Potential Dangers of Fall and Winter
We all are inundated with the dangers of summer to our pets—such as the danger of leaving him in a car in the heat, walking him on the hot pavement, or not supplying him with enough water to keep him hydrated. However, other seasons have their potential dangers as well.
Some of the possible risks to pets in fall and winter:
- As children return to school, they may be using items for their projects which can be harmful to pets, such as glue. Adults in the house may be preparing for the winter season by painting, preparing the windows with grout, and using toxic cleaning products. Care must be taken to keep pets away from these items.
- Fall brings with it mushrooms which may or may not be toxic. Pets can’t differentiate which is which. On those walks in the woods, it is wise to beware of the danger and keep your dog away from eating any of the mushrooms.
- Snakes are preparing for hibernation at this time. Again on the walks in possible snake hang-out areas, keep an eye on where your pet may wander off to.
- I have even noticed that overzealous squirrels gathering nuts may pose a threat to small dogs.
- With Halloween bringing with it an abundance of treats, not okay for pets, it is necessary to keep the treat bowl out of reach as some of the candy is toxic to pets.
- When winter supplies ice and snow, it is common for cities and individuals to use ice melt to keep walks safe. Often the ice melt may be toxic to dogs. It would be helpful to clean the dog’s paws following a walk.
- Some dogs may need to wear a sweater or coat to deal with the subzero temperatures. It helps to introduce this slowly before the need arises as some pets don’t care to wear clothes, much less boots.