Prepare your pets for the cooler months with a check-up at Towcester Vets
September 15, 2021
As Summer moves into Autumn and the nights draw in, we see a steady stream of seasonal issues some of which are avoidable. We asked one of our Veterinary Surgeons, Catharina to highlight some of the frequent complaints, so that you can prepare to avoid these.
Ultimately, if you have any specific pet concerns, please do not hesitate to contact the team for further advice. If your pet has not had a check-up for a while why not consider booking a seasonal visit to our Towcester practice, in Burcote Road.
Five things to prepare for this autumn in Northamptonshire
- Darker nights
The risk of road injuries increases as the nights draw in. If you walk your dog later in the day, invest in a reflective collar and try to plan walks using clear well-lit paths rather than busy roads. Cat owners should aim for earlier mealtimes to get their pets to come back into the house whilst still light outside.
- Falling temperatures
A drop in temperature may exacerbate some common conditions. Keep a special eye on older pets which may suffer from arthritis. Also look after your rabbits and small furries. If you keep them outside, then insulate your rabbit’s hutch or think about extra bedding and food to keep them well fed & cosy. Where possible move outdoor hutches somewhere more sheltered over winter.
- Cars & fires
We often see injuries to pets who are seeking shelter from the cooling temperatures. So, before starting your car or lighting a fire, check for cats (or if you are lucky hedgehogs) seeking warm places to nap. Also, please do not leave dogs in your car – vehicles can overheat or freeze so please just take them with you.
- Winter Weight Gain
Hold back from giving any pet human food and help them avoid the winter weight gain. Also, despite being cooler outside, do not forget that your pet still requires a good amount of exercise, energetic indoor play is a good short-term alternative but should not replace regular walks or outdoor exercise.
- Autumn Poisons
It is advisable to read up on the most common seasonal poisons, all of which will harm your pet if ingested. These include (but not exclusively):
- Chocolate and sweet treats
- Car antifreeze
- Alcohol
- Rhubarb, raisins & dried fruit and peanuts
- Holly, mistletoe & conkers
- Rock salt used to treat roads
If your pet digests a winter poison…
- Immediately prevent further access to the poison
- Contact us on 01327 350239, do not wait for symptoms to appear
- Write down when and how much of the poison has been digested
- Watch your pet carefully and note any abnormal signs or behaviour
- Do not try and make your pet vomit unless specifically directed by one of our vets
- Bring your pet and, if you can, the poison with you to the practice
Seasonal health checks
Prevention is always better than cure. If your pet has not seen a vet for a while then why not book an Autumn heath check where we can examine your pet, discuss anything you have just read and generally prepare you all for the colder months ahead.
