Our Top Pet Health Tips for Autumn

Ahhh, Fall! Fall is here! It’s a wonderful time to go outside with your pet. For a dog, it’s nothing better than a walk in the leaves. And for cats, the midday sunbeams are unbeatable as the days grow shorter and the nights become colder. There are some key points to remember when it comes to your pet’s health and how to make fall enjoyable for him. For our top fall pet tips, read on.

#1

Ticks can still be found lurking even though fall is upon us. According to the University of Rhode Island, many tick species are still active well into winter and can survive the first freeze. These are some ways to ensure your pet is tick-free this fall.

• Don’t let ticks cozy up. Eliminate their favorite environments like leaf litter and garden litter. Ticks can survive in these areas even through winter.
• Keep checking for ticks.
• Keep using tick repellent and control products, especially if your pet enjoys outdoor activities such as hiking, camping or hunting.
• Talk to your vet about routine screening for tick-borne diseases. The Companion Animal Parasite Council recommends that tick-borne diseases be screened annually. )

#2

Fall is when rodents like mice and rats start to search for warmth. Where do they find it? It’s your home, you guessed it!

Be careful when it comes to rodenticides such as rat poison and mouse traps. Although no one wants to see mice-infested, many poisons on the market can cause severe health problems for pets and dogs. Ingestion of poisons can cause death. Talk to your veterinarian about safe methods of controlling pests for your pet.

Even if your rodent problem is not severe, or you choose to manage rats and mice humanely with live traps, you might be unaware of the methods used by neighbors. Rodenticides can be deadly, so make sure your pet drops any rodenticides from his mouth.

#3

Some areas of the country have a fall as wet or as dry as spring. This means more mushrooms are found in backyards and on forest floors. Although most mushrooms are safe for us, a few can be dangerous to our pets (and ourselves). To learn more about toxic mushrooms, check out the ASPCA’s handy guide. If your pet has eaten a toxic mushroom, please contact the ASCPA Animal Poison Control Center immediately.

#4

It is getting colder outside, which means more energy is required to keep warm. Your pet will need more food because food creates heat. Pets who exercise outside a lot may need more food. But don’t give up on your pet yet. Talk to your veterinarian first. Every pet is different.

#5 Watch out for antifreeze toxicities

People tend to winterize their cars in fall when preparing for winter. It is common to change fluids like antifreeze. This can prove fatal for pets. One to two teaspoons can kill a 10-pound cat. A 10-pound cat can be killed with less than one teaspoon.

Ethylene glycol, an antifreeze substance that is sweet and has a sickly sweet smell that pets love to eat, is part of the problem. It’s crucial to immediately clean up any spillages and ensure that your pets stay away from the garage when you work on your vehicle. Learn more about antifreeze and other automotive fluids in our detailed article.

#6

Fall and winter are the holiday season, which means we eat more sweets and heavy meals. Your pet mustn’t eat any food that could cause illness. For dogs, this includes chocolate, grapes and raisins.

Some foods may not be considered toxic for pets, but that doesn’t necessarily mean they are safe. High-fat, rich foods can cause digestive problems like diarrhea and gastroenteritis. This can lead to more serious conditions such as pancreatitis. Consider small foods that could pose a choking hazard, such as turkey bones at Thanksgiving. Talk to your vet to ensure you know what is safe and what is not.

#7 Be cautious with decorations

Holidays mean decorations! Be careful not to leave trinkets or objects of irregular shape around the house. Dogs and cats love to enjoy the fall season, so they will also be tempted to sample decorative gourds and other fall crops. Foreign body obstruction can result from eating strange objects. In our detailed article on foreign body ingestion, you will learn what to look for and the symptoms.