Spring welcomes warm days, blooming flowers, and outdoor adventures. For pet parents, the changing season also introduces potential hazards that can affect your dog’s health and safety.
Keep reading to learn more about the different seasonal hazards and what you can do to help your dog stay protected this spring.
Springtime Parasites
As temperatures rise, so do the insects. Several pests emerge from their winter nests with their sights set on your four-legged friend, and it’s important to take steps to help protect our furry friends when they head outside to enjoy the spring weather.
Flea and Tick Prevention
Fleas and ticks are more than just a pest – they can transmit serious diseases like Lyme disease, tick paralysis, ehrlichiosis, and Rocky Mountain spotted fever.
Steps to protect your dog against fleas and ticks:
- Start using flea and tick prevention treatments and products before the weather gets too warm and the bugs become active in your area.
- Talk to your veterinarian to see what products they recommend for your specific region and dog. Common options include oral medications, sprays, and preventative collars.
- Check your dog thoroughly after any outdoor adventures, especially if they were in wooded areas or tall grass. Pay special attention to:
- Ears
- Under the collar
- Base of their tail
- Between the toes
- In skin folds
- Look for warning signs like red skin, new scabs, hot spots, pale gums, joint swelling, and excessive licking, scratching, and head shaking.
- Regular grooming helps brush out loose hair, wash away pests, and give you more chances to spot any signs of ticks or fleas.
Heartworm Prevention
April showers bring May flowers – and mosquitos; the pests that can elevate the chance of heartworm disease in your pup. The dangerous parasites which cause heartworm disease are transmitted through mosquito bites and can damage your dog’s heart, lungs, and blood vessels if left untreated.
Steps to protect against heartworm disease:
- Consult your veterinarian about oral pills or injectable shots that can help protect your dog all year round.
- Schedule an annual heartworm test to try and discover heartworm disease early even if your dog isn’t showing symptoms yet.
- Look for symptoms like persistent cough, fatigue after moderate activity, decreased appetite, and weight loss.
Chemical Hazards
Spring is a great time to clean your home and take care of your yard, but there are hidden dangers associated with both tasks. Taking the steps listed below can help keep dangerous chemicals away from your furry best friend.
Lawn and Garden Chemicals
Fertilizers, herbicides, and pesticides can make your yard beautiful, but they can pose serious risks for your curious canine companion. The chemicals found in most lawn and garden products can cause anything from mild irritation to severe poisoning.
Safety measures to follow when using lawn and garden products:
- Choose pet-safe products if they’re available. Read the labels carefully and look for pet-safe certifications from reputable organizations like the Organic Materials Review Institute (OMRI).
- Even if a product is labeled as pet-safe, keep your dog off treated lawns and other plants for as long as the packaging recommends, which is normally 24 hours.
- Keep all lawn chemicals and other dangerous products out of reach, such as in a locked shed or secure cabinets that your dog can’t access.
- Rinse off your dog’s paws after walks to remove any chemical residue they might have picked up from other people’s lawns.
- Watch out for symptoms like excessive drooling, vomiting, diarrhea, or unusual lethargy after your dog has been outdoors and contact your veterinarian immediately if needed.
Spring Cleaning Products
Spring cleaning can make your home much neater and nicer, but it can also introduce a variety of chemicals that are toxic to your dog. Common household cleaners can contain ingredients that your dog may lick, sniff, or absorb through their skin.
Safety measures to follow during spring cleaning:
- Keep pets out of any rooms while you’re cleaning and don’t let them back in until all surfaces have dried completely.
- Store any cleaning products in secure cabinets or out of your dog’s reach on a shelf.
- Consider switching to pet-friendly cleaning alternatives like vinegar and baking soda solutions if applicable.
- Be particularly cautious with products containing ammonia, bleach, phenols, and isopropyl alcohol.
- Don’t mix cleaning products, as it can create toxic fumes that are dangerous to both you and your dog.
Plants and Allergens
While the emerging flowers and plants are lovely to see, those beautiful blooms and budding plants can lead to different safety concerns.
Seasonal Plants and Flowers
There are many spring plants that are toxic to dogs. Whether they’re ingested or not, these plants can cause symptoms ranging from mild gastrointestinal upset to serious organ damage and even death.
Steps to protect your dog from toxic plants:
- Check the plants in your yard and remove any that are toxic. You can use our comprehensive list of toxic plants to learn about common plants that are problematic and symptoms of plant poisoning.
- If you can’t remove certain plants, move them out of reach or create a barrier to prevent your dog from getting to them.
- Keep your dog on a leash if your dog is at a location where they may interact with toxic plants.
- Contact your veterinarian or the Pet Poison Helpline (855-764-7661) immediately if you suspect your dog interacted with a toxic plant.
Pollen and Environmental Allergies
While food allergies aren’t very common for dogs, environmental allergies have steadily become more common for dogs since 2008. Pollen and other allergy triggers from trees, grasses, and flowers can cause dry skin and other uncomfortable reactions for your four-legged best friend.
Steps to limit the effect of seasonal allergies on your dog:
- Watch for symptoms that can indicate that your dog is dealing with environmental allergies:
- Excessive scratching, biting, or licking
- Red, irritated skin or hot spots
- Ear infections or frequent head shaking
- Sneezing and runny eyes or nose
- Constant paw licking or chewing
- Use a damp cloth to wipe your dog’s paws and coat after they have been outdoors and bathe your dog with a gentle, hypoallergenic shampoo if needed.
- Feed your dog food formulated to replenish their skin and coat like Bil-Jac Sensitive Solutions Skin & Stomach Support.
- Talk to your veterinarian about treatments if symptoms are severe.
Outdoor Activity
Whether you’re going on a trip or just having some fun outside, it’s important to plan to help avoid potential issues.
Mud and Standing Water
Spring rain often leads to mud puddles and pooling water. This pooled water can lead to more than just wet fur and muddy paws – it can pose a health risk if you’re not careful. Standing water can have bacteria, parasites, and other hidden hazards that can lead to infections and other serious issues.
Steps to prevent risks associated with standing water:
- Discourage your dog from playing in or drinking from puddles, ponds, and other water sources found outside.
- Rinse off any mud or water from your dog’s coat and paws and thoroughly dry them after they’ve been outside.
- Consider using dog booties and other protective clothing on particularly muddy days.
- Groom your dog regularly to keep their coat clean and prevent any matting that could trap water against their skin.
Exercise and travel
Spring weather, with the bright sunshine and warmer temperatures, can make going outside irresistible. As such, it’s important to take extra precautions to prepare appropriately for outdoor spring activities.
Steps to prepare your dog for exercise and travel:
- Gradually ease your dog back into walks and other exercise if they’ve had reduced activity during the winter.
- Keep proper hydration and food available if you’ll be away from home for more than a short period of time.
- Make sure that your dog’s ID tags are up to date and attached to their collar. Also, if they have one, verify that their microchip information is current.
- Pack a pet first-aid kit to have available on trips.
- Don’t leave your dog unattended in a car, as even mild spring days can lead to unsafe conditions.
Your Complete Spring Safety Checklist
Ready to help your dog enjoy a happy, healthy spring? Use this handy checklist to prepare for a safe season with your best friend:
Download our checklist to have it readily available in your home.
Want to learn more about how you can support your furry friend all year round? Sign up for the Best Friends Club for more helpful articles, special tips, and members-only discounts on Bil-Jac treats and other products.
