Springtime SAFETY for your K9 besties!
- Apr 1
- 3 min read
Top 5 Tips to keep your dogs safe this spring, 2025
Spring 2025 is upon us, which means it's time to review some important pet safety tips. From potential hazards in the yard, garden, and dog parks, to household cleaners and and preventing sneaky escapes from open windows.
So as warmer weather moves in, so do the reasons to be proactive when it comes to pet care and safety. Spring safety for pets involves keeping your pets safe both indoors and out, protecting them from dangers that are in most cases avoidable.
Tip #1 - Play it safe with plants and flowers...
We all love adding new beautiful plants and flowers to our yards, flowerbeds, porches and decks. Just be careful when it comes to which ones you choose. Guess what? There's an APP for that! One of the BEST we've found is called TOXIPETS. The most comprehensive lists of ALL kinds of toxins.
DOWNLOAD IT:
Also, keep these numbers handy in case you need to call a Pet Poison control center
they are available 24/7.
PET POISON HELPLINE 800-213-6680 https://www.petpoisonhelpline.com/
ASPCA POISON CONTROL 888-426-4435 https://www.aspca.org/pet-care/animal-poison-control?ms=MP_PMK_GGPoisonControl&initialms=MP_PMK_GGPoisonControl&gad_source=1&gclid=Cj0KCQjwna6_BhCbARIsALId2Z3v5jHNuKMpOPv-zDtFFEjzrRq083lMMbdJHfF7ydDrrOTy40m2F0saAm28EALw_wcB
Tip #2 - Avoid using Snail and Slug Bait...
As you're prepping your garden, it can be tempting to use slug bait (depending on where you live) to keep it protected. But as destructive to plants as these slimy critters can be, the products used to stop them can be highly hazardous to your pet's health. The toxins in are often mixed with sugars to attract the slugs, but it also entices pets. Even a small amount can be fatal, use alternatives like diatomaceous earth and other options. You can also install a fence around gardens to keep dogs out, or make raised bed gardens.
Check out Center for Pet Safety, founded by Lindsey Wolko
Tip #3 - Household Cleaning Products
Nearly 10% of phone calls into Pet Poison helplines were due to household cleaners, fresheners and essential oils toxicity. :(
Avoid using essential oils, bleach, alcohol, hydrogen peroxide, chlorine, carpet fresheners. Make sure you have good ventilation, store all cleaning products away safely, read labels, and keep pets away from areas you are cleaning, until you are done.
Use alternatives like plant-based vegan cleaners, and natural biodegradable products like vinegar and baking soda.
Tip #4 - Secure Window Screens
Who doesn't LOVE fresh air? Especially after being cooped up all winter! Check those window screens to make sure they are snug and secure, so nosey furry friends don't push out the screen and make the great escape! Dogs see the world through their NOSES! All that fresh air brings lots of new scents and curiosities.
Tip #5 - Watchout for Foxtails!
Foxtails, or grass awns, are a type of tall grass with elongated, bristly spikes at the ends of each blade. Once they embed in your pet’s skin, they can cause serious damage, as they migrate under the skin and can travel deep into the tissue causing extreme pain, infections and worse.
Prevent foxtail problems by regularly examining your pet’s coat, ears, mouth (and nose!) after they’ve spent time outside, especially in parks, or walking/hiking near long grass.
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