It looks like spring is sticking around – we’ve talked about some of the airborne concerns in our previous Staff Chat, now let’s talk about some other things to take into consideration.

Spring cleaning – good for you and your environment, but not so good if your pup ingests some cleaning chemicals or products. Do not leave cleaning supplies unattended – not even for “just a minute” – and make sure they’re securely away from curious pets when not in use!

Spring is also the time of year when our thumbs turn green, and we’ll start a vegetable garden, or a flower bed, or something similar. If you’re out and about with your pup, don’t let them eat or chew on any plant – better safe than sorry. At home, be aware of what plants are either in your yard, or that you’ve planted. Know which ones are safe, and which ones are on the “no” list!

Ivy is one of those plants on the “no” list. If ivy is ingested, your dog will not be happy. You may notice drooling, vomit, or diarrhea – and you may see blood in their vomit or feces. There may also be skin reactions, itchiness, or rashes. Nothing fun here!

Remember that we were talking about going on more frequent walks, and perhaps visiting dog parks? Is your furry friend up to date on their vaccines, and do you know if the other dogs they’ll interact with are vaccinated, too? If your pup is up to date, that will help to ensure that your friend doesn’t pick up a contagious disease from their playmates, and also that your pup doesn’t infect the other dogs. If you’re going to board your dog while you take a trip, or if they’re going to doggy day care or getting groomed, they will definitely need to be up to date on their shots. If they’re not current on vaccines, give us a call! Let’s get you scheduled in so you and they can enjoy a healthy summer together.

You know how restless you feel when the weather starts getting better, and you’ve been cooped up for most of the winter (not to mention Covid curtailing our activities!)? Well, you can bet your dog feels the same way – they can’t wait to go running and exploring! What happens if the “it won’t happen to me” happens – they jump the fence, or slip their lead, and off they go! One of the first things that happens when a stray dog is found is that they’re scanned for a microchip. This is the best way to identify your pet – and also has the best odds of getting them returned to you. Call us now to talk about getting your dog or cat companion microchipped – it’s a quick, easy, cost effective way to give them this lifelong means of identification.

So – a resounding welcome to spring arriving! We’ve presented to you a few things to consider as we enter the season – a few preventative measures can go a long way to ensuring it’s a safe and happy one!