It’s almost spring, and with every change of season, we have new concerns to keep in mind with our pets.
Ice on ponds, streams and rivers are starting to thaw. We know that it’s dangerous, but our pets just see the same ice they’ve been running on all winter. We must be extra-cautious when around these dangers.
In summer, we are concerned with our pets overheating, especially bully breeds and flat-faced dogs who have a hard time cooling themselves. This can also happen in winter. Dressing a dog too warmly can have the same effect as the heat in summer. So, if you use winter coats, make sure you dress your dogs appropriately for the current weather.
Mud in spring can contain a lot of salt, so washing a dog’s feet after walking becomes even more important. Salt can affect the pads, and make dogs lick them more than normal, which can create other problems.
The melt can also mean lots of puddles, which are potentially polluted with any number of contaminants. Dogs do not see these dangers, they just see a source of water, so keeping aware of that and providing clean drinking water to reduce the need to take a drink from an unknown source can prevent accidental issues.
Melt also can start molds, and we start to see plants growing, both of which can spark allergens for our pets. It’s a good precaution to keep an eye out for symptoms and have the appropriate treatments available should the need arise.
Spring also brings up one of a pet owner’s least favourite tasks, the annual ‘Easter Egg’ for poops that escaped collection through the winter, which got buried in the snow but are now showing up. Retrieving and disposing of those gems is a nasty task, but it keeps the area clear and safe. Thankfully, there are companies that will take on this task if you do not relish doing it but, either way, it needs to be done.
Change of season can also mean it’s shedding season, especially for double-coated dogs. Spring is the second busiest time of year for groomers (Christmas being the busiest). Setting up a grooming appointment now can save you the stress of finding a time later. It is also a good time to get any dog groomed. Many people let their dogs coats grow out over the winter “to keep them warmer”, and in many cases that can cause matting, overgrown nails or other issues. Getting your pet in for grooming is a great idea any time of the year.
We all love our pets and want to keep them safe, and making sure we are aware of potential issues is the best way to protect them.
