springtime safety tips for your dog

The Basics 

Spring is a great time to make a checklist of all your dog’s essentials.  
 
Vaccinations 
Is your dog up to date on their vaccinations? If not, now is a good time to connect with your veterinarian to make sure your pet has received all their shots.

Why is this important? Because if you take your pet out on trails or to the dog park, the last thing you want is for them to contract a potentially deadly disease like rabies or leptospirosis.  

Learn more about vaccinations here.
 
Spaying and neutering  
You’ll also want to make sure your pet is fixed. Why? Because if they go to another place with pups, like a dog park, you don’t want to have accidental puppies in case another dog isn’t fixed.  

We've got helpful info on spaying and neutering here.
 
Parasite prevention  
Another treatment you should make sure your pup is up to date on is flea, tick, and heartworm medication. While fleas, ticks, and mosquitoes can be a year-round problem, they start coming out more in the warmer weather. Get the lowdown on parasites here. 
 
ID tags and/or microchips  
If you’ve been lax with putting your pup’s ID tag on their collar, now is a good time to do it. It’s also a good time to double-check that all the info on it is correct, like name, phone number, or address.

If your dog isn’t microchipped, please consider getting it done, and if your dog does have a microchip, make sure all their information in the database is current. Learn why microchipping is important here. 
 

Yard safety  

Make sure your yard is ready for your pup to play in. 
 
Clean up the space 
Take some time to look around your yard to make sure your fence is still in good order and that there’s no dangerous crud lying around. If you live in a colder climate and the snow has melted, make sure any toxic deicing supplies are cleaned up and put away.  
 
Get garden ready  
If you’re gearing up to get your spring planting on, this is a friendly reminder to stay clear of pesticides, fertilizers, or other soil treatments if your pup has full reign of the yard. These can all be toxic for dogs and can cause anywhere from mild to serious symptoms, including vomiting, diarrhea, weakness, skin irritation, trouble breathing, and even seizures.

If your pet has licked or ingested pesticide, call your veterinarian right away or the Pet Poison Helpline at 855-764-7661. Learn about which items are toxic to dogs and cats here. 
 

Getting outside 

Once your pup is ready to join the public, it’s important to remember a few things.  
 
Wet safety 
Since it’s spring, chances are it’s wet outside, which can make both your pet and your house or car dirty. Invest in a doggy raincoat or boots (don’t force your pup if they don’t like these things), and wipe them down after their trip outside.

You’ll also want to make sure your pup doesn’t drink from any puddles of water as they can contain chemical runoff or parasites.

Check out our tips for walking your dog in the rain.  
 
Dog park fun  
Your pup might be itching to get to the dog park now that the weather is better, and there are a few things you should remember while at the park.

First, keep an eye on your pet. You’ll want to make sure they don’t eat another dog’s poop, which could contain bacteria and parasites, and you’ll want to make sure they don’t attack or get attacked by another dog.

We’ve got additional dog park etiquette tips here.   
 
Walking and hiking  
Ready to hit the sidewalks or trails with your pup? Great! Just make sure to check the weather before you go for your outing, and bring plenty of water. And be careful how far you walk. If it’s too far for you to carry your pet back, then it’s too far to walk.