SPRING HAS SPRUNG! You and your pet will have a great spring together by following these easy safety tips.

The warm weather has returned! We are all happy to welcome the sunshine back. Here are some precautions that you can take to help keep your pets safe this Spring season.

Easter is coming! Here are some items commonly found around the house during this holiday season that you should keep away from your canine and feline friends:

The Easter Lily is one holiday flower that no cat owner should have in their house (or yard if you have an outdoor kitty). All parts of this plant are considered toxic and even potentially lethal to cats. One single leaf from this plant can cause kidney failure in the feline. Lily-of-the-valley can also be cardiotoxic to dogs and cats.

We all love giving and receiving Easter Baskets, but one item that cat lovers should keep out of their baskets is Easter Grass. Just like string, dental floss, and tinsel, Easter Grass can get stuck on the barbs of a cat’s tongue- and the cat is forced to ingest it. This foreign body can become entangled around their intestines and cause circulation to be cut off in the body. This would require emergency surgery- so it is wise to keep all Easter Grass and string like objects out of reach of that curious cat!

Although we all love to indulge in a chocolate bunny or Easter egg this time of year, make sure that it stays away from your canine friends! Chocolate contains theobromine, a xanthine compound which is in the same family as caffeine and theophylline- and is toxic to dogs in large doses. Xanthenes affect the nervous system and cardiovascular system primarily. Symptoms of toxicity include hyper excitability, increased heart rate, restlessness, increased urination, muscle tremors, vomiting, and diarrhea.

Do you have a green thumb? Many home owners use this time of year to begin making their yards bloom with new grass and beautiful flowers. Be aware when using fertilizers and pesticides to keep your pets exposure to these products extremely minimal. N-P-K- fertilizers (containing nitrogen, phosphorus, and potassium salts) can cause mild gastro-intestinal upset, and also skin irritation on the paws. Fertilizers containing greater than 1% iron can cause iron toxicity if ingested by a dog. When you are done making your lawn look its best, it is wise to store all fertilizers and pesticides where children and pets cannot get to them. Buzzzzzz… what is that sound? It is the return of those unwelcome guests - mosquitoes, fleas, and ticks! Fleas cause extreme skin irritation and can also cause severe allergic reactions in some pets. Tick bites are a concern in dogs due to the fact the Deer Tick, or Black-legged Tick which is prevalent in our area, can transmit Lyme disease to your canine companion. Lastly, mosquitoes can transmit heartworms to your cat or dog, which can be fatal.

Proper prevention of these parasites is made very simple by using the correct products which can be prescribed by your veterinarian. Throw away those flea collars folks! Flea collars only work on a limited area of an animal’s neck region and do not prevent fleas from biting. There are many safer and more effective products available today.

It is very important to read product labels very carefully on all flea and tick medications as the misuse of such medications, particularly over the counter varieties, can lead to acute toxicity in pets. It is important never to use a dog product on your cat, or vice versa. The ingredient “permethrin” found in some dog medications, while perfectly safe for dogs can be lethal to cats even in very small doses.

Dogs can also have severe allergic reactions to insect bites this time of year. If you notice your dog becoming acutely swollen in the muzzle, or develops hives, it is best to get him to your nearest veterinary facility as soon as possible. If left untreated, the inflammatory response can cause severe illness and respiratory distress.

Lounging by the lake can be a wonderful Spring time activity. But keep in mind when fishing, it is very important to keep all fishing line, hooks, and bait away from your pet. Hooks can easily get stuck in mouths or paws of your pet, and fishing line is extremely strong, and when swallowed can get caught up in your pets intestines, causing a blockage and surgical emergency.

Lastly, please keep your canine companions on leash when enjoying walks in the warm weather. Make sure all leashes and collars fit appropriately for your animal, and are not too worn from usage. Most pet stores even welcome you to bring your pet inside the store for a custom fitting! The streets are very busy with cars as the weather gets sunnier and we don’t want anyone running out into the road to chase those cars! Also, be aware of other animals who may not be friendly towards your pet. Bite wounds are one of our most common emergencies here at VESCONE. Make sure your pets Rabies vaccination is also up to date in case of such an encounter.

We at VESCONE hope that this information helps you and your animal friend to have a safe and happy Spring Season! VESCONE is a proud Veterinary Lifeline Partner with the National Animal Poison Control Center. We are open 24 hours a day, 365 days a year and are equipped to handle all toxicities and all other emergencies. Please check our website for further information on the NAPCC at vescone.com. If you are concerned that your pet has ingested anything potentially toxic, as listed above, please call ASPCA Animal Poison Control immediately at 888-426-4435.