1. Fleas and ticks love hiding under fallen leaves and other seasonal debris once it gets chilly out. If your pets spend a fair amount of time outdoors, be sure to rake the leaves and dispose of them promptly to continue keeping your furry friends pest-free.
2. It’s that time of year to be on the lookout for rodents and other feral critters that may scurry into your garage, attic or crawl space searching for warmth. It’s best not to use poison when trying to control pests like rats and mice when there are children and pets around that may accidentally ingest the poison. Live traps and snap traps are better alternatives.
3. Autumn is just as wet as spring is in many parts of the country, which means there are still opportunities for fungus to grow among us. Be particularly vigilant not to allow your pet to eat any mushrooms that may spring up in the backyard. ASPCA has an informative animal poison control center which is a great resource if you suspect your pet has ingested anything dangerous.
4. As the cold winter months roll in, people typically use the autumn season to winterize their cars with antifreeze and other chemicals. Ethylene glycol is the deadly ingredient in antifreeze and smells sweet to pets, which may pique their interest enough to ingest any they come across. You can prevent this from happening by keeping your pet out of the vicinity as you’re working on your car and keeping antifreeze and other chemicals tightly closed and out of reach of curious pets.
5. As cute and cuddly as your pooch may be in an ugly holiday sweater, it may not always be the safest option - especially if your pet spends time outdoors unsupervised. Dogs and cats can be frostbitten if their fur gets wet in freezing weather and wet clothes will only exacerbate the problem.
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