Warmer weather has got us all feeling some type of way – spending as much time as we can soaking up the fresh rays of spring sunshine and beginning to feel that nagging need to start purging our houses in a massive clean.

While we all run around town with some extra pep in our steps, it’s important to remember a few safety tips for our furry friends.

Photo credit: Kelsey Henderson

Spring Cleaning

As you start to air your digs out from a long, dark winter, you may be doing more deep cleaning or simply cleaning more often as mud gets trounced through the house. Remember, for not only your animals but young kids as well, that a lot of the products you’re likely using to clean are chock full of chemicals.

Ingredients like ammonia, glycol ethers, and formaldehyde are found in everything from all-purpose cleaners to hand soap and everything in between. Liver and nerve damage, respiratory problems, and even cancer are linked to a host of these ingredients and more.

Photo credit: Kelsey Henderson

Swapping out your chemical-packed old cleaner for something green and pet/kid safe is a simple switch you should be eager to make. Method, Seventh Generation, Mrs. Meyer’s,  and Green Works (to name a few) are usually found right beside your old faves. Plus, bound to be a new favourite in Kelowna, Farm Bound Zero Waste, will be opening April 1st and we know Jaye and the crew will help you make cleaning less harmful for your family… physically, not mentally, sorry!

Landscaping 

Yes, my green thumbs, the time is here; the ground is thawing, and I know you’ve already been eyeing up the nurseries. While you’re planning your gardens, big or small, it’s important to know that certain plants are poisonous to cats and dogs.

Azaleas, Geraniums, Easter Lillies, Aloe, Tulips, and Chrysanthemums? Cross them off. They may be beautiful, but your vet bill won’t be. For a more comprehensive list look at the chart below, or give your vet office a call.

Photo credit: Aventix

Melting

The disappearance of the snow in your yard has likely revealed a winter’s worth of dog poop. I don’t think I have to tell you it’s gross, but I am here to remind you to clean it up sooner or later.

Photo credit: Kelsey Henderson

The bacteria hiding in those no-longer-frozen nuggets is enough to make you and your family sick, and your dogs are running through it and then walking around the house – you catch my drift? Gross. If you gag at the thought of dealing with it, or simply don’t have time, we are fortunate enough to have a couple companies in Kelowna who will help you out; contact Poo Worx or Kelowna Poo Crew.

The other point I want to make here is bodies of water losing their layer of ice. Make sure you are keeping your dogs off any ponds or lakes which may have been solid to walk on over the last few months; the unstable ice can lead to some very unsafe situations for your unsuspecting pooch.

Lower elevations may be past this stage but remember if you are adventuring out into the mountains to keep it in mind.

Tick Season

Photo credit: Kelsey Henderson

These nasty critters are waking up and it’s time to brush up on your knowledge of both prevention and removal. Bravecto is what my dogs are given annually, but there are other products on the market like Nexgard or Revolution which all work as a preventative against ticks and fleas (speak to your vet about the right option for you).

Pounce and Hound Fine Goods sells a naturopathic spray you can use on both you and your pet before heading out on any adventures, which is a great added layer of protection but shouldn’t be relied upon solely.

Photo credit: WikiHow

After time spent outside, get in the habit of giving your dog a good once over – feeling in armpits, between toes, groin area, around ears and under the collar. Investigate any lumps or bumps you feel!

If you do need to remove a tick, make sure you do so properly so as not to leave any of the parasite embedded in your pets skin. Using a fine pair of tweezers or a specific tick twister tool, pinch around the tick’s head (as close to skin as possible) and pull straight out.

You should save the tick in a sealed container, label it with the date, and keep it around for 48 hours. Why? If your bub starts to develop a rash or get sick, that little sucker may have transmitted Lyme disease and can be sent for testing, and your dog can be prescribed antibiotics quickly.

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