With cooler weather and shorter days come a number of changes in our day to day lives—the leaves change, sweaters come out of storage and pumpkin spice fills the air.
The changing season also leads to changes in the natural world and our day-to-day habits that create new hazards for our pets. Here’s how to keep your pet safe.
Snakes, due to their cold-blooded nature, are especially easy to corner as the temperature drops and as they search out burrows for wintertime brumation.
Leaf piles, in particular, are a popular place for snakes to hide out during the cooler nights and mornings of autumn. Keep your pups away from wood piles, heavy brush and leaf piles where snakes may be hiding.
Nearly all mushrooms present little or no toxicity for pets—but the 1% that do can be life-threatening.
Distinguishing between poisonous mushrooms and safe ones is extremely difficult, so it’s best to keep pets away from all mushrooms and where they may be growing.
Fungi love damp, shady areas like the underside of leaf piles, wooded areas and shaded grass. Steer your pet clear of these areas.
Back-to-school time is here, which means stocking up on fun school supplies like glue sticks, markers and pencil erasers. Unfortunately, pets commonly mistake these colorful items for new toys.
Keep school supplies out of paw’s reach! While the majority of school supplies are non-toxic for pets, ingestion can lead to stomach upset and dangerous intestinal blockages.
Like school supplies, holiday decorations and costumes can be mistaken for chew toys.
When selecting a Halloween costume for your pet, choose one that doesn’t have loose accessories like wings that can be ingested. Display other home decorations where curious pets can’t reach them.
Chocolate and sugar-free candies, which commonly contain xylitol, can spell serious trouble for pets. Store your trick-or-treat stash out up high or in a locked cabinet to prevent mishaps.