Keeping Your Dog Safe this Spring

Spring is a wonderful time to get out and explore the great outdoors with your dog. Our team at Animal Clinic of Woodruff loves taking our dogs on walks around our neighborhoods, along the rail trail, or to the local dog park for a bit of extra socialization.

However, with all of the sunshine, flowers and new opportunities that come with spring, we know it’s also a time when new risks can emerge for your dog. In this blog, we’ll highlight a few hazards to be aware of, so you can both be prepared.

Seasonal Allergies

One unfortunate byproduct of this lovely season is the toll that spring takes on many allergy sufferers. Dogs fall right into that camp as well. If you notice your dog itching, scratching, or dealing with red or irritated skin, it’s a good idea to call Animal Clinic of Woodruff to get him checked for possible allergies. We have a host of treatments for various types of allergies that can provide comfort and healing. You may know how bothersome seasonal irritations can be, so you don’t want your dog to have to deal with it too!

Home and Lawn Improvement Hazards

Spring is also a time when we want to do “all the things” for our home both inside and out. Lawn and yard maintenance, spring cleaning, house painting, and of course, garden plantings! Our loyal companions want to be right there, every step of the way as we tackle these projects. While this certainly makes these jobs more enjoyable, the products we use can sometimes be toxic for pets. For instance:

• Paints and chemical solvents can be very dangerous if inhaled or ingested by your dog. Be sure to read labels to make sure they are safe to use in the same area as your pets.
• Lawn chemicals, sprays, repellents, and fertilizers can also be a danger to pets, label-reading is key, and keeping your dog off the lawn for an extended period of time after applying any product is also important to ensure your dog’s safety.
• Even spring cleaning inside the home can come with its share of risks. Keep cleaning products, mop buckets, and even cleaning rags (that could become “chew toys”) out of paw’s reach for your pup!

Beware of Bugs!

Spring has a way of inviting dogs to run, wander and roll in the grass. This means that your dog is more susceptible to insects like ticks, fleas and other pesky bugs that could latch onto your dog’s skin and cause problems. It’s important that you stay up to date on your dog’s heartworm and flea and tick treatments all year long. This way when spring comes around, your dog will be not only prepared, but protected. Check out our blog, Vaccines for Warm Weather Risks to learn more about vaccines that can help protect your pup.

Microchip Before You Go

Lastly, with any animal that visits our clinic, we always recommend microchipping. This way, if the unthinkable happens and your dog gets lost or loses his way home, you'll be able to find him! This ACOW blog highlights incredible stories of how microchipping has rescued many-a-pet who belong to our clinic family! At Animal Clinic of Woodruff, we believe that microchipping is the most reliable way to ensure that a dog or cat is returned home safely, especially during the active spring and summer seasons.

Learn more about microchipping

We’d love to hear how you and your dog are enjoying spring this season! Give our office a call to schedule an appointment to make sure they are up to date on their vaccines and overall pet health this spring!