What May Spring Bring?
- Oopsie Doodles Family
- May 23, 2020
- 6 min read
Updated: Jun 6, 2020
May spring bring mud and muddy paws! May it bring hope and renewal, soft snuggles and warm kisses. Springtime with our fur friends can bring great joy. The weather is beginning to turn, snow is melting, and time outside is increasing. We watch as our four leggeds explore new horizons, sniff sprouting plants and run through mud puddles. It can be a rewarding and often rejuvenating time of year.
With spring also comes preparations that need to be in place to keep our pets safe. From ticks to poisonous plants, it is important to have a plan in order to mitigate dangers and keep your friends safe and sound.
We’ll be looking at some common springtime concerns and ways you can stay safe. Let's get started!
1. Fleas & Ticks
As the weather warms up, so does the activity of pests in the environment. Namely, fleas and ticks. Fleas can be transferred from other animals and picked up by your pet while out on walks, visiting parks, or while visiting with animals that have been infested. They are easy to control with preventatives, which are mentioned below.
Not only are ticks creepy and crawly, they pose a significant health risk to both you and your pets. Finding their way onto an animal host (via “questing”) ticks like to attach themselves to the skin, and feed off blood of their target. If the tick carries a disease, it poses a risk that it can infect that host. Different kinds of ticks pose different diseases, which can include lyme disease, canine ehrlichiosis, rocky mountain spotted fever, canine anaplasmosis, among others. That is why it is important to protect yourself and your fur friend against transmission.
Prevention is the first key to ward off pests. Ensure your pet is protected with vet approved flea & tick medication. Many are easily administered once per month in tasty chewables, disguised as delicious treats and others are topical. Decide with your vet which product works for your pet. Also, after spending anytime outdoors, quickly check yourself, and your pet to be proactive in catching these creepy crawlies. Check well around the ears, belly, and any warm, hidden spots such as between the toes.
Next, if you do notice a tick, don’t panic (Ok! Ok! You can get queasy and grossed out.) Gather gloves, tweezers or a tick removing device <-- like these, rubbing alcohol and confidence. Locate the tick, and using tweezers or device, grasp the head of the tick as close to the skin as possible. Pull straight out, directly toward you. You must remove the barbed head and body. Do not twist using tweezers. NEVER crush the body. Clean the area with alcohol, and consider saving the tick, secured in a zip lock bag for your vet, if issues should arise down the line. Alternatively, dispose of the tick in a plastic bag with alcohol. Wash your hands and hope you don’t find another one!
Remember, your vet is your best partner in prevention, but if pests should arrive this spring in your neck of the woods, the above tips should help keep you and your family as safe as can be.
2. Mushrooms
If you're like us, you love spring time because it means morel mushroom hunting! Those beautiful, detailed fungi that grow in shaded forests. When you find one, you feel like you've found the treasure of the universe! It's always made us feel like kids again; hunting for secret treasure. And we all know, they cook up well and pair nicely with a good protein. Served alone, or in delicious creamy sauces, morels are something many Michiganders look forward to each year.
However, there are plenty of mushrooms on the horizon that are NOT safe for you or your pet to eat, and it is very important that you monitor what your fur friend is ingesting. Some mushrooms such as the aptly named, "death cap"in the amanita family, are extremely toxic to animals and can cause sudden ataxia, vomiting, seizures and in worse case scenarios, death. These types of mushrooms are attractive to dogs because of their scent and oftentimes, they can ingest them without us knowing! Yikes! Other mushrooms that can be unsafe to animals can be found here:
https://www.preventivevet.com/poisonous-mushrooms-identification
Look out for your pet while on walks and hikes in the woods, and make sure that he or she is under voice or leash control at all times. Work with your pet on commands such as “leave it”, “no”, “wait” or invest in basic obedience training. If your pet still likes to explore with their mouths, despite training, you can always consider a soft muzzle like this one, while on walks to ensure that they are not eating things they should not be. The key to soft muzzles is to LEAVE ROOM for breathing and to allow your pets mouth to open. They need to pant, especially as the weather warms up!
If your pet does eat something that he or she should have saved their appetite for, know where your nearest ER Vet is and keep these Animal Poison Control numbers handy:
ASPCA Animal Poison Control Center Phone Number: (888) 426-4435
Pet Poison Helpline: 1 (800) 213-6680
3. Pesticides, Herbicides and Insecticides
One thing we look forward to each year, is watching the ground turn from white, to brown to deep green, a sign that spring has truly arrived. Watching the snow melt into mud season, and give way to beautiful green grass is a lesson in patience. And once our lawns are in full swing, the ability to enjoy the moments romping in them with our pets is wonderful.
However, many parks and many homeowners have to use things like pesticides, herbicides and insecticides to keep those lawns looking fresh and clean! Many gardens use the same to keep pests from destroying crops, or eating away at flower, herb, vegetable and fruit beds. While these things can be important to keep plants alive, they can pose a risk to our pets if they are playing in, around or ingesting plants that have these chemicals on them.
Opting for organic, pet safe “cides” in your own yard and garden saves you the worry of your pet being harmed while at home. Some of the ones we like are Pet Safe, Wondercide, and Natural Elements. While out in public, on walks, watch your pet and what he or she is eating, and to be safe, wipe paws when coming home after a day out at the park. We also love these and these boots by Ruffwear, if wiping paws isn’t an option. Not only do they cut down on mud traffic, but they help mitigate pets tracking chemicals into our home, or their beds. Alternatively, you could opt for a paw washer like this one by Dexas, or a shower attachment like this one from Kurgo for quick clean up on the go.
4. Parasites & Bacteria
Any dog enjoys the feel of running and splashing through mud puddles and squishing their feet in the soft gooeniss of mud! And if your pup is like any of ours, the exuberant feeling of the full on run to splash in the local swimming hole, stream or river. I know we love to do all of those things here at Oopsie Doodles! It’s a part of the country life. But with these fun activities, also comes wildlife, which can carry parasites and bacteria. Therefore, certain parasites and bacteria can be found in these water sources. Things like leptospirosis can be found in contaminated waterways and puddles where other mammals have spread the bacteria. Things like giardia can be found in rivers, lakes and streams and easily ingested by our fur friends. And coccidia can exist in grass, soil and leaf piles of where other animals have been.
We don't live in a scary world, but taking some quick precautions ensures the health of your pet and omits the risks of picking these up while enjoying the great outdoors.
Make sure that your pet is current on all vaccinations as they will be your best defense against picking up common bacteria and virus’. Next, clean paws using this paw washer by Dexas, or an on the go shower like this one from Kurgo, after exploration time in the woods. And if you swim in a lot of waterways, watch your pet in the days after being out and if he starts showing signs of lethargy, malaise, or diarrhea, take him to your vet for evaluation.
The world is a place to be explored, not feared! Using common sense and preventative measures, you can still have fun and be safe with your pet. And we at Oopsie Doodles encourage it! For the health of your pet, and the memories you will make together, get out there! For more information check out these links below and don’t hesitate to get in touch with us if you ever have any questions!
Recommended products in this article:
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