When spring arrives, there’s a lot you need to do, from cleaning to gardening. If you have a dog, you might plan on taking them to the local dog park. Whatever you decide to do this season, make sure your pet’s safety is a priority!

Tips for Protecting Your Pet

There are a variety of pet health and safety hazards specific to the spring season that might cause trouble for your four-legged family member, including:

  • Poisonous plants
  • Poisonous mushrooms
  • Thunderstorms
  • Fleas, ticks, and mosquitoes
  • Household cleaning items
  • Lawn fertilizer
  • Pesticides

To minimize risks, be sure to:

  • Use cleaning supplies responsibly and as directed, and store them securely out of your pet’s reach.
  • Keep windshield wiper fluid and other garage items tightly sealed in their containers and stored where your pet can’t get to them.
  • Keep your pet off your recently-treated lawn if the fertilizer is not pet-friendly.
  • Have your pet microchipped so that if they run off and get lost, you’ll have a better chance of finding them again.
  • Prepare for storms by investing in a Thundershirt or other means of keeping your pet calm during these events.
  • Check your property for poisonous plants and mushrooms—common plants that can make your pet sick include lilies, hydrangeas, daffodils, geraniums, tulips, oleander, sago palm, irises, and amaryllis. Remove these and any wild mushrooms you find, and avoid bringing them into your home or leaving them in a garbage bag that your pet can get into.
  • Maintain your pet’s parasite protection with the appropriate preventatives.
  • Have your pet vaccinated if they are due for their shots.