With Spring here and the weather slowly warming up, your dog has to get used to new and changing environments. With all these changes, there are new things for pooch owners to look out for and keep in mind. It is important to keep your pets safe in this beautiful season so it can be enjoyed to it’s fullest potential, and I have some tips to help just that!
Allergies: Did you know dogs can have allergies just like humans? Keep an eye out for unusual scratching, rubbing, licking, biting of the skin, or redness and rashes. My first dog, Elmo, used to be allergic to new growing grass and would get red, watery eyes.
Paw Irritants: Speaking of grass, allergies and irritation, if you notice your dog constantly biting their feet, check for grass seeds or pieces of fertilizer. They often get stuck in dog paws during backyard exploration, walks, runs and the like and can cause plenty of irritation.
Fertilizer & Insect/Rodent Repellent: If your dog is using your lawn and you plan to use fertilizer, make sure it is an eco-friendly type that will not poison or cause severe allergic reactions to your pooch. Also, with the warm weather comes many insects that you simply don’t want around such as ants and mice. Did you know that bug and rodent traps and sprays are some of the most poisonous items, in or around a house, to a dog? Be careful where you use use these things or choose eco-friendly alternatives as well, such as steel wool to keep out rodents or paprika to ward off ants.
Swimming Pool Safety: If you have a pool, pond or even if you’re lucky enough to have a lake in your backyard, keep it fenced unless you are monitoring all dog activity within it. Better yet, strap on a life jacket to your dog if they plan to take a dip, as they often don’t realize how tired they are and this can lead to drowning incidents.
Hydrate Your Pooch: Warm weather brings longer walks! Longer walks means tired dogs. Tired dogs could mean dehydration. Make sure to carry around water with you, more frequently than you might have done before, as dogs can get hotter a lot quicker than you think! Better yet, tote around a portable bowl (or win one from our first giveaway!) for emergency situations.
Flower Safety: Did you know that some flowers can be poisonous to dogs? Be careful about what you plant in your garden because you never know what your pooch might be tempted to try! Check out Dogpack.com for a list of what plants and flowers are unsafe for your pup.
Shedding: This is the season of FUR! Yikes! Keep your pets groomed and cool when they’re indoors and out in order to minimize the impact of shedding on the stress levels of the dogs (and the stress levels of the owners too 
). Because dogs with thicker fur shed a lot more, their fur can tangle during the transition from winter to spring. Be careful when grooming!
Do you have any other Spring tips that I haven’t touched on? If so, Luna and I would certainly love to know! Please share in the comments below and enjoy this transition into the great season that is Spring!
XO
Claudia&Luna
