Having a dog in the spring is one of the most rewarding ways to enjoy the season. You’re both feeling more energetic after the long, cold winter, and daily walks are a great way to get out and about to enjoy the weather and see how the springtime blossoms into full blown summer.
Unfortunately the season also brings with it some risks for your dog. Today we’re taking a look at some of the spring specific threats to your dog’s health and wellbeing so you can try to avoid them!
Flowers
One of the reasons we love spring is that flowers return to our parks and gardens after the bare months of winter. Unfortunately, some of those beautiful flowers can be a real danger to dogs. If you’re worried because your dog has diarrhea stop and think – have you been walking near spring flowers?
While the bulbs are the most dangerous parts, even the flowerheads of plants like daffodils and bluebells can be toxic to your dog. Sometimes they cause vomiting and diarrhea, in more serious cases, lethargy, dehydration and even an irregular heartbeat! If you think your dog might have eaten some toxic plantlife, you should contact your vet without delay.
Barbecues
When the weather starts to get better it’s not unusual to start thinking about thinking about outdoor cooking and eating! Barbecues are fun social occasions but they’re also potentially risky for canine companions.
You shouldn’t cancel your barbecue, but do think about how you’re going to handle the risks. Make sure everyone knows to dispose of bones safely – whether they’re ribs or drumsticks, if your dog gets hold of them, they could get stuck in his throat or splinter in his mouth. Skewers present a similar risk of injury.
Dogs are also as vulnerable to food poisoning as we are: try to make sure no one’s feeding your dog any half cooked or raw meat – he’ll wolf it down as a treat but might suffer for it later.
Easter
A public holiday, a religious festival, an excuse for a chocolate binge: whatever Easter means to you, you need to think about your dog too.
If you have lots of chocolate around the house you need to be even more conscious than normal that it doesn’t end up in your dog’s mouth. A treat for humans, chocolate smells equally tempting to dogs but acts as a potentially deadly neurotoxin.
Hot cross buns are another danger – studded with raisins, which can cause kidney failure in dogs.
However you enjoy Easter, the same rules apply as for the Spring as a whole – make sure you’re aware of the risks for your dog, and keep them protected!
