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Doggone It for Dogs

Tips for you and your canine friend.

Seasonal hazards to watch for, the facts about common parasites, and a few reasons dogs are so good for us.

A husky trotting toward the camera on a grassy trail through green spring fields

Spring hazards to watch for.

Longer days and green grass are great for dogs, but spring brings a few risks too. A little planning keeps the season safe and fun.

  1. Toxic plants and bulbs

    Many spring favorites are toxic to dogs, including daffodils, tulips, hyacinths, lily of the valley, azaleas, rhododendrons, foxglove, iris, primrose, hydrangea, wisteria, autumn crocus and sago palm. Bulbs are a special worry for dogs who dig. Azaleas, rhododendrons and lily of the valley are among the most dangerous.

    What helps: Keep your dog out of flower beds, store bulbs out of reach, and check the ASPCA plant list before planting.

  2. Lawn and garden products

    Fertilizers, weed killers and insecticides can make dogs sick. Dogs can pick them up by walking or rolling on treated grass and then licking their paws.

    What helps: Store products out of reach, follow the label about keeping pets off treated areas, and wipe your dog's paws after walks.

  3. Seasonal allergies

    Pollen, plants, dust and some foods can trigger allergies in dogs. Watch for itching, sneezing and sniffling. Severe reactions are rare but possible.

    What helps: Wipe paws and coat after time outside, wash bedding often, and see your veterinarian if the itching doesn't let up.

  4. Fleas and ticks

    Fleas and ticks become more active as the weather warms, especially in tall grass and wooded areas.

    What helps: After walks, check ears, neck, under the collar, between the toes and around the belly. Ask your veterinarian which prevention is right for your dog.

  5. Heat

    Warm spring days can catch dogs off guard. Flat-faced breeds like pugs, older dogs, overweight dogs and dogs with heart or lung disease have a harder time staying cool.

    What helps: Give plenty of fresh water and shade, skip hard exercise when it's hot, and never leave your dog in a parked car.

  6. Bee stings and insect bites

    Most stings cause a little swelling and soreness, but some dogs have a serious allergic reaction.

    What helps: Call your veterinarian right away if your dog's face swells, they break out in hives, or they have trouble breathing.

  7. Heartworm

    Heartworm disease spreads through mosquito bites, and mosquitoes come back with the warm weather.

    What helps: The American Heartworm Society recommends heartworm prevention every month of the year and a heartworm test every 12 months.

  8. A Jack Russell terrier on a leash biting a tennis ball held out by its owner in autumn leaves
Not-so-fun facts

Dog parasites: what to know.

The parasites that bother dogs most, in plain facts. Your veterinarian can recommend the right prevention and testing for your dog.

Heartworms

  • A mosquito picks up baby heartworms from an infected animal and passes them to the next dog it bites.
  • Adult heartworms can live 5 to 7 years in a dog, and every mosquito season can add more.
  • Prevention isn't 100% effective, so dogs on year-round prevention still need a yearly test.

Ticks

  • Ticks can carry Lyme disease, anaplasmosis and ehrlichiosis.
  • A female tick can swell to as much as 100 times her original weight while she feeds.
  • Some infections can pass within hours of a tick attaching, so check your dog and remove ticks promptly.

Fleas

  • Most of a flea problem lives in your home, not on your dog: eggs, larvae and cocoons hide in carpets and bedding.
  • A female flea can lay 40 to 50 eggs a day.
  • Dogs can get tapeworms by swallowing a flea while grooming.

Roundworms

  • Puppies can pick up roundworms from their mother before birth or while nursing.
  • Roundworm eggs can stay infective in soil for years.
  • They can infect people too, especially young children, so pick up after your dog right away.
A shaggy dog sitting in tall grass on a hillside with hills in the distance

Benefits of having a pet.

Pets are good company, and they may be good for our health too. According to the CDC:

  • Company and comfort

    Pets can help people manage loneliness and depression by providing companionship.

  • More time moving

    Regular walks and play with a pet may help lower blood pressure, cholesterol and triglyceride levels.

  • Less stress

    Studies link the bond between people and their pets with less anxiety and fewer symptoms of post-traumatic stress.

  • Out and about

    Pets give people more reasons to get outside, more chances to meet others, and, in older adults, better thinking skills.

Just for fun

A couple of dog videos we like.

10 Mistakes You Make When Feeding Your Dog

20 Things Your Dog Can See and Feel But You Can't

Sources

This page shares general information, not advice for your individual dog. Your veterinarian is always the best source for your pet's care.

  1. ASPCA, Springtime Safety Tips
  2. ASPCA, Plants Toxic to Dogs (toxic and non-toxic plant list)
  3. ASPCA, Hot Weather Safety Tips
  4. ASPCA, Animal Poison Control Center
  5. American Heartworm Society, Heartworm Basics
  6. Companion Animal Parasite Council, Ticks
  7. Companion Animal Parasite Council, Fleas
  8. Companion Animal Parasite Council, Ascarid (roundworms)
  9. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Healthy Pets, Healthy People

Time for your dog's next checkup?

Request an appointment online or give us a call. We'd be glad to see you both.

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