Spring pet safety: common hazards for dogs and cats in Australia

Summary

Enjoying spring with your pet

Many of us believe that spring is the best season of the year, and the science supports it. The chill of winter is over, temperatures are moderate and there are more daylight hours. The birds are chirping, the plants are flourishing and the world is brighter and more colourful. Scientifically speaking, exposure to sunlight increases our levels of serotonin, the happiness hormone, in our brains.

After the cooler months, spring is a wonderful time to spend more time outdoors with your dog or cat. Longer daylight hours and milder temperatures can mean more walks, outdoor play and opportunities to explore.

For dogs, consider varying your usual routine with sniff walks, trips to dog-friendly parks, bush or coastal walks, games in the backyard or other activities suited to your dog’s age and fitness. If your dog has been less active over winter, increase exercise gradually rather than suddenly launching into long walks or strenuous runs. Older pets and those with arthritis, heart disease or other health conditions may need a gentler approach.

Cats also benefit from exercise and enrichment. Indoor cats can enjoy interactive toys, climbing areas and short daily play sessions, while some cats enjoy supervised outdoor time in a secure enclosure or walking on a harness and lead.

Spring also brings a number of seasonal hazards, however, so it pays to know what your pet may encounter when spending more time outside.

Did you know…

As we emerge from winter hibernation, spring brings a boost in our energy levels and enthusiasm, literally putting a ‘spring’ in our step. And it’s the same for our pets. After cocooning themselves indoors for much of winter, they emerge from their beds and blankets with renewed joie-de-vivre and energy; a desire to run, jump, skip and play and an increased need for exercise.

Make the most of the warmer weather

Luckily, there is no more glorious time than a beautiful spring day to exercise outdoors, both for ourselves and our pets. A brisk walk in the cool of the morning. The opportunity to play and roam outdoors in the fading sunlight of the early evening. Spring is a great time for all sorts of outdoor activities with your pet by your side, from gentle strolls round the neighbourhood with plenty of opportunities to stop and sniff, to brisk walks or gentle jogs around a local park, to rambling hikes exploring the coast or countryside.

Outdoor play and exercise is hugely beneficial for our dogs, both physically and mentally. As it does for us, increasing their exercise during spring can help burn off any excess weight gained during winter and boost their metabolism out of hibernation mode. Some dogs will naturally shed their winter coats, making them feel lighter and more energised, while others may be in need of a spring haircut in order not to overheat in the warmer weather.

Whatever your preferred form of outdoor activity, take advantage of the warmer (but not excessively hot) weather to get out and about and to sometimes venture beyond your usual haunts and find some new places to explore and enjoy together.

Exercise options for cats

You may think we are talking exclusively to dog owners; however, cats too will benefit from having supervised time outdoors. As it’s becoming more common to keep cats exclusively indoors, so is it becoming more accepted to teach cats how to walk on a leash. If leash-walking doesn’t appeal to you and your cat, consider setting up a safe and secure outdoor cat enclosure. Alternatively, engaging your cat in short active play sessions a couple of times each day will do wonders for her health and well-being.

Common spring hazards for dogs and cats

Unfortunately, spring is not just about sunshine and play; it is also a time of some potentially nasty, hidden hazards. Pesky mozzies that can bring on far worse than just an irritating itch, ticks that can prove fatal, and itchy, red skin from airborne allergens are just a few of the common nasties that can crop up in spring.

Don’t let the thought of these un-pleasantries keep you and your pet stuck indoors. Arm yourself with knowledge and your pet with the right preventatives. Know what to look out for and what to do if your pet does have an encounter with one of the harmful hazards discussed below, and you’ll both bounce through spring with joy and exuberance.

1. Paralysis ticks

Paralysis ticks are one of the most serious springtime risks for pets in parts of Australia. Although they can occur throughout the year, the number of cases typically rises through spring.

The eastern paralysis tick occurs predominantly along the eastern Australian coastline, while other paralysis tick species occur in parts of southern Australia. Year-round prevention is particularly important in tick-prone areas.

Signs of tick paralysis can include:

• weakness or wobbliness, particularly in the back legs
• a change in the sound of your pet’s bark or meow
• vomiting or regurgitation
• coughing, gagging or difficulty swallowing
• reduced appetite
• drooling
• difficulty breathing
• progressive weakness or paralysis.

Tick paralysis can deteriorate rapidly and can be fatal. If your pet develops possible signs of tick paralysis, seek veterinary attention immediately.

Learn more about Paralysis ticks in dogs and cats: symptoms, treatment and prevention

2. Spring allergies and pets

The arrival of spring and extra hours of sunshine do wonders for our gardens. With the fresh, green grass and the profusion of spring flowers, allergies to grass and pollen are rife this time of the year.

