Fall is a beautiful season for spending time outdoors with your pet, exploring the neighborhood and enjoying cool, comfortable weather. It’s also a season that brings changes both inside and outside of the home, as kids go back to school, new vegetation begins to grow, leaves fall and you prepare for Halloween.

You’ll want to keep your pet safe and healthy throughout the year, and especially in this new season. You can prevent harm and illness in your pet by monitoring his environment, and thinking ahead. Watching out for toxic mushrooms, deer ticks, seasonal allergies and potentially harmful objects in the home will help your pet to stay healthy and happy throughout the autumn months.

Here are several Fall Health Tips to help you stay conscious of your pet’s safety, so you can get back to enjoying this lovely season together in Norfolk, VA.

Watch Out for School Supplies
While your kids may be thrilled with all of their new school supplies, like glue sticks, fresh magic markers and colored pencils, your pet’s gastrointestinal tract surely won’t be. While most school supplies aren’t highly toxic, they can be extremely difficult to digest and can cause an upset stomach and even serious gastrointestinal issues, as well as potential for choking. To ensure your pet’s safety, keep school supplies out of your pet’s reach at all times.

Stay Away from Mushrooms
Fall and Spring are mushroom seasons, and you may already notice them popping up in the yards of your neighbors as you stroll your neighborhood. While most mushrooms are not toxic, some are, and if your dog were to ingest a toxic mushroom, he could suffer life-threatening illness. Steer clear of mushrooms during walks, and keep a close eye out for them in your area to prevent your pup from getting sick.

Ticks
During the fall months, the number of adult deer ticks is at its highest, making your pet susceptible to tick bites and even lyme disease, if the tick is a carrier. The best way to keep your pet away from ticks is to steer clear of high grass (ticks tend to live in tall grass), keep them confined indoors (this works better for cats) and asking your veterinarian about a tick preventative. If your pet does go out romping in high grass, make sure to carefully inspect his body afterward, and ask your veterinarian for more tips on keeping ticks at bay.

Halloween
You can still celebrate Halloween with your pet, as long as you take a few precautions in advance to ensure his or her safety. Make sure to keep all chocolate out of your pet’s reach, as chocolate can be extremely toxic for dogs. While it certainly is fun to dress up Fido and head out to trick-or-trick with the whole family, take extra precautions to ensure that his costume fits appropriately and doesn’t impair his breathing or hearing. Watch out for small parts or pieces that could be choking hazards, as well. 

Fall Allergies
Autumn in Virginia brings high levels of ragweed, mold and tree pollen into the air, creating an allergy storm for those who suffer, including your pet. If you notice your pet itching and scratching at their fur, sneezing or coughing, losing fur or experiencing excessive nasal or eye discharge, they may be suffering from fall allergies. You can help to keep them comfortable by keeping your windows closed, vacuuming and wiping down surfaces often, bathing your pet every 7-30 days (this will depend on your breed, so consult your vet first) and providing a wholesome, healthy diet to keep your pet’s immune system functioning well. Schedule a visit to your veterinarian if you suspect your pet may be an allergy sufferer, and ask for extra tips and support to keep your pet feeling happy and healthy.