It’s officially spring and with the new time of year comes new seasonal dangers to watch out for. PDSA Vet Nurse Nina Downing is sharing her spring safety advice for pet owners:
“Many of us will be pleased to start to see the winter gloom on the way out, more daylight hours returning, as well as the beginning of plants and flowers blooming.
“It’s important for animal lovers to watch out for certain dangers that spring brings:
Poisonous spring plants
“As temperatures rise, we begin to see spring bulbs bloom. Many beautiful common plants, such as snowdrops, daffodils and tulips are toxic to pets and can lead to them becoming unwell if they eat any part of them.
“There are many other plants and bulbs that flower during spring, which are also poisonous to pets. Level of toxicity to our pets varies between plants, some will be irritants for pets’ skin, but some are potentially fatal if ingested, so be mindful of having any of these in your garden, or watch out when out on walks with your dog, especially if your canine is of the curious kind:
- Amaryllis
- Azaleas
- Bluebells
- Buttercups
- Crocuses
- Daffodils
- Elderberry
- Foxglove
- Hyacinth
- Hydrangeas
- Ivy
- Onion
- Rhododendron
- Rhubarb
- Sweetpea
- Tulips
- Yew
“Bulbs often have a higher concentration of nutrients than leaves or flowers, so can be even more dangerous for your pet if they get the chance to chew them. Be sure to do your research when planning your planting to make sure the plants you grow are going to be pet friendly as they come to flower throughout the year. Lilies for example can be especially toxic for cats. Even brushing past them and getting pollen on their coat can cause deadly intoxication if your cat licks the pollen off. When gardening, keep your pets well away from any known toxic plants and call your vet straight away if you think your pet has accidentally chewed or swallowed any part of it.
Watch out, bees about
“With more flowers blossoming, bumblebees will also make more of an appearance in your garden, so keep your pets away from bees buzzing around to avoid any painful stings. Bees don’t tend to take much interest in our pets; however, it can be our curious cats and dogs who are intrigued by the bees! This is when doing a bit of at-home learning and teaching your pet a simple ‘leave’ command can come in handy! You can teach your pet this using positive reward-based training, which is not only helpful when your pet responds to commands, but also great for bonding and helping you work together as a team. If your pet does get stung by a bee, try not to panic. Remove any sting if it’s safe for you to do so – you can use a credit card to scrape it off – and apply a covered ice pack to the affected area. As long as your pet doesn’t have an adverse reaction to the sting, the pain should settle down quickly, though your pet may feel sorry for themselves for a while. However, if you notice any severe swelling, breathing difficulties, weakness or collapse, or if your pet has been stung in or around the mouth or nose then you should call your vet immediately.
Not so funny, Fungi
“Fungi, more commonly known as wild mushrooms, come in thousands of different varieties. Each type of wild mushroom will dramatically vary in size, shape, colour and also how poisonous they are. Some wild mushrooms are harmless, and some are even edible! Others are extremely dangerous and should be avoided.
“Signs of wild mushroom poisoning may vary dramatically depending on which variety has been eaten. Common symptoms to look out for can include stomach upset, blood in the stools or vomit, neurological effects such as hallucinations or fits, kidney or liver failure.
“If your dog or cat does eat an unknown wild mushroom whilst you are out and about, we’d highly advise taking them to the vets immediately. If you can, take along a picture of what has been eaten. It’s also important to keep a note of the area where the wild mushroom was found, such as ‘in the woodland orgrowing on a tree stump’, as this information may prove vital in identifying which variety of wild mushroom your dog has eaten, should they become very ill.
Tick season
“Most active in warmer months, ticks tend to make an appearance in spring (though some species can remain active in winter!). They are parasites that embed their heads under their host’s skin and feed on animal or human blood. Ticks are a concern because of the different diseases they may carry, which includes Lyme disease and babesiosis, which can make pets very poorly, and in extreme cases can be fatal. It’s important to monitor your pet for a few weeks after a tick has been removed in case they have been infected by any disease transferred by the tick bite. Lethargy, lack of appetite, fever, lameness are all signs of possible infection, so you will need to seek vet help. The earlier your pet receives treatment, the higher chance of recovery.
“Ticks are commonly found in long grass, woodlands, hedges and areas with lots of sheep or wildlife, so be mindful when heading out for dog walks. Be sure that your dog is up to date with their flea and tick treatment as this will give them some protection as any ticks that latch on should be weakened or killed if you don’t find them for a while.
“Check your dog for ticks after walks, as well as checking your cat if your feline friend is a bit of an adventurer – you may find a tick before it has had the chance to attach. They are commonly found on your pet’s head, ears, around eyes, armpits, groin and tummy, but you want to give your pet a complete check over just in case. If you find a tick on your pet, it is important to remove it quickly and properly with a tick removing tool. Don’t use other methods like petroleum jelly, alcohol or trying to pull the tick out with your fingers, as you can do more damage this way.”
More seasonal safety messaging can be found on PDSA’s website.
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