Paw Print Pets

Spring is here! Here are five guidelines to keep your pet healthy this spring.


1. Complete Check-Up
Spring is a good time to schedule a regular physical and make sure your pet is up to date on their vaccinations and has proper heartworm and flea and tick preventive.

2. Keep Your Pet's Identification Updated!
Update your pet's ID tags with your current information and make sure that your pet is properly registered with your city or town. Dogs and cats should wear a collars with a rabies tag, license (if applicable) and identification tag at all times. The identification tag should include your name, address and phone number, and the phone number of your veterinarian. Keep a current color photo of your pet, should your pet get lost.

3. Spring Dangers-Poisonous Plants and Chemicals
Does your dog eat grass? Check your lawn for mushrooms. Dogs will sometimes eat wild mushrooms along with lawn grasses, leading to mushroom poisoning. Many cleaning agents, fertilizers, pesticides, weed-killers, and even mulch can all be dangerous to dogs and cats. Certain spring plants can be hazardous to your pet. Watch out for: calla lilies, ferns, hyacinth, iris, tulip, azalea, crocus, daffodil, rhubarb leaves and foxglove plants and flowers. These can be very hazardous for your pet and can cause illness or even death.

4. Springtime is Mating Season
Make sure your pets are spayed or neutered so they don't contribute to the overwhelming pet overpopulation problem. Animal shelters and rescue groups are typically stretched to capacity during spring. The economic downturn has resulted in fewer donations and more abandoned pets, creating even tougher conditions for animal shelters.

5. Heatstroke
Always be careful about leaving pets in vehicles or tied out in the direct sunlight during warm, sunny days... even a few minutes can be critical. Heatstroke can be severe and potentially deadly. When it's 85F (29C) outside, the inside of your car can reach 102F within 10 minutes; 20 minutes later and the temperature is likely to be 120F. Always make sure your pet is supplied with plenty of fresh cool water.