Who does not love November? I love the pumpkin spice latte season. Plus, the weather is perfect for warm sweaters and snuggles. Although our pups do not drink lattes or wear sweaters, they are energized by the colder weather. November is fun, but it can bring some surprising dangers for your pup. Here I share five tips on how to keep your pets safe and healthy this season.
🐾 Apples are fine for dogs, but apple seeds, apple stems, and apple pie not. Apple stems, leaves, and seeds can cause GI upset, decreased oxygen in the blood, slow heart rate, difficulty breathing, seizures, coma, and even death in dogs. If you want your pup to enjoy an apple, you need to cut it and share with him the flesh. Dogs can eat the flesh of apples. Just make sure you get rid of the stem and seeds.
🐾 No fatty foods for fluffy. As it gets colder, humans enjoy rich fatty meals. Keep your dog away from fatty meat, trimmings, bones, gravies, and calorie-dense dishes. Also, garlic and onions are toxic to dogs! Highly fatty foods can cause acute and life-threatening pancreatitis (inflammation of the pancreas).
🐾 Watch out for those pretty mushrooms in the yard. Dogs are highly susceptible to mushroom poisoning due to their wandering and scavenging behavior. Although most mushrooms are not toxic, Fido is not able to know which ones are toxic and which ones are not. Therefore, the best way to avoid problems is to keep him away from them. Mushroom toxicity can cause profuse bloody diarrhea, vomiting, abdominal pain, dehydration, fever, and elevated heart rates. Without medical treatment, the pet can develop liver and kidney failure within days. Therefore, call your vet if you suspect Fido has ingested toxic mushrooms.
🐾 Keep mothballs away from your pup! Many people use mothballs when storing clothing (especially sweaters). Make sure that if you use them, they are appropriately stored and that they are out of reach of pets. Mothballs contain high concentrations of insecticides that are toxic to dogs. If ingested, they can cause anemia, vomiting, lethargy, and liver or kidney damage. Also, they pose a choking or intestinal blockage hazard if swallowed. You may want to consider cedar chips/blocks or sachets of lavender that can repel fiber-snacking pests.
🐾 Prevent Fido from getting a snakebite. The fall is the season when snakes prepare for hibernation. Therefore, snakes are more likely to strike, increasing the possibility of bites to naive and curious Fido. Find out what kinds of snakes are in your area and if there is any venomous kind and avoid the areas they most often live.
I hope these few tips help you keep your pup out of trouble this month. November is a fun month to enjoy with your pup. Enjoy the colder weather, the changing colors, and beautiful falling leaves when taking your pup for a walk!
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