While people commonly experience sneezing and a runny nose, pets with environmental allergies frequently show signs through their skin.

Look out for:

• scratching or chewing
• licking the paws
• red or inflamed skin
• rubbing the face
• irritated paws or belly
• recurrent ear infections
• hair loss or overgrooming.

Repeated licking and scratching can damage the skin and contribute to secondary bacterial or yeast infections.

You may be able to reduce exposure by wiping your pet’s paws and coat after walks, keeping their bedding clean and avoiding areas that consistently trigger symptoms, but persistent allergies should be investigated by your veterinarian.

Learn more about Skin allergies in dogs and cats.

3. Grass seeds

Dry grass seeds can become caught in a pet’s coat and work their way into the skin, paws, ears, eyes or nose. Some seeds can migrate through tissues and become surprisingly difficult to locate and remove. Dogs that run through long grass are particularly at risk.

Signs can include:

• persistent licking of a paw
• limping
• sudden head shaking
• scratching at an ear
• sneezing
• squinting or pawing at an eye
• swelling or a small draining wound.

After walking through long or seeding grass, check your dog’s coat carefully, particularly between the toes, around the ears, under the legs and through feathered or long hair.

If a grass seed appears embedded, or your pet develops persistent symptoms, see your vet rather than trying to dig deeply into the skin or ear yourself.

4. Fleas and mosquitoes

Fleas can affect pets at any time of year, but warmer conditions can favour flea activity. Flea bites cause irritation and can trigger flea allergy dermatitis in susceptible dogs and cats. Mosquitoes are another warmer-weather concern because they can transmit heartworm.

Rather than treating parasite prevention as something that starts and stops with the seasons, discuss an appropriate year-round parasite-control program with your veterinarian. The best combination will depend on where you live, whether your pet travels and their lifestyle. Australian parasite guidance emphasises that parasite exposure can occur throughout the year and that even indoor pets are not necessarily completely risk-free.

Learn more about flea control for dogs and cats.

5. Snakes

As temperatures rise, snakes become more active, increasing the chance that dogs and cats may encounter one in gardens, bushland, parks and other outdoor areas. Snakes can also occur in suburban and urban environments.

Reduce your pet’s risk by:

• keeping grass short around your home
• clearing piles of timber, garden waste and other potential hiding places
• keeping dogs on a lead around long grass, bushland and waterways
• supervising pets outdoors in snake-prone areas
• keeping cats safely contained at home or in a secure outdoor enclosure.

Possible signs of snake bite include sudden weakness or collapse, vomiting, shaking or twitching, difficulty breathing, paralysis, dilated pupils or blood in the urine. A pet may sometimes appear to improve temporarily after initially collapsing.

Treat every suspected snake bite as an emergency. Keep your pet as calm and still as possible and transport them immediately to the nearest veterinarian. Do not try to catch or kill the snake, apply a tourniquet, cut the bite or attempt to suck out venom.

6. Bees and wasps

Flowering gardens also mean more bees and other stinging insects.

Many stings cause only temporary pain and local swelling, particularly around the paws or muzzle. However, some pets develop much more serious reactions.

Seek urgent veterinary care if your pet develops:

• significant facial or throat swelling
• widespread hives
• repeated vomiting
• weakness or collapse
• difficulty breathing.

Severe allergic reactions, including anaphylaxis, can occur.

7. Toxic spring plants and flowers

Spring gardens can contain plants that are harmful to pets if eaten.

Bulbs and corms including daffodils, tulips and hyacinths can cause poisoning, with the underground bulb often containing a higher concentration of toxins than the leaves or flowers. Dogs may be especially likely to uncover bulbs while digging.

An especially important warning applies to cats:

True lilies and daylilies (Lilium and Hemerocallis species) are extremely dangerous to cats. Exposure to leaves, flowers, pollen or even water from a vase containing these lilies can cause potentially fatal kidney injury.

Homes with cats are safest without these lilies altogether. Other potentially dangerous garden plants include cycads or sago palms, oleander, azaleas and Brunfelsia (Yesterday, Today and Tomorrow).

Learn more about toxic plants for dogs and 9 plants you should never plant in your garden.

8. Fertilisers, snail bait and other garden products

Spring is also gardening season, and some of the products used to keep gardens flourishing can be hazardous to pets.

Particular care should be taken with:

• snail and slug bait
• rat and mouse bait
• insecticides
• herbicides
• fertilisers
• garden chemicals.

Some organic fertilisers contain ingredients such as blood, bone or animal-based meals that dogs find extremely appealing. Eating a large amount can cause severe gastrointestinal illness and other complications.

