Often Overlooked, These 5 Things Can Harm Your Pet - Spring Edition

1. Algae

Do you have an outdoor pond?  Dirty fishtank inside?  Is your dog eager for the first swim?  If a cat or dog decides to take a sip, or even a dip, from these convenient sources, the algae may infect their system.  Clean and treat your ponds and tanks, and be sure to inspect any area you let your dog swim or bathe.

2. Tulips

Spring and tulips are iconically tied together, but make sure your dog or cat, and horses, avoid these poisonous flowers.  Ingestion can cause vomiting, diarrhea, hypersalivation, and depression.  Especially make sure bulbs are safely buried or out of reach, as this is where the toxins are at their highest concentrations.

3. Mothballs

Spring cleaning could mean a few trips to and from the attic.  Make sure the cats stay out, and never use mothballs in an area where your pets, or children, could get to them.  Store them, when not being used, in an airtight container, as even inhalation of the mothballs can cause reactions in some animals.  Symptoms include: vomiting, weakness, and even tremors or seizures.  Contact your vet immediately if you suspect your pet has come in contact or eaten mothballs.

4. Compost Piles

If you’re a gardener using compost, make sure your animals can’t access the pile.  Compost is made of decomposing and decaying organic matter, and may grow mold and other toxins.  Make sure your pile is fenced off or out of reach, and be careful to watch your animals around the gardens where you use it.  Horses and dogs, especially, love to smell and eat items they shouldn’t.

5. Fencing/Latticework

Now that the snow has melted, examine your fenced in areas to be sure they’re secure, as well as free of broken wiring, sharp splinters, or any other obstacle that might catch or snag on an animal trying to escape it.  Your dog getting loose is one thing, your dog getting scratched or gouged trying to get loose is another.  Be sure to check at points where fencing meet, as well as where it meets the ground.

Source: ASPCA, http://www.aspcapetinsurance.com/support_docs/101guide.pdf