What’s not to love about spring? The days are getting longer and brighter, the weather is getting warmer, and the smell of freshly mown grass fills the air. But the arrival of spring also brings with it the arrival of new hazards for your dog. Luckily most of them are easily avoided if you know what to look out for, and we’ve put together our top springtime safety tips to give you a helping paw.

Keep chocolate out of reach

Let’s be honest. You knew that this tip was coming. Spring means Easter, and Easter means chocolate, and if you’re lucky, lots of chocolate! Unfortunately, chocolate is toxic to dogs, so ensure it’s kept well out of their reach.

If they’re giving you puppy dog eyes while you tuck into your chocolate, why not keep some dog treats on hand so they don’t feel left out? You could even put them into a puzzle toy or snuffle mat to tickle their brains as well as their tastebuds.

Be mindful of extra walkies

Who else finds they become more active once the weather improves each year? Us too! And if you’re a dog owner, that often means your pup follows suit with walkies becoming longer or more frequent. Now there’s nothing wrong with giving your dog plenty of exercise, but it’s important not to over-exercise them either. 

That’s where PitPat comes in, pop a PitPat Dog GPS Tracker or PitPat Dog Activity Monitor on their collar, and we’ll give you a tailored exercise goal for your dog. Then when you go out on your next walk, all of your dog’s walking, running and playing will be tracked for you so you can get the exercise balance just right. 

Watch out for fleas and ticks

We may love the warmer weather, but so do all those pesky parasites that are harmful to our dogs. It’s vital to ensure your pup is up to date with their flea, tick and heartworm medication, and that you check their fur for any nasty critters regularly. That way, you can still enjoy getting out and about with your dog without worrying that you’re bringing home any unwanted guests.

Be aware when spring cleaning

We might clean our houses all year round, but there’s something about the start of sunny weather that makes us want to clean our homes, declutter them and sort out all the jobs we never have time for. While this can be great for us, spring cleaning can be a potential danger to our dogs. Most of our cleaning products, like bleach, are toxic to dogs, so make sure they’re kept out of reach and try to use pet-safe products wherever possible.

Get your garden ready

There’s nothing nicer than noticing the first flowers coming to life in your garden, but if you have a dog, it’s important to be aware that some plants and flowers are highly toxic to them. So before spring has well and truly sprung, try to make your garden as dog friendly as possible, preventing access to and eliminating anything that could cause them harm, including access to fertilisers or chemicals you might use.

Keep an eye on seasonal allergies

We’ve all been there. Spring arrives, and so do our allergies, but did you know dogs are susceptible to allergies too? You might find your dog is scratching more than normal after walking in long grass, or they might start sneezing more frequently. If symptoms persist, checking in with your vet is always best. They might be able to test for allergies or provide medication to help relieve the symptoms. 

Part of PitPat LIFE™? Then don’t forget that you have access to FirstVet so that you can chat with a vet 24/7, any time of the day and night.

Be prepared for exciting new scents

If there’s one thing that can excite your dog, it’s new smells, and spring has plenty of those. You might find that your dog is running off in all directions to discover as many new scents as possible, and there’s always the chance they’ll be so interested in exploring they wander a bit further than usual. But if you’ve got a PitPat GPS, then there’s no need to worry, as you’ll be able to find them with just two taps in our app.

Don’t get caught out by unpredictable weather

The truth is spring is not all sunshine all the time, and the weather can change quickly. This means it’s best to be prepared when you head out on a walk. Make sure you have a rain jacket and one for your pup if you know they get cold quickly, as well as doggy sunscreen and plenty of water to ensure they stay hydrated.

The good news is that all these potential hazards are easily avoided with just a little bit of preparation, so get prepared, get a PitPat GPS Dog Tracker and get out there and enjoy that sunshine.

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