Seasonal Pet Health Hazards Associated With Fall.

This article is from Dr. Patrick Mahaney. Although fall has many things that appeal to humans, fall does have potential health hazards for our pets. Decreased Hours of Daylight. Lots of people walk their pets early in the day or evening and with less daylight it can cause potential hazards for you and your pet. Drivers have a harder time seeing you and your pet. If you walk your dog or let your feline out be very observant to prevent them from being hit by a car. Dangers due to Leaves. If you are outside with your pets and using a leaf blower be cautious as it may scare them and they will take off, and leave your property. Additionally gas powered leaf blowers can leak oil or fuel, which creates a source of toxicity should your pet ingest when your pet walks through it and then licks their paws. Leaf piles laying on your lawn can cause problems as well. They can quickly accumulate moisture, which promotes bacterial and mold growth. If your pet ingests these microorganisms, digestive tract upset can occur. Burning leaves also cause smoke and plant based oils, especially if poison ivy is mixed in these can irritate your pets eyes, lungs, nose and throat. Better to leave them inside. Dangers due to Plants and Mushrooms. The Chrysanthemum is a seasonally blooming flower that is commonly associated with fall. Toxicity can occur if your pet ingests the mum's flowers. I have a bad little cat called Jinx, you know her as my editor. She is awful about eating flowers. I have a beautiful African Violet my son got me for Mother's Day that I had to take to work, just so she would leave it alone. It is nice to have there. So the signs of plant ingestion are as follows. 1) Ataxia - Stumbling 2) Dermatitis - Skin Inflammation 3) Ptyalism - Increased Salivation 4) Vomiting 5) Diarrhea. Other Plants include Meadow Saffron/Autumn Crocus, and Clematis. Mushrooms can also occur in mulch and some may not be as toxic as others are so make sure your pets stays from these as well. Other Dangers Include all types of Rat and Mice Poisons. When it gets colder the rodents seek shelter wherever they can. Take care where you place any type of rodent poisons. If you suspect your pet has been poisoned call your Vet or Vet Hospital immediately. These tips are for Dog and Cat lovers alike, so as the year winds down and the cold weather moves in watch for the dangers that the Fall season can bring for your Beloved Pets. Happy Cat.