3 Tips for Spring Safety & Seasonal Wellness
Spring is a time of warmer air, greener grass, budding flowers, and an increase in time spent outside with our pets. In other words, it’s magical—but it can also bring unexpected hazards right along with it.
To help you and your furry friends navigate the springtime season safely, the team at Long Meadow Veterinary Clinic has three tips for preparing pets for spring.
Top 3 Tips for Spring Pet Safety
1. Prep for Spring Safety Early
In climates like the one we enjoy here in Texas, we deal with parasites all year round. But springtime is wet and warm—ideal for even more flea, tick, and mosquito activity than we may be ready for.
If it’s been a month or two since you refilled your pet’s heartworm preventive or flea and tick medication, it’s time to make a visit to the vet.
Your pet may need testing to make sure she doesn’t already have a parasitic infection before she can start preventives again. And if she does have heartworms (from mosquitoes), tapeworms (from fleas), or signs of Lyme disease (from ticks), early detection and treatment make a world of difference.
Know about and prepare for these risks now, not later.
2. Recognize the Signs of Pet Allergies
Like humans, dogs and cats can suffer from seasonal allergies triggered by pollen, mold, dust, and other environmental allergens that flourish in the spring.
Keep an eye out for signs of allergies—even if your pet hasn’t dealt with them in the past. Signs can include:
- Sneezing
- Persistently itching skin
- Excessive licking
- Watery eyes
- Hotspots
Your pet doesn’t have to suffer through these springtime nuisances—and they shouldn’t have to. Veterinarians can provide the allergy testing and treatment needed to give your pet a comfortable and healthy springtime, allergies and all.
You can also help get ahead of spring allergies by bathing and grooming your pet regularly, which helps get pollen and other airborne irritants off his fur and skin.
3. Know Which Spring Plants are Hazardous
For many of us, spring gardening and yardwork are a welcome chore after a good winter’s rest from these activities. But in the rush to plant bulbs and blooms in our gardens, we often overlook their inherent hazards to pets.
Bulbs, especially, can pose a problem: pets love to dig them up and chew on them. This is bad news because many bulbs—including those for lilies, tulips, and daffodils—contain toxins that can make your pet seriously ill. For cats, lily bulbs can even cause kidney failure.
Create a pet-safe outdoor environment by choosing non-toxic plants instead. And always supervise your pet during planting times, when the earth is freshly turned and therefore deeply inviting to curious paws!
Your Partners in Pet Spring Prep
The friendly team at Long Meadow Veterinary Clinic is here to help prepare your pet for a healthy and happy spring. Call us at (832) 847-4170 to schedule an appointment for spring wellness today.