Now that the snow is melted and the clocks have sprung forward, it’s time to prep your pets to make sure they’re safe, healthy, and ready to enjoy the sunny weather. Here’s your quick 5-point springtime to-do list to get your pet prepared for spring.
5 Ways To Prep Your Pet for Spring
1 Start brushing more. In pets that shed seasonally, the warmer weather and longer hours of exposure to sunlight will prompt their body to produce hormones that cue shedding of their old winter coat. You might notice more shed fur on your clothes and furniture. In cats, you might see more hairballs as your cat ingests more loose fur. Brush your pet more often with a slicker brush or deshedding tool that’s designed to reach through the topcoat to loosen the downy, shedding undercoat. By brushing, you’ll remove loose fur before it lands on your couch, and for cats, before it can become a hairball.
2 Avoid plants that are poisonous to pets. April showers may bring May flowers, but flowers can bring potentially deadly poisons into your home. All plant bulbs are highly toxic to dogs and cats. Spring bouquets and potted plants often contain lilies, daffodils, azaleas, or tulips, all of which are toxic if your pet ingests them, or even brushes up against a toxic plant and licks remnants of pollen off their fur or paws.
3 Keep pets away from tasty yet toxic spring treats. Easter, as well as other spring holidays, birthdays, and get-together mean candy, sweets, and baked goods that can be toxic to pets. Chocolate, raisins, grapes, xylitol (an artificial sweetener found in gum and special diet foods), nuts, fatty foods, tamarind candy, and baked goods made with cream of tartar can all lead to an emergency vet visit. Keep dogs and cats away from all for-people foods, especially those with toxic or unknown ingredients.
4 Protect your pet with flea, tick, and heartworm meds. Fleas, ticks, and mosquitoes that spread heartworm disease can become active as soon as temperatures are over 45 degrees Fahrenheit. Don’t forget to order flea and tick prevention for your pet, and schedule their annual vet appointment as soon as possible to schedule their heartworm testing and renew their prescription.
5 Spay and neuter by spring. Cats go into season in the early spring, leading to an overabundance of kittens in shelters and rescues in the late spring and summer. Though dogs go into season year-round, shelters tend to be overwhelmed in the summertime, making it harder to find homes for unwanted puppies. If your dog or cat is not spayed or neutered, and their vet has not advised to delay the procedure, schedule their appointment as soon as possible to avoid an accidental litter.
With your pets ready for spring, you can look forward to spending more time outdoors with your four-legged family members. Stay up-to-date on their flea and tick protection, look out for health hazards, and most of all, enjoy a happy and healthy spring and summer with your pet.
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Every pet deserves to live a long, happy, healthy life.
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