Seasonal Topics

Fall Pet Health Alerts -

Fall Insect Control

• Fleas -

  Fall is a great time to rid your home of fleas and establish lasting control. Flea hatches slow down as the weather cools and eventually stop after the first hard freeze. Vigorous attention to flea control on pets and within homes now will help keep fleas away for the winter. Check our FAQ's page for flea control measures

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• Ticks -

  Ticks may still pose a problem, especially early in the fall and throughout winter in protected areas. Cooling temperatures offer an excellent opportunity for a final yard spraying to kill ticks, paying special attention to protected areas like bushes and woodpiles. See tick control measures

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Though winterizing cars during the fall is certainly pratical, it could have severe consequences for your pet. Antifreeze is extremely toxic when ingested. It destroys the renal system (kidneys) and often causes death. Even very small amounts of antifreeze can be deadly. Unfortunately however, many pets will lap up antifreeze by choice, presumably due to its sweet taste. So to keep pets safe, never leave any source of antifreeze directly available, including drainings from auto cooling systems.

Signs of antifreeze poisoning include:

• "sweet breath"
• Intoxication
  • Staggering gait
  • Incoordination
• Vomiting and/or diarrhea
• Lethargy
• Stupor
• Coma
• Seizures

Emergency measures: Immediately after ingestion - induce vomiting
Call your veterinarian or emergency service immediately. Time is critical in reversing signs.

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Dermatitis and other skin conditions

• Allergy

  Spring and summer are most usually thought of as inhalled pollen allergy season. However, many animals are affected by allergy to molds and house dusts. Those pets suffer itching skin and generalized pruritis (skin irritation) even during fall and winter. Winter gives those animals that do get seasonal allergy relief a good opportunity to participate in special diagnostic procedures such as skin testing and serum antibody identification. These procedures can lead to better treatment options for seasonal allergic episodes. Details about allergy

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• Dry Skin

  Pets may suffer from pruritis due to dry skin, which is more common as heating systems come on line during chilly months. Forced air systems create very low humidity in homes, and skin loses moisture to surrounding air. Various kinds of coat conditioners and moisturizers may offer excellent relief.

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The holiday season brings with it increased opportunity for chocolate poisoning in pets. Ingested chocolate produces toxins (called xanthines) that humans can easily and safely digest. However, dogs and cats cannot adequately break down these poisonous chemicals. So even a very small amount of chocolate when eaten by your pet can be life threatening depending on how much is eaten, the size of the pet, and the form of the chocolate. (Dark chocolate is more toxic than milk chocolate.) At the very least, chocolate may cause gastrointestinal problems. Therefore, the safest amount of chocolate to allow your pet is "none at all."

Signs of chocolate poisoning include:

• Vomiting and/or diarrhea
• Incoordination
• Stupor
• Seizures

Emergency measures: Immediately after ingestion - induce vomiting
Call your veterinarian or emergency service as soon as possible.

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Healthy animals can withstand most temperature extremes, especially if acclimation occurs gradually. Occasionally late fall produces large temperature swings within a short period of time, and "Northers" can cause temperature drops of 50 degrees in a 24-hour period. These dramatic variations, may catch pets' systems unprepared to deal with the drop in temperature. Generally, when temperatures fall below freezing, outside pets need some kind of shelter. If the temperature drop is dramatic, they may need shelter inside, at least during nights, until they are able to acclimate to the lower temperatures.