The equinox, on Thursday morning, September 22, 2016, marks the beginning of fall and less daylight for the Northern Hemisphere. The change can have profound effects on animals and is also partially responsible for fall foliage. This change in the amount of light is a signal to animals, plants and, before the light bulb, people, of changing seasons. The change in weather affects my pets just as much as it does my family and myself.
Use these helpful tips to reduce the weather’s impact on your pets and their health.
1. Flea and Tick Protection
Although the hot days of summer are behind us, that doesn’t mean you can forget about flea and tick protection. Fall is still flea and tick season in most areas. Ticks populate in piles of fallen leaves. Clean up piles of leaves in your yard as soon as you can and discourage your pet from walking in them. With warmer fall temperatures, fleas can live throughout the year, especially in our homes.
2. Barometric Pressure
The barometric pressure, or atmospheric air pressure, is not constant and will change depending on the altitude and the weather. New York City Meteorologist and creator of Schmitty the Weather Dog, Ron Trotta, notes that “Just like humans, dogs are sensitive to drops in barometric pressure.” Dogs may learn to associate the pressure drop and changes in the static electric field with the arrival of a storm.
3. Allergies
Autumn can trigger an allergies flare-up of atopic dermatitis and flea allergy dermatitis Unlike humans who have watery eyes and runny noses, dogs that are allergic to Ragweed have symptoms that manifest in a different way – they may scratch their ears, rub their faces, and chew their feet.
A dog coat has the ability to pick-up pollen so it is important to wipe your dog’s body and paws with a non-scented baby wipe after every outing, Benadryl (not multi-symptom), or generic diphenhydramine, can be very safe, effective and economical way to help your allergic, itching pet. Check with your veterinarian for the correct dosage. Also, at this this time of year, pets can suffer from flea dermatitis, an allergic reaction to flea saliva. When a flea bites, it injects its saliva into your dog or cat. The saliva contains antigens which some dogs and cats are very susceptible to. They react by scratching, itching and biting their skin.
“And this is why it is important to keep your pet on flea and tick meds all year long,” explains Pinchbeck. She notes that secondary bacterial and yeast infections are common in chronic cases of flea allergy dermatitis.
4. Arthritis
With the colder weather coming they experience more arthritis pain on cold and rainy days. Although there is limited research on this matter, I am concerned that the chilly, damp weather also stiffens my dog, Hank’s arthritic joints.
Some things you can do to help keep your dog warm is to dress them in a sweater when walking outside or a doggie t-shirt when they are inside the home. Pet beds are also helpful to keep them off the floor. To help manage the arthritis I supplement their diet with glucosamine-chondroitin supplements (promotes joint comfort, flexibility and mobility) and fish oil (Omega-3 Fatty acids which reduce inflammation).
As much as we love the fall weather with its cooler temperatures and falling leaves, it can affect our pets. As with any season, while we are taking precautions against the weather for ourselves, we need to remember our pets.
For more fun and interesting facts please visit the website https://waggintailspetservices.ca/