Snail baits also require care. Products marketed as having bittering agents or as being relatively pet-friendly should still be kept securely out of reach because large ingestions can cause serious poisoning.

Always store garden products in their original containers and follow the manufacturer’s instructions carefully.

If you think your pet has eaten or been exposed to a potentially poisonous substance, contact your veterinarian or the Animal Poisons Helpline on 1300 869 738 for advice.

Learn more about Poisoning in dogs and cats

Spring pests and parasites

1. Ticks

Spring is the breeding season for these nasty little suckers. Ticks are at their most prevalent during spring and summer, including the deadly Paralysis Tick that inhabits the Eastern coastline. Tick prevention is therefore essential this time of year, and especially so for pets living within 100km of the East coast of Australia, from Melbourne in the south to the tip of Queensland in the north. In addition to preventative measures, be sure to check your pet for ticks after you venture out.

Read more about ticks here.

2. Fleas

Similarly to ticks, fleas love the warm weather and breed prolifically during spring and summer. Very tricky to spot in your pet’s fur, these tiny terrors will cause havoc if you aren’t giving your pet an effective flea preventative.

Read more about fleas here.

3. Heartworm

Because they are spread by mosquitoes, the transmission of heartworm increases during the warmer months and peaks in summer, in line with the mosquito population. The best way to avoid the serious health problems that are brought on by heartworm is to administer preventative medication.

Read more about heartworm here.

4. Snakes

The first sunny day of spring is guaranteed to bring many snakes out of hibernation, often loaded with stored up venom. During spring, vets often see both canine and feline snake-bite victims, dogs usually having been bitten on the face as they go in for the sniff, and cats typically bitten on the foot as they give the snake a curious toe tap.

Snakes can be deadly to pets so it’s important as a pet owner to be vigilant and watch out for snakes, particularly if any have been spotted in your area. Living in an urban environment doesn’t give you immunity; snakes can be found in the most unlikely places.

See advice from the Australian Animals Poisons Helpline on what to do if you suspect your pet has been bitten by a snake.

Bow Wow Meow is a Platinum Sponsor of the Australian Animals Poisons Helpline, a registered animal charity that provides a FREE poisons advice service to pet owners across Australia & New Zealand. Pet owners who suspect their pet may have been poisoned can call 1300 869 738 to get rapid first-aid advice, risk assessment and triage recommendations for their pets.

5. Bees and wasps

These pollinators are profuse during springtime, and are an attraction for inquisitive pups who can’t keep their little noses and mouths away from danger. Bee and wasp stings can range from painful swelling to a life-threatening allergic reaction known as anaphylaxis.

Spring gardens – flowers, fertilizers and pesticides

Spring flowers

A number of spring flowers can be toxic to pets. Avoid planting toxic bulbs such as hyacinths, tulips, daffodils and certain lilies. Often, both the flowers and the bulbs can cause an upset stomach, or worse, so you will need to be vigilant if you have either a nibbler or a digger.

Selecting plants that are safe for pets will go a long way in preventing poisoning from occurring.

Pesticides

Spring is the time when everything in our gardens are growing and flourishing – including the undesirables like insects, fungi and weeds. This is when many of us attend to our gardens and get out the weed sprays and snail baits. Be aware that while these products may save your garden, they may harm (or even kill) your pet, even if they are labelled as ‘pet friendly’.

A pesticide is a poisonous substance used to kill insects, fungi, plants or even feral mammals. There are thousands of different types and they come in many different forms and concentrations. Toxicity and treatment vary significantly so always call the Australian Animal Poisons Helpline right away if your pet has been exposed to a pesticide.

Fertilisers

Spring gardening often entails the liberal use of fertilisers. Unfortunately, most of these, especially organic ones like blood and bone, are highly attractive to dogs.
Fertilizers can be toxic to pets so store them in an inaccessible place when not in use and do not allow your dog in the garden area while you are applying them. If your dog ingests fertiliser, please contact the Animal Poisons Helpline for advice.

In summary

While it may appear to be easier just to stay indoors and avoid all the potential hazards of spring, don’t do it! The benefits far outweigh the possible risks, and now that you are armed with knowledge of what to look out for, go out and enjoy the warmer weather and sunshine!

As you get out for more walks and outside playtime, just make sure that your pet:

• Is up to date with all vaccinations and flea, tick and heartworm medication.
• Has a microchip for identification and wears a tag with your contact information.
• Is on-leash when walking.

Also, be sure to always keep pets in sight when they are off-leash, so you know what they are up to. Some plants and mushrooms can be harmful and make your pet sick if eaten, so it’s best be close by in order to try to keep them from eating things you are not sure about.

If you have any concern about your pet, you should always start by calling your veterinarian for advice.