The Fall season is right around the corner, we promise, the heat will relent soon! The changing of seasons brings some unique health threats to your much-loved pets. The experts at Alexandria Pet Care want to share these tips to keep your pets safe. 

  1. Chrysanthemums or “Mums” are a common Fall flower. While they are a great way to add some color to your landscaping or interior décor, they are extremely toxic to cats & dogs. They should be kept out of paws’ reach! And if you suspect ingestion, contact your vet immediately. Signs of ingestion include vomiting, diarrhea, increased salivation, loss of coordination and skin irritation.
  2. Did you know that deer ticks are very active in the Fall? They are hurrying to reproduce and find a warm spot for the winter. Often, they can be found burrowed in your leaf piles! While it is absolutely adorable to see an outdoor cat scuffling through the color or to see your puppy frolicking in the leaves, the safest option is complete removal of leaves from your yard.  Enjoy the cooler mornings by raking them all up and bagging them for curbside pickup.  Even with these precautions, it is recommended that you check your pup and outdoor cats for ticks regularly and use a tick preventative if advised by your veterinarian.
  3. Along with good food and friends comes alcohol. Pets may drink directly from an unsupervised glass or try to clean up a spill. Ingestion of alcohol can cause a drop in blood sugar, blood pressure and body temperature. An unsuspected culprit is rising bread dough. As the yeast ferments it turns to alcohol that can be rapidly absorbed in the bloodstream. Signs of alcohol poisoning include lethargy, loss of coordination, drooling, vomiting, weakness and decreased heart rate.
  4. Between Halloween and family gatherings with lots of goodies on the table, there are some forbidden foods to watch out for. Chocolate and the sugar substitute xylitol found in many desserts are toxic to pets. Signs of ingestion include diarrhea, vomiting, drinking more than usual, peeing more than usual and restlessness. Most fruits are safe in moderation except grapes, which can lead to kidney failure. This goes for grapes dried up cousin raisin too! And as much as your dog loves a good bone to chew on, they can sprinter into shards becoming very dangerous to their mouth, throat and intestines.
  5. Daylight savings ends on November 7th. With the sun setting as early as 5:45PM, there will be less daylight to get out and walk your dog in. No need to go out and buy the hottest puppy treadmill though! You can still safely walk your dog in the dark by following these tips; walk against traffic so drivers can spot you, dress in lightly colored clothing and keep your dog on a leash – reflective ones are ideal. There are also light up leashes and collars that will make you more visible to drivers and help light your path.

We hope these tips will help you relax and enjoy the upcoming season while keeping your pet safe! If you found our guidance helpful, pass this blog post along to your friends and family. And if you have any tips you’d like to add, leave it in the comments below.