With spring drawing near, our beloved dogs want to shake off winter’s lethargy and go out and play. There are some things we need to be mindful of to protect our dogs:
Sticks – There’s nothing more enjoyable for a dog to fetch than thrown sticks. But sticks can cause choking and severe injuries in his or her mouth and throat. Safer alternatives are tennis balls and Frisbees.
New spring plants – Some plants (indoor and outdoor) if nibbled on by your dog, can cause vomiting, diarrhea or death. Check with your local gardening expert to see which plants are poisonous to dogs.
Spring cleaning products – Keep household cleaning supplies where your dog can’t get them. If your dog does ingest a household cleaner, don’t call a human poison control center. Call your vet immediately.
Seasonal allergies – Humans aren’t the only ones to suffer from seasonal allergies. Dogs can develop allergies to seasonal plants which usually present as skin problems. If you notice that your dog is showing signs of red, itchy skin blotches, call your vet.
Sweets – With spring comes Easter and an overabundance of candies and chocolate. We all know that chocolate is harmful to dogs, but so are artificial sweeteners used in candies and gums. A small amount of the common artificial sweetener, xylitol, can be deadly to dogs.
