Fleas, Bees & Bulbs: Spring Safety Tips

While  spring doesn’t officially begin for a couple more weeks, the signs of  its arrival are all around us in the warming weather, the blooming bulbs  and copious amount of Easter chocolate in the shops!

And,  as with all the seasons, spring comes with a variety of seasonal risks  to our canine companions that are so easy to forget about over the  dreary winter months!

It’s of no  surprise that when the weather improves, people venture out on more  walks and adventures with their canine companions.  Heading out to more  rural spaces or nature reserves means you have an increased chance of  encountering things that can do harm to your hound.

With  the warming weather, insects and parasites start to make a reemergence!   You never want to underestimate a bee sting or spider bite on your  dog, that’s for sure.  While they all react differently, we’ve seen  enough swollen faces and limbs to know that it’s always a good idea to  keep dog-safe antihistamines on hand in the event they are on the  receiving end of a grumpy insect!

Although  parasites are active all year round, they become more prevalent in the  warmer weather.  We’ve seen a significant increase in ticks year on year  recently, even amongst treated dogs.  If taking your dog walking in  rural areas, particularly areas of tall grass, or sheep and deer  activity, always make sure to check them over for any ticks on return  home.

Fleas and ticks carry, and  can transmit, diseases like Lyme disease and Babesiosis to your  hounds…and to you!  Preventative measures are always the best option, so  make sure you are regularly providing your hound with appropriate and  regular parasite treatment as recommended by your vet!

Alongside  the increase in our insect friends, comes the reptiles.  Did you know  that we have snakes in the UK?  Don’t get too excited, there’s only  three of them but one of them is venomous.  Adder bites are very  uncommon, but that doesn’t lessen the danger if one were to occur.  If  walking in areas with known adder habitat such as woodlands, heathland,  and moorland, keeping your hound on a lead and on the established  footpaths is important.  

Staying  on lead and on the footpaths also protects your hounds from several  other spring dangers including spring flowering plans and farmers crops.   Just about every spring flower you can think of is toxic to dogs if  eaten, and for some dogs that are particularly sensitive to things, just  running through flower meadows can result in contact dermatitis rashes.   
If your hound has a penchant for eating grass or  chewing on plants, keep them clear of any flowering plants, as any  accidental ingestion can have catastrophic consequences.  Farmers’  fields and early crops will also be treated with fertilisers and  pesticides, neither of which you want them coming into contact with.

Additionally,  as we edge ever closer to Easter, there will be numerous events on in  public spaces including easter egg hunts for children.  The last thing  you need is your off-lead dog sniffing out and eating hidden chocolate  eggs, which you may not see them do, only for them to be terribly ill  later on because you didn’t get them to the vets.  Remember, chocolate,  in any quantity, can be dangerous to your dog.
As are  dried fruits such as raising, currants, and sultanas, all found in the  seasonal favourite, hot cross buns.  If you have a counter surfer at  home, make sure to keep your buns out of reach!

Did  you know that dogs can also suffer from seasonal allergies, just like  humans?  Our canine companions can suffer from hay fever, reacting to  environmental allergens like pollen, just like us.

The  symptoms are the same, which we’re sure a lot of you can relate to and  are treated just the same.  If you suspect your hound may have hay  fever, speak to your vet about giving antihistamines or other helpful  treatments to get them through the season!

Lastly,  the sun…while it doesn’t feel hot enough to be a concern right now, it  won’t be long before it is.  If going out on warmer days, make sure to  give your dog regular access to shade, rest and water to prevent  overheating!