Spring Summer Tips   Fall Winter Tips

Seasonal Pet Tips

As each season arrives, lots of different opportunities to enjoy it and have fun with your pet unfold. However, there are also situations that may arise which present danger as well. Here are some seasonal tips to keep in mind that will hopefully prevent any mishaps or misfortunes.

Spring/Summer

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Pools/Lakes: Children are not the only ones who can drown when left unattended in pools or lakes. Never leave your pet attended when they are swimming and always make sure they have an easy way out or the pool is enclosed and inaccessible.

Fishing Tackle: Colorful stinky fishing lures are very tempting to cats, dogs and birds and can prove to be very dangerous. Hooks are usually barbed and can not be backed out until the barb is removed. Never try to remove these hooks on your own. Seek veterinary help and sedation to prevent tissue trauma.

Pick up Trucks: Dogs love to feel the wind in their faces but uncovered truck beds are a very dangerous place for your pet. Sudden stops or turns can throw your pet from the truck and a major injury could occur from the fall or by being hit by an oncoming car. Additionally, there is a lot of debris and insects moving at high velocities that can cause eye injuries. It is best if your pet is secured inside your truck.

Toxin Reminders:

Bite Wounds: Spring and summer are the times when dog parks are full of dogs. Many of these dogs are harmless but when faced with certain conditions a dog can turn suddenly and bite.

Windows: Whether you live in a private home or an apartment, you'll be tempted to open windows to let in the fresh air. Be sure to keep screens or protective bars on your windows to prevent your pets from escapes or falls. And bird owners should make sure their feathered friends are protected from drafts.

Spring Clean-ups: Keep all household cleaners and chemicals out of reach of your pets.

Lawn Care: Lawn chemicals can be very toxic if ingested. Try to keep your pet off new fertilized lawns for 24 hours. Always save to original bag for later reference if ingestion occurs. If your pet does ingest these chemicals, contact your veterinarian, ASCPA, or us at the Veterinary Emergency Service.

Cars: Never leave your pet unattended in your car. While it is never a good season to leave a pet in a car attended, summer can be particularly deadly. Don't lull yourself into a false sense of security by leaving the window open. It never takes long for heat to rise and you're pet to suffer from heat stroke.

Heat Stroke: This is very serious and you should always seek medical care. It does not always take much on a warm day for a dog or cat to experience heat stroke. If your pet experiences a heat related issue cover them with a cool wet towel and transport to your veterinarian immediately.


Fall/Winter

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Anti-freeze, even in very small amounts, can kill your pet. The damage is done by chemicals crystallizing in the kidney, so symptoms may not show up for a few days and then it may be too late. Store anti-freeze in tightly closed containers and in a place pets can't reach. Always clean up any spills immediately and thoroughly.

When opening a vacation home for the season do not let pets drink from the toilet if you have winterized with antifreeze to avoid freezing.

Antidepressants are used more often this time of year to help humans battle the blues and combat the cold and dark months ahead. Just be certain to keep them and all prescription and over- the-counter drugs out of your pet's reach as they can be lethal even in small doses to animals.

Holiday Treats & Decorations can pose hazards to your pet. Alcoholic beverages, candy, turkey, fixings and fatty foods can be dangerous to your pet's health. It's important to keep your pet on its regular diet during the holidays as the rich foods that are often available can make it seriously ill. Tinsel, glass ornaments, spray on-snow, ribbons, wrapping, or anything a pet can swallow is obviously dangerous. Try to hide electric cords and never let your pet chew on them. Do not tie ribbons around your pet's neck or limbs.

Chocolate is a year-round threat but is usually more accessible during the holidays so beware.

Caloric Intake is important in keeping your pet healthy. Staying warm requires extra calories so more food or a change in diet may be necessary. Talk to your veterinarian about your pet's needs.

Frostbite usually makes the skin look reddish, white grey or even scaly or peeling. Consult your veterinarian immediately if you suspect frostbite. To help prevent it, always remove ice, salt, mud and snow from your pet's coat and feet as soon as it comes indoors.

Poisonous Plants that are toxic to pets like poinsettia, holly, mistletoe, philodendron and dieffenbachia should be placed out of their reach.

Special Alert!

Xylitol poisoning in dogs is on the rise. Xylitol is a sweetener found in sugar-free chewing gum, candy and baked goods. Substantial amounts of items sweetened with xylitol can cause a sudden drop in blood pressure resulting in depression, loss of coordination and seizures. These signs can occur as soon as 30 minutes after ingestion of the product so veterinary treatment is urged immediately. Even small concentrations of xylitol are proving dangerous with detection being veiled by a delay in the onset of clinical signs as much as 12 hours.