Spring has sprung; bluebonnets are starting to bloom, bugs are a buzzing and cars are covered in yellow pollen. I love spring. It is a time of renewal. Here are a few tips on how to start spring on a good note to minimize dangers and allergies.
1. Mosquitos, Fleas and Ticks.
Mosquitoes, for instance, can transmit heartworms; fleas can give your pet tapeworms; and the list of tick-borne diseases is a long one. It takes vigilance on the part of the pet parent to ensure your pet’s health. In addition to your
monthly prevention, there are some really good products out there. For yard maintenance make sure to treat your yard with pet friendly products (many can be poisonous if ingested). In addition, spread some DE (diatomaceous earth). Use a food grade DE so if your pet ingests some, it won’t hurt them. Use a pet friendly repellent on your
pet, such as a natural spray or shampoos or essential oil based flea & tick products. With a little help from effective preventives, you and your pet will be happier.
2. Stay Cool as weather heats up.
Remember to pay special attention to your pet. Dogs can’t sweat so they control their body temperature by panting. It’s been said before and we all know but it never hurts to repeat —never leave your dog in a car if the weather is
warm, and definitely not if it’s hot. Even if the windows are open, the temperature will rise quickly. If they can’t cool themselves down, they can get heatstroke, and in severe cases, it causes death. Symptoms of heatstroke include: heavy panting, salivation, disorientation, agitation, rapid heartbeat, lethargy, vomiting, seizures, coma and death.
If you think that your pet may be overheating, move him into the shade or into an air-conditioned area, apply cold towels around the head, neck and check and allow him to drink small amounts of water (or lsome ice cubes). When exercising, try using a product called Kool Collars (it really works). By placing a cold collar around his neck, it keeps your pet’s body temperature from heating up.
If your pet ever experiences severe signs of heat exhaustion you should bring them to the vet as soon as possible
We can also look to Chinese theory for help. In traditional Chinese theory, changing their diet to a protein that cools your body temperature is also beneficial. For example, I have a lab that continually pants regardless of the temperature. After changing his diet to a Fish protein, the panting stopped. Other cooling proteins include duck and rabbit.
3. Watch out for outdoor dangers.
Plants, mushrooms, skunks, deer, frogs, snakes and possums are all things that are dangerous to our pet. One thing that remains constant is our pet’s curiosity and the ability to do things that we would not think of doing. If you are
mulching or putting in new plants, please make sure they are not toxic if ingested. There are many lists out there; here is a link to one that I have used. http://www.aspca.org/pet-care/poison-control/plants/.
Hopefully you will never have to experience a pet that is skunked. Here are a couple homemade recipes that have been pretty successful;
1.http://www.ehow.com/how_6124269_rid-skunk-odor-homemade-
neutralizer.html
2.http://www.wikihow.com/De-Skunk-Your-Pet-Using-a-
Homemade-Cleaning-Solution
If the smell has gotten in the house, or you don’t have the ingredients to make your own, you may want to try Natural Chemistry No Odor or Eco-88. It breaks down the smell and works great on carpets, furniture and pets. As with any products, make sure to do a test patch first to make sure it does not discolor the item from which you are trying to remove the odor.
4. Allergies, itching and licking.
We commonly see pet parents come in with pets that suffer from allergies. Allergies are worse around spring and fall. What is interesting is that allergies (or sensitivities) can be made up of a combination of several things; such as food, environment and breed. Most days, you may not notice any symptoms although they may have a mild intolerance to certain foods and environmental factors. However, spring arrives and it raises their allergy over the threshold where you start to see itching, yeasty ears and hot spots. It doesn’t mean that your pet is only allergic to the environment.
Most likely a combination of food allergies combined with springtime allergies makes it more severe. If you get ahead
of your pet’s allergy, you may be able to lessen the reaction and hopefully avoid an expensive trip to the vet. Food and treats are always a good place to start since you can’t change the environment. We have seen success stories every day on changing pets to a less processed diet and putting them on different proteins. In addition, pets with chronic allergies will find there is relief with natural products that focus on treating the reaction (herbsmith allergy, homeopet).
5. Be prepared.
Whether you are traveling or have an emergency. As much as your dog may love to ride in the bed of a
pickup, or hang his head out the window, allowing either can cause a possible injury to your dog. Dust and gravel can get in the eyes; every year dogs are injured or killed when they jump or fall from vehicles. Even in the car, pets can be thrown and injured if you have to brake suddenly. A harness with a seatbelt attachment can save a life in the event an accident does happen. If you’re a boater, don’t forget a lifejacket for your pet. If your pet were to fall off the boat, they may panic and a life jacket will help them tread water. In addition, the bright color will allow you to see them in the water. At home or away, you should put together a first aid kit in case of emergencies. In next month’s newsletter, I will explain how to make your own kit and give you a list of some products out there that you can buy.
Enjoy the beautiful weather! With a little preparation you are set to enjoy being a pet parent and getting out and having fun.
Nadine Joli-Coeur is Mom of Dogs Callie, Lucky, Joey and Harold the cat. Natural Pawz has been recognized nationally and locally as a retail leader in natural pet care products. We are a local business to Houston with now 7 locations in and around the Houston area. Stop by for a visit (pets are welcome)
Voted Best Grooming Shop in Fort Bend County 2010 and Best Pet Supplies 2 years in a row!
