Canine Safety in the Springtime

Springtime Safety For Dogs

March 15, 2023

A veterinarian-reviewed list of 10 Dangers for our canine friends in the springtime.

Iowa winters can be brutal, and many of us can relate to the feeling of relief when springtime shows up. However, spring can be a dangerous time of year for dogs. This list isn’t comprehensive, and is in no particular order, but should give you a good idea of how to keep your pet safe this time of year.

1.Ticks

Ticks start to come out in the springtime. Midwest ticks include the Lone Star Tick, the American Dog Tick, and the Blacklegged Tick (also called the Deer Tick). These ticks can all spread different types of disease, but all three species should be avoided. Some of the diseases that these ticks can spread are able to be vaccinated for, like Lyme disease. Others, like Anaplasma, have no dog-safe vaccine. The only way to prevent it is by preventing a tick bite. Make sure your dog is on a veterinary approved tick preventative to fend off tick-borne illness and diseases.

Ticks are most active in the morning hours and the babies like long grasses. Make sure to brush and comb your dog after outdoor outings. You can brush out loose ticks and check for any that have attached to the dog. There is a window of time after a tick bite before disease can be transmitted. Removing a tick after it has bitten can also prevent transmission.

Removal can be done by gripping the tick as close to the head as possible and pulling straight out. There are products that can help with this type of removal as well.

2. Fertilizers

Dogs do seem to love fertilizers and plant food, and some dogs will even dig up plant food spikes that have been buried. Keep a close eye on those spots, some of these products can be harmful. Most fertilizers that are sprayed on a lawn have a short time after application in which they are most toxic. Make sure to keep your dog off of the lawn after treatments like these.

There are also brands that can be purchased that are safe for dogs, but nothing is good in too large a quantity. Many of our dogs will gorge themselves on something that smells good to them, and that can include these fertilizers.

3. Snakes

Snakes are waking up and moving around in the warming months. Iowa’s venomous snakes are rarely fatal, especially if bites are treated quickly.

The massasauga rattlesnake, the timber rattlesnake, the prairie rattlesnake, and the copperhead are the four venomous snakes of Iowa. All of these reptiles are protected, so should absolutely not be killed if you come across one. Most snakes are shy, and will retreat once they have landed a bite.

Dogs are very likely to lead with their noses, and the most common place for bites is the nose and face. Keep close tabs on a wandering canine and check in on those that run out of site often.

Practice your dog’s recall command to help ensure safety. There are also many great tutorials online for teaching your dog to avoid snakes!

4. Stinging bugs

Bees and wasps come out of their winter grogginess and can be cranky. Like humans, some dogs are more sensitive to insect venoms. If your dog is stung check for a retained stinger and remove it. A soothing paste of baking soda and water can be applied while a call to the doctor is placed. If a mild reaction is all that occurs then a cool pack to reduce swelling or an oatmeal bath to sooth may be all that is needed. Contact your dog’s veterinarian for a safe benadryl or claratin dose for mild irritation associated with the sting

If facial swelling, hives, gagging, drooling, or wheezing occurs immediately contact your veterinarian for a potential emergency visit.

Practice your dog’s recall command to help ensure safety. There are also ways of teaching your dog to avoid beehives. Check online for tutorials.

5. Thawing Ponds

Be very cautious letting your dog out on the frozen ponds during the springtime. When the temperature changes quickly it can cause cracks in pond ice and make the ice sheets even more prone to breakage.

Slush on the ice is a sure sign to stay off of it! Pay special attention after wet weather like a rainstorm. Ice with a current underneath can be especially unpredictable. Be especially careful this time of year. Dogs don’t realize that their solid footing could come out from under them at any moment.

6. Heartworm

Heartworm is spread through the biting mosquito females. Mosquitos are out full force in the springtime in the Midwest.

Dogs in certain areas of the United States should be tested more often, but most veterinarians in the Midwest say a once yearly test is sufficient. Your veterinary office will want to test for heartworm before prescribing a preventative.

Make sure your dog is on a veterinary approved heartworm preventative to ensure these serious parasites don’t harm your dog.

