Temperatures in the 30s? Check.
Leaves on the ground? Check.
Football season? Check.
Must be fall in Michigan, and for our pet owners it’s a time when there’s a higher risk to pets. As always, our team at Wags to Wiskers are trying to provide the most value we can for our WagsFam. Beyond being the best local place for pet supplies in Ann Arbor, MI and Chelsea, MI, we try to go above and beyond by providing helpful information, resources, advice, and more for our loyal customers. Hopefully these 5 fall safety tips for pets keep your dogs and cats happy and healthy and out of the vet’s office this season!
5 Fall Safety Tips for Pets
Mushrooms!
The arrival of autumn means mushrooms are in full bloom and a major variety of them can be found in both rural and suburban areas throughout southeast Michigan.While most of these fungi are non-toxic for pets (and actually you as a human can eat them if you’d like!), it’s better to be safe than sorry and avoid any issues altogether. If your dog, cat, or other pet does eat some wild mushrooms, we recommend you immediately contact your local veterinarian and/or poison control.
ASPCA Animal Poison Control Center Phone Number: (888) 426-4435
Allergies Abound
Humans might be getting sniffy, sneezy, itchy, or dry skin - pets can too! When the seasons change, your dog and at can also suffer, so keep an eye out for allergic reactions such as excessive itching, extra dry skin (paws/nose/fur), or extra sneezing or difficulties breathing.
We have a number of over the counter products that we’d be happy to recommend to our WagsFam for these issues, so feel free to drop by your local Wags to Wiskers Pet Supplies stores in the Ann Arbor, MI area (2270 W. Stadium Blvd, Ann Arbor, MI, 48103) or the Chelsea, MI area (1192 S. Main St, Chelsea, MI, 48118) and ask an associate for our top recommendations before spending your Christmas money at the vet!
Pests will be Pests
Remember when we said that it was 30 degrees? It’s true, those morning walks are getting pretty nippy around here. Pests and rodents will be seeking shelter in warm spaces such as your attics, roofs, walls, under decks, awnings - basically wherever they can hole up during the night.
While pest control services can be effective, they can also be harmful for pets. Try using non-lethal methods or only use chemicals in places that will be inaccessible to your pets.
Warning! Wildlife!
Snakes are one of the dangerous reptiles in southeast Michigan that are looking for a warm shelter to sleep the winter away. They’re more likely to interact with pets during this time of year than any other.
So what can you do about it? Stay educated on the various types of snakes you might see in Michigan, and remain vigilant when you’re walking the pups or even letting them outside. Oftentimes dogs are curious and unaware of the danger that these snakes possess.
November is a Foodie’s Dream
We just passed Halloween, meaning the kids have bags of candy lying around, including in their lunchbags, backpacks, and possibly in their room. It’s worth letting them know about the dangers of leaving candy out.
With Thanksgiving coming up as well, you’ll have to be careful about what table scraps should be made available to Buster and Fido. With the massive amount of delicious smells invading the house, there will certainly be a lot of drool. Stay tuned to our pupdates in the next few weeks as we’ll prepare a Thanksgiving special for our WagsFam, but in the meantime here are some quick foods to know about:
DON’T share dark meat - it has more calories than white meat
DO share white meat - only in treat-sized increments
DON’T give your dogs any turkey skin - it’s too fatty and greasy, and a little goes a long way
DON’T let them chew on the bones - they are brittle and break easily and can give your dog splinters and intestinal cuts which are extremely dangerous
DO give them a Thanksgiving toy and food from Wags to Wiskers Pet Supplies!
5 Fall Safety Tips for Pets
Conclusion
Hopefully these safety tips for pets were easy and helpful for our Michigan pet owners. Fall is a wonderful time of year but we’d hate to see any of our WagsFam ruin it with a pet-related scare or tragedy, so make sure you’re staying on top of them!