Spring Hazards for Your Dog to Watch Out for This Year

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Spring is my favorite time of year. The days get longer and the weather gets warmer making it the perfect time of year for adventuring with my dog. But, just like every other season, spring brings a whole new set of potential hazards for our furry friends. Today I’m sharing 7 spring hazards for your dog that you should watch out for this year!

Tick Disease

The one downside to spring and the warm weather is that all the bugs come out from hiding. Since our dogs spend a lot of time in the grass, they make perfect hosts for ticks. As a result, tick disease in dogs is not uncommon. Ticks spread multiple diseases such as lyme, ehrlichia and anaplasmosis and while these diseases typically aren’t fatal, they can make our dogs pretty sick. 

Keep your pup safe from tick diseases this year by using a flea and tick preventative and doing a thorough search for ticks each time your dog comes inside. You can get flea and tick preventative for your dog online from Chewy or Amazon or from your vet. Annual bloodwork is important to ensure that if your dog does get tick disease, it’s caught before symptoms arise. 

Heartworm

Another insect borne illness, heartworm, is on the top of the list of spring hazards for your dog! Heartworm is spread by mosquitos and can be fatal if it is not caught and treated early. Talk to your vet about the best heartworm preventative for your dog and be diligent about giving it during the spring and summer months. 

Fertilizers and Mulch

After a long winter it’s nice to get outside and spruce up our yards and gardens. However, if you’re planning to put down new fertilizer or mulch this year, beware of the hazard this can pose to your dog. 

Many fertilizers contain toxic chemicals such as iron and nitrogen. Even if your fertilizer or mulch is non-toxic, consuming too much of it can cause GI upset for your dog.

Bee Stings

Bees, wasps, and other stinging insects are the worst part of spring and summer by far. We definitely want to protect the bees, however, just like humans, dogs can be allergic to bee stings. 

If you suspect your dog was stung by a bee monitor them closely for signs of an allergic reaction such as:

• Swelling
• Anaphylactic shock
• Fever
• Redness

If you notice any of these symptoms call your vet immediately. You can also give your dog Benadryl to reduce the symptoms of a reaction.

Snakes

Snake bites are a big spring hazard for your dog as they can be deadly. There are 20 species of venomous snacks in North America and if your dog is bitten by one, a trip to the emergency vet is necessary ASAP. 

Monitor your dog when they are outside, especially in areas where snakes are known to hang out. If you do see a snake, remove your dog from the area completely. 

Spring Cleaning

Who doesn’t enjoy spring cleaning? After a long, cold winter it feels so good to deep clean our homes and get them feeling refreshed. However, spring cleaning can be a potential hazard for your dog because of the chemicals you’re using.

When getting your spring cleaning done this year, be sure to keep all chemicals out of reach of your pup. If your dog ingests any cleaning products, call your vet immediately.

Car Windows

Spring is the best season for driving with the windows down. Most dogs love to stick their head out the window and feel the fresh breeze through their fur, but this can actually be quite harmful for your dog. 

When your dog sticks their head out of a moving car window, they risk getting debris or flying insects in their eyes or inhaling it in their lungs. Abrupt stops and turns can also cause injury, or even send your pup out the window! 

It’s hard to deny your dog the opportunity to let their fur fly but it really is safest to keep the windows closed. If you do want to let your dog stick their head out of the window, consider using a dog seatbelt to keep them securely inside the vehicle and only put the windows down in neighborhoods or on roads where the speed limit isn’t very high.

Be diligent in keeping your pup safe this spring so that you can enjoy the long days and warm weather that await you!