing is even Easter falls in between! On such occasions, one should not miss devouring the delicacies of the spring, but one should also not forget that such foods can be very dangerous for our dogs. Some of them may also cause allergic reactions.
Easter eggs, Chocolates, Barbeque skewers, Alcohol, Wine, Meat and Bones, Soda, Nuts, Raisins, etc. are such Easter and springtime foods.
Maddening parasites:
Spring season means flea, tick, and mosquito season. Spring provides optimal conditions for the proliferation of these bloodsuckers and your vicinity would soon be teeming with them. And, it is no surprise that these parasites are a great deal of damage for our dogs.
Fleas and Ticks
Fleas are not only creepy but are also a cause for severe diseases like Flea allergy dermatitis, Murine typhus, Lyme disease, tapeworms, Rocky Mountain spotted fever and many more. On the other hand, ticks are no less. Some ticks can even cause paralysis and death due to loss of blood.
Hence, with the rise of spring, stock up on the right flea and tick treatments with your veterinarian’s opinion. We would highly recommend you to check out Nexgard, Bravecto, Frontline, Advantage, and Capstar for fleas and ticks. You can also visit BestVetCare as it offers a wide range of flea and tick prevention products.
Heartworm
Spring invites mosquitoes and mosquitoes bring heartworms. A single mosquito bite may transmit heartworms and can prove to be fatal for dogs. Heartworms can affect the heart and can also cause lung cancer and congestive heart failure. However, heartworm disease can be prevented easily by keeping your dog on preventives. Heartgard Plus, Revolution, and Nexgard Spectra are some of the best preventives for saving your dogs from deadly heartworms.
Spring has sprung and sunny days are here to come! Now is the time to go outside and make memories with your four-legged companion. So, don’t let the springtime hazards stop you from making those. Just take enough precautions to keep your dog safe and have lots of fun.