Many mosquito repellents that are safe for humans to use can be very harmful to dogs. Having them on a preventative won’t prevent a mosquito bite, but will keep them safe from heartworms.

Visit heartwormsociety.org to learn more.

7. Falls

Spring time is when people start opening their windows to let the fresh air in. Everyone loves the spring air. This makes it easy for our dog friends to get a good look at what is going on around our homes. Open windows also seem to be a temptation to put feet up onto screens.

Make sure those screens are snug, well fitted screens have a lower chance of popping out. Choose a sturdy model of screen that your doggie friend can’t force their way through. A larger breed dog may need to have a heavier duty mesh installed in their windows to make sure they can’t scratch a hole in the screen.

8. Spring Cleaning

A lot of very popular cleaning solutions are toxic to our dogs, but smell wonderful to them. This includes even the most natural of products. Make sure your dog isn’t lapping out of your mom bucket or licking the freshly cleaned windows.

The list of toxic household substances is long, and can include bleach, fabric softener sheets, and essential oils. Even something as seemingly harmless as a vinegar solution can cause a reaction in dogs.

Signs of toxicity can include excessive drooling, mild to severe vomiting, and diarrhea. Contact your veterinarian immediately if you find your dog ingesting cleaning products. Depending on the product your veterinarian may suggest bringing your pet in for an emergency visit.

ASPCA Poison Control Center hotline number is (888) 426-4435.

Pay close attention to your dog during your bouts of cleaning this season. Moving things around and boxing and unboxing things have the potential to stress out our canine roommates. Some dogs need a little something to help take the edge off during bouts of busyness this time of year.

9. Holidays

With spring comes holidays celebrated with potentially toxic plants. Many popular plants given for Easter and Mother’s Day are toxic. The most popular of these could be the Easter Lily. Every part of this plant is toxic, including the stem and leaves, the pollen, and the petals. All lilies are poisonous to our domestic friends, cats, dogs, and small mammals included. If these plants come into your house make sure that the pets in the home don’t come into contact with them.

Our favorite drinking holiday, St. Patrick’s Day, comes with a lot of food and alcohol. A lot of that is bad for our pets. There are many toxic foods in our kitchens, and even more when parties are happening. Keeping the dogs in a separate room or space may be the safest option. Popular snacks like fried onions can be quite toxic to dogs.

Not only can alcohol get our dogs inebriated, it can cause toxicity in some of our smaller friends. Even a small amount of beer can be very bad for a small dog.

Decorations for all of these holidays can include decorative grasses and foil-covered candies. These things can cause blockages if ingested.

All good holidays come with sweets! Xylitol is a common artificial sweetener. It is in many candies and gums, and some people even buy bags of it to bake with. Sometimes referred to as Birch Sugar, Xylitol is very toxic, even in small doses.

Too much of anything can be very bad for our dog friends. Chocolate, and even an over indulgence in certain candies has the potential to be toxic. Call your veterinarian for advice when you catch your dog in your candy stash. Sometimes vomiting at home can be a fix.

10. Allergens

Just like humans some of the canines in our lives are more sensitive to dust and dander and pollen than others. Many of the things that can cause the humans in the house to be itchy can also be irritating to the canines. Trees, grasses, and many native Midwest plants can cause a runny nose, red, itchy eyes, and itchy, red patches between the toes.

If your dog is getting itchy in the springtime contact your veterinarian to discuss some things that can be done for relief. There are even some over the counter options for relief like Benadryl and Claritin that could help, your veterinarian can give you safe doses for your pet.

The best thing you can do to keep your pet safe is to know your veterinarian’s emergency policies and hours, and know where the closest emergency hospital is to you.

Iowa’s 24 hour Veterinary Emergency Hospitals:

• Iowa State Veterinary Hospital - Lloyd Veterinary Medical Center; Ames, IA; 515-294-4900

• Iowa Veterinary Specialties; Des Moines, IA; 515-280-3051

• Blue Pearl Pet Hospital - Des Moines; Des Moines, IA; 515-727-4872

• Blue Pearl Pet Hospital - Cedar Rapids; Cedar Rapids, IA; 319-841-5161