September already! School is in session, football is finally happening (Go PACK!) and the weather is starting to cool. Autumn officially begins September 23 but with the changing leaves and crisp air it is hard not to get excited for the Wisconsin seasonal change!
You know who else likes a break from hot, sticky summer weather? The family pets! And that is what makes this the perfect time to take about pet safety for the fall. From household poisons to seasonal hazards… there are multiple potentially dangerous situations are curious canine could stumble into.
MICE and other rodents are starting to think about where they are going to make their winter home and since our houses and sheds look inviting, outcome the rodenticides. While they are deadly to pests, if your pet ingests the bait OR the rodent who took the bait, it could be fatal to Fido! Use caution with these products and keep them in places your pets (and kids!) can’t access.
If you have children back in school, those school supplies can be inviting to pets. Glue sticks, markers and pencils, while considered “safe” due to their low toxicity can still cause problems including gastrointestinal distress and even serious blockages.
Rusty on the recall? If your dog had a lazy summer and you haven’t been working outdoors with your pet for a season, it may be frustrating when your dog fails to come when called now that the excitement of fall is in the air. Now is a good time to brush up your basic obedience work with the family dogs. Your dog really needs you to help him hone those skills!
My yard is a bounty of mushrooms already! While most of them are basically harmless it is that pesky 1% of highly toxic ‘shrooms that will cause your dog real problems. For the amateur (like me), telling one mushroom from another for toxicity is NOT going to happen. Best tip is to keep your eyes open for mushrooms and exercise your dogs in areas where there are none. IF YOUR DOG INGESTS ANY WILD MUSHROOM CALL YOUR VET IMMEDIATLEY!
To maintain body heat, the critters who are worked outdoors a lot or who have to live outside of the comforts of home need to be provided with increased amounts of food and fresh water DAILY as the weather gets colder!
SNAKES. Need we say more? This is the time when snakes are preparing for hibernation. It is also the time they get even crankier! Familiarize yourself with which snakes in y our area are what, and who is able to cause problems should your overzealous dog decided to make friends with one! Simply put…keep Fido away from snaky areas/
No list is complete without talking about coolants. Ethylene glycol-based coolants are highly toxic, so spills must be cleaned up immediately. A better option: propylene glycol-based coolants. ..just because of their reduced toxicity.
Really…when it comes to the family pet, is there EVER a risk of being too safe?
