After a wet and chilly winter, many of us will be itching to enjoy the sunshine with our pets. But Spring can introduce new challenges. From allergies and grass seeds to the unexpected insect bite, it’s worth being proactive about your pet’s wellbeing as we move into the warmer months.
Allergies
Like us, animals can suffer from environmental allergies. Spring is peak season for pollens from trees and flowers and grasses to be floating around and irritating our pets. Some pets may develop red, watery eyes, a runny nose, and sneezing. A lot of pets with allergies to pollens and grasses suffer from skin irritations caused by allergic dermatitis, so keep an eye on their feet and the hairless areas like their underarms and bellies. Allergic pets will often lick and scratch these areas, leading to secondary bacterial infections. These only make the problem worse!
Watch out for inflamed areas and unusual rashes and monitor how much your pet scratches themselves, so you will know if something changes. If you see a worrying increase in irritation, itchiness or redness, contact your local vet who may prescribe medications like creams, antihistamines, steroids or immune modulating medicines to reduce your pet’s discomfort.
Grass Seeds
Grass seeds can find themselves embedded in your pet’s fur, ears, eyes, nose, and skin. Depending on the location, the symptoms of their discomfort can differ. The seeds can burrow through your pet’s skin and migrate to difficult locations. They can also be found stuck in eyelids and up noses. A seed in the ear can cause your furry friend to shake their head and rub their ear excessively. When found in the fur, embedded grass seeds can result in matting.
Keep an eye out for any redness, itching, or signs of pain like squinting, limping or pawing at a particular area. To avoid these issues, keep your companion’s coat clean and short, avoid walking them through long grass, and check over your dog’s fur after walks or yard time every day.
Snakes
Snakes start to move around more as the weather warms up, making now the perfect time to take precautions if you live in a snake-prone area.
To reduce the risk of snake bites, get rid of any rubbish, such as leftover timber or garden cuttings, that are laying around your home. These make appealing homes for snakes. When you walk your dog, keep them on a lead unless you’re sure the area is safe, and watch they’re not exploring areas of thick bush or grass. Snakes are also attracted to water and foods like chicken and bird feed. Be especially careful if your home has a pond, dam or water feature or if you also share your home with birds.
Some common signs of snake bites are sudden weakness followed by collapse, shaking or twitching muscles, difficulty blinking, loss of bladder and bowel control, dilated pupils and blood in the urine. If you even suspect your pet has been bitten, contact your vet straight away, even if it looks like the symptoms are beginning to wear off. Some snake venom has a secondary action at a later time. Minimise movement in your pet to stop the spread of venom and try to keep them as calm as possible while you transfer them to the nearest vet hospital.
Ticks
With the warm, wet weather, ticks are out in force. Ticks are extremely dangerous, so protect your pet by:
- Providing regular tick prevention.
- Searching your pet’s coat, especially around the ears, mouth, neck, underarms and bottom every day.
- Seeking help from a vet immediately if you notice your pet has wobbly back legs, is lethargic, has a change in voice or has trouble breathing.
- Rapid veterinary care is necessary for tick intoxication. Don’t delay treatment.
Garden Risks
Any type of fertiliser and bait (snail, slug, rat, etc.) can be toxic to dogs and cats. Some can cause seizures, comas and death and others can cause uncontrolled bleeding.
Many people also don’t know that garden mulch can be toxic as it often includes a by-product of cocoa powder or other chocolate products. Other dangers in the garden include toxic plants. You can read up on these on our knowledgebase.
If your pet ingests something that you think may be toxic, take your pet and a sample of anything you think they have eaten, to your local vet immediately.
Bee Stings
Bee stings typically occur in Spring when plants are flowering and these important insects are busy spreading pollen far and wide. A pet’s reaction to being stung can greatly vary in severity, but stinging often occurs in the area around an animal’s mouth and feet. A mild reaction can include localised pain, swelling, and excessive scratching, rubbing, licking, or chewing at affected areas, a more severe reaction may involve profound swelling, hives, vomiting, and difficulty breathing. Some pets develop an allergy after being stung multiple times, which can include anaphylaxis.
If your pet is stung by any insect, remove the stinger (if possible) and contact a vet for advice. If you know your dog will have an anaphylactic reaction to bee stings, consult with to your vet about obtaining an Epi-pen.
