Spring Safety Tips for Pets
You may already know to keep chocolate bunnies out of reach and to never leave your pets in a parked car, but here are a few other tips to keep your Prytania Pets safe this spring.
Easter candy & decorations
– All candy is potentially harmful for cats & dogs, especially anything sugar-free that contains xylitol. – Curious cats & puppies may mistake colorful, plastic Easter grass for a toy. Ingestion can cause serious medical problems including an obstructed digestive tract requiring surgery.
No lilies for kitties!
– All true lilies are extremely toxic for cats. Even a lick of pollen or drinking the vase water can cause kidney failure and may be fatal. – Some examples of true lilies: Easter, Tiger, Day, and Stargazer lilies. – Peace & Calla lilies are not “true” lilies so are not fatal, but can cause irritation when ingested, so we recommend keeping all lilies away from cats.
Spring cleaning
– Most cleaning products are toxic to our pets. Please read all labels carefully. – Want to get your pet out of the house for some deep cleaning? Sounds like the perfect time for a spa day! Give us a call at 504-899-2828 or click here to request an appointment online for a bath & mani/pedi. A clean house deserves a clean pet!
Garden & yard
– Many fertilizers, insecticides, & weed killers contain toxic ingredients. Please check labels for instructions on using them around pets. – If you’re planting, be sure to use plants that are safe around pets. For example, sago palm, azalea, oleander, and daffodils are toxic to dogs. – Click here to search the Pet Poison Helpline website by plant name to find out if a certain plant is safe.
Parasite prevention
Parasites thrive in a warm, humid environment so New Orleans’ weather is a perfect storm.
– All dogs & cats are susceptible to internal & external parasites such as fleas, heartworms, and intestinal worms. – Even our indoor only cats and puppy pad trained dogs that never leave the house can be exposed to these parasites when we track them into the house on our shoes or clothing. – Many of these parasites are zoonotic, which means they can be spread to you and your kids. – Not sure if your pets’ medications are providing the best protection? Give us a call at 504-899-2828 or email us at info@prytaniavet.com.
Heat stroke
Pets can suffer from heat stroke even on a cool day in the shade.
– Signs of heat stroke include: excessive panting, excessive drooling, vomiting, lethargy, tremors/seizures, wobbly/uncoordinated gait.
– If you think your pet may be suffering from heat stroke call us immediately at 504-899-2828. If we are closed, call MedVet at 504-835-8508. Early intervention is key in preventing death from heat stroke.
More warm weather precautions
– Never leave your pet in the car – even if you’re in the shade with the windows cracked. The temperature inside of a car can rise from under 80 to over 100 degrees in just minutes.
– Exercise during the coolest hours of the day.
– Avoid hot surfaces, like asphalt, to prevent paw pad burns.
If you ever think your pet is having an emergency, please call us at 504-899-2828. If we are closed, please call MedVet at 504-835-8508.
We hope y’all have a safe & happy spring!