Spring is Almost Here: How to Protect Pets From Outdoor Hazards
Spring is a welcome reprieve from the cold and snow of a Michigan winter. But it also comes with its own risks and discomforts. The team at Switzer Veterinary Clinic is here to support Alpena, MI, pets through dog and cat safety during this sunnier, warmer season.
Here are our top spring pet care tips to guide you through.
3 Spring Pet Care Tips for Alpena, MI Pets
1. Update Your Routines for Spring Pet Care
If your pet’s wellness routine fell slightly off the tracks during the winter, we feel your pain. It happens all too easily to many of us: the cold makes us want to stay inside, and the holiday season brings an explosion of treats and sweets for us and our pets.
But spring is an ideal time to get everything back on track. Start with gradual outdoor exercise and bi-weekly grooming. Pop into a dog wash to give your pup a spring bath.
Make sure you continue your flea, tick, and heartworm preventive routines—or schedule a vet visit to get back on preventives if you paused them during the winter. Reassess your pet’s nutrition and make sure she’s still eating the food that’s best for her age, breed, and health history.
2. Keep an Eye Out for Outdoor Hazards
Spring often means everyone and their sister is refreshing yards and gardens. Everything from your neighbor’s yard to the park you like to walk your pup or kitty at can contain harmful plants, lawn chemicals, mushrooms, and random winter debris.
Standing water and mud can also carry harmful bacteria, so avoid letting your pet drink out of any puddles. Supervise outdoor time with your pet and keep your garden pet-safe with non-toxic plants and pest deterrents to avoid springtime snafus.
While you’re increasing your outdoor time, make sure your pet’s ID tag and microchip information are up-to-date.
3. Watch Out for Joint Pain
Large-breed dogs and elderly canines and felines alike can develop joint stiffness and arthritis symptoms in the winter months. The lack of movement, the cold, and the bone-chilling wind can all negatively affect your pet’s joints.
This means it’s important for you to watch out for signs of stiffness, like limping, difficulty standing up, and decreased ability to jump and play. Check in with your veterinarian to see how you can best support your pet through any joint pain—there’s a lot you and your vet can do to help keep Fido or Kitty from living in pain.
Start with providing an orthopedic, arthritis-friendly bed, practicing low-impact exercise every day, and adding omega-3s and other joint supplements to your pet’s diet—with your vet’s approval, of course.
Partners in Spring Pet Care
The team at Switzer Veterinary Clinic is here to support your spring pet care efforts. Whether you need help with your pet’s parasite preventives or joint health, we’re here to help. Call us at (989) 356-4880 to schedule a spring wellness visit today.