Fall 2022

Fall seasonal pet safety tips

Keep pets safe from autumn hazards

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

Snakes_1Snakes, 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.

Mushrooms

Mushrooms_2Nearly 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.

School supplies

School supplies_3Back-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.

Halloween decorations and costumes

Halloween_4Like 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.

Trick-or-treat candy

Candy_5Chocolate 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.

Free Will

They're part of your family. Make sure they’ll be cared for, no matter what, with a will. Nationwide can help you create your free and legally binding will in as little as 20 minutes today.

Create your free will
Add-a-pet

Take advantage of your multi-pet discount when you add a pet to your policy. When covering two or three pets, you can receive a 5% discount. When covering four or more pets, you'll save 10% on your base premium. Visit the member portal to add a pet. 

Enroll a new pet
Add-a-pet

Take advantage of your multi-pet discount when you add a pet to your policy. When covering two or three pets, you can receive a 5% discount. When covering four or more pets, you'll save 10% on your base premium. Visit the member portal to add a pet. 

Enroll a new pet
Add-a-pet

Take advantage of your multi-pet discount when you add a pet to your policy. When covering two or three pets, you can receive a 5% discount. When covering four or more pets, you'll save 10% on your base premium. Visit the member portal to add a pet. 

Enroll a new pet
Add-a-pet

Take advantage of your multi-pet discount when you add a pet to your policy. When covering two or three pets, you can receive a 5% discount. When covering four or more pets, you'll save 10% on your base premium. Visit the member portal to add a pet. 

Enroll a new pet
Add-a-pet

Take advantage of your multi-pet discount when you add a pet to your policy. When covering two or three pets, you can receive a 5% discount. When covering four or more pets, you'll save 10% on your base premium. Visit the member portal to add a pet. 

Enroll a new pet
Add-a-pet

Take advantage of your multi-pet discount when you add a pet to your policy. When covering two or three pets, you can receive a 5% discount. When covering four or more pets, you'll save 10% on your base premium. Visit the member portal to add a pet. 

Enroll a new pet
Add-a-pet

Take advantage of your multi-pet discount when you add a pet to your policy. When covering two or three pets, you can receive a 5% discount. When covering four or more pets, you'll save 10% on your base premium. Visit the member portal to add a pet. 

Enroll a new pet

Check out some of our other posts!

Laugh It Up, Furball! Contest Winners

We asked our social media followers to post a Star-Wars themed photo of their furry ...

Experts on call after hours

Pet parents tend to have numerous questions both big and small about caring for their ...

Meet our 2023 Wacky Pet Names nominees

Every pet is unique in their own way—ask any pet parent and they’ll tell you! But how do ...

Keep essential oils away from your pets

Essential oils can be found in many popular products, from those for aromatherapy to ...