Fall is in the air! Schools are opening and families are getting ready for the holiday season. Fall is a wonderful time of year, but pet parents should be aware of the hidden hazards that come with cooler weather.
Indoor Pet Hazards
School supplies: Kids are back on school and school supplies can be a hazardous to our pets.
Pencils, glue, and magic markers can be tempting treats for pets to nibble on. These supplies have low toxicity to pets – but these supplies can cause blockages and gastrointestinal problems for your pets, if ingested.
Be safe! Keep any school supplies out of your pet’s reach.
Holiday treats: The holiday season begins in the fall. Halloween candy, rich food, Thanksgiving feasts and lots of desserts are on the menu.
Be informed! Know what foods are toxic to your pet: Chocolate, fat and spices.
Furnace Heat: Drier air from home heating can cause skin irritation, discomfort and allergic reactions in pets. Small pets can suffer if their crates, tanks, cages or aquariums are near heat vents.
Holiday decorations: Pets are exposed to electrical hazards from hanging lights and burn hazards from open candle flames.
Other hazards are cut paws from glass parts, and poisoning from toxic paints and dyes from autumn holiday decorations.
Be alert! Keep your pets away from holiday hazards.
Outdoor Pet Hazards
Darkness and shorter days: Early morning or evening walks may be in complete darkness with shorter days in the fall. Make sure your pets are secure when walking in the dark. Pets can accidentally slip loose and in danger of getting lost or worse.
Be awake! Buy leashes, harnesses, collars and other gear with reflective markings for better visibility.
Mushroom season: Fall is mushroom season. It’s true that 99% of them are not toxic.
But the 1% that are highly toxic can be life-threatening to your pet. Many toxic mushrooms are hard to distinguish from non-toxic ones.
Be aware! Keep your pets away from any areas where mushrooms grow.
Contact your veterinarian or the ASPCA Animal Poison Control Center at (888) 426-4435 immediately if you witness your pet eating a wild mushroom.
Rodenticides and cold weather poisons: The fall season is when mice, rats and other rodents seek shelter in homes. Traps and poisons are put out for them, which are dangerous pest control methods for pets.
Be careful! Use rodenticides and poisons with extreme caution.
Fall is also a time to change your car’s engine coolant. Ethylene glycol-based coolants are highly toxic. Switch to propylene glycol-based coolant which are less toxic than other engine coolants.
Wildlife. Snakes, raccoons, skunks and other animals are more active during the fall. The are looking to feed heavily before going into hibernation.
Be wary! Keep your pets away from wildlife in hidden places to avoid injury and disease transmission.
Ticks and fleas: Biting pests are still active in the fall. Pests can thrive in piles of leaves and other debris. These pests can easily infest your pet when they spend more time outdoors.
Be smart! Monitor your pets outdoors and do not allow them to jump in unknown leaf piles that might hide wildlife or ticks.
Autumn is a wonderful time of year!
Remember these autumn pet tips and keep your pets safe all season!
Thanks for stopping by!
Dr. Pet Mom
Sources: Autumn Safety Tips, Fall Pet Safety Tips
“Animals are born who they are, accept it, and that is that. They live with greater peace than people do.”
–Gregory Maguire
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