While the cooler temperatures of autumn are a nice change of pace after a hot summer, there are some important issues to keep in mind about your pet during this season. As we move towards the holiday season, here are several helpful autumn safety tips for your pet:
Watch Out for Poisons, Rodenticides and Coolant
Since both mice and rats try to move indoors as it gets colder outside, people are more likely to use different pest poisons during this time of the year. These poisons may be used around the exterior of someone's home, as well as in commercial areas like golf courses. Since these poisons are highly toxic to all pets, it's important to be aware of where your pet is going and prevent it from getting near these types of dangers.
Engine coolant is another threat to be aware of whenever your pet is outside or even in a garage. The type of coolant that's most toxic to pets is ethylene glycol-based. As a pet owner, you may want to switch to propylene glycol-based coolant. Although these coolants aren't completely nontoxic, they aren't as deadly as the others. Just remember that ethylene glycol-based coolants are still most prevalent, so keep a close eye on your pet if it's ever close to a spill or puddle.
School Supplies and Candy
If you have kids who are getting back into the swing of school, chances are your home has items like markers and glue sticks sitting around. While these items aren't nearly as toxic as things like rodenticides or ethylene glycol-based coolants, they can cause blockages and gastrointestinal upset if ingested. Halloween candy presents the same and potentially higher danger, which is why it's best to keep all these items well out of reach of your pet.
Mushrooms and Snakes
Most of the mushrooms that you may see growing outside have little or no toxicity. However, a small percentage of mushrooms are extremely toxic. Because it's very hard to tell the extremely toxic ones from others, it's important to keep your pet away from areas where any mushrooms are growing. If mushrooms often spring up in your yard overnight, be sure to pull them up before letting your pet out in the morning.
Snakes are the last autumn danger we want to highlight. This is the time of year when snakes are preparing for hibernation, which is why bites become more likely. You can protect your pet by keeping it away from any areas with lots of debris.
By being aware of these potential dangers, you can fully enjoy fall with your pet while both staying safe!
