Tips to Keep Your Pets Safe

Many people love this time of the year. The temperatures are falling, and the leaves start to change color. It is a popular time of year due to Halloween. Many love to spend crisp fall evenings in front of a campfire. 

Though it is a great time of year, you also need to consider your pets' safety. Here are some tips to keep them safe this time of the year.

Watch your pets in the colder weather. Though it is a great break from the humidity and heat of the summer, the truth is that it can be too cold for many of our pets. Make sure that you keep an eye on your younger and older pets. Smaller breeds may also have more trouble than some of your bigger ones.

You may want to let your dog's hair grow longer. Just like you would wear a coat in the colder weather, your dog is going to need the extra protection. If your dog doesn't have long hair (or even if he or she does), you might want to buy a coat so that he or she can be comfortable no matter what the weather.

Use caution when playing outside. There are many toxins that are more commonly found during the fall weather. Though apples are generally safe, the seeds do contain cyanide, which can be dangerous in large doses. You should keep your dogs away from wild mushrooms. Though plenty are safe, the ones that aren't can be deadly! Acorns can also be dangerous for pets.

Just because the weather is getting colder, you need to keep your pet on heartworm preventative, as well as medications for fleas and ticks. In fact, they can be worse during this time of year because they are cold and looking for a better home.

I recently wrote an article about this topic. If you would like to read it, you can check it out here.

Watch out for wildlife. Many animals are starting to prepare for winter, which can make it worse for your dog. The most common animal bite during this time of year is from snakes. If you live in an area with snakes, you will want to keep your dog on a short leash!

Rats are often another problem animal during this time. Because of it, many people put out poison for them. If your pet eats this product (or even a mouse that was poisoned), it can be deadly!

Get ready to deal with the back-to-school boredom. Not only are your children used to being home, but your pets are going to miss the attention. You and your children are going to have to find ways to give your pets extra attention in the morning and evenings. You may even want to invest in some extra toys that will help to keep your pet occupied while everyone is away from the house.

Though we all are ready for the colder weather, the truth is that it can be a bit of an adjustment. Some pets (just like people) seem to do better when the weather is colder, while others struggle. For those, make sure that you have a sweater or coat for them. You may also want to let your pet's hair grow longer during this time of year. 

You also have to be careful outside. Pets can become ill if they injest apples, acorns, and even mushrooms. In fact, some mushrooms can be deadly to pets. Rats can become a problem this time of year, so you need to make sure that you keep poison away from your pets. However, even if they eat a rat that has been poisoned, he or she can become ill! 

Back-to-school boredom is also a problem. Many dogs and cats become used to having their family home during the summer months, and they struggle to adjust back to their new routine.

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Previously published on Medium and/or Newsbreak.