Pets of the Month

Avoid Harmful Autumn Plants

Cooler weather encourages mushroom growth and other fall vegetation. Most mushrooms are not poisonous to animals, but a few species, difficult to distinguish from the nontoxic ones, can cause life-threatening problems. Other plants, such as chrysanthemums, autumn crocus, clematis, red maple leaves, and ginkgo seeds can be highly poisonous to some animals, causing gastrointestinal bleeding, severe vomiting, kidney and liver damage, and respiratory failure. The ASPCA provides a list of poisonous plants at: Hazardous or Harmless? Discover Which Fall Plants Are Toxic to Pets | ASPCApro. Symptoms might not be evident for several days, so contact your veterinarian or the ASPCA Animal Poison Control Center at (888) 4264435 immediately if your pet has ingested any plants.

Use Rodenticides with Caution

During the cold season, homeowners may use rat and mouse poison to destroy rodents seeking shelter indoors. Rodenticides, if ingested by pets, can cause kidney and liver failure, muscle weakness, seizures, and death. Avoid using these products altogether or, if necessary, keep them in places your pet cannot reach. Likewise, engine coolant is highly toxic, so if the fall is your time to change your car’s coolant, take care to clean up any spills. Again, contact your veterinarian or the ASPCA Animal Poison Control Center at once if your pet has ingested any substance you know could be harmful.

Provide Fresh Water

Keeping your pet hydrated is extremely important all year round and not just during warm summer months. Dehydration can impact the flow of oxygen to the brain and cause health problems such urinary tract infections. Make sure a bowl or two of fresh water is always available, consider getting a pet water fountain, offer hydrating food options, and check with your vet to see if your pet could benefit from electrolyte solutions.

The fall season is ideal for getting plenty of exercise and fresh air—a healthy habit for human and beast alike. Just be sure you practice moderation, close observation and, when necessary, make a visit to the veterinarian to keep any symptoms in check. After all, safeguarding the well-being of our pets is a year-round activity!

About the Author: A volunteer at King Street Cats, Carolyn Cockroft is supervised by two indoor cats, Marigold and Butterbean, who enjoy watching the outdoors from their window perches in their home.

Watch out for Wildlife

As temperatures begin to cool, wild animals are preparing for their winter hibernation. If you live close to wooded area, keep a close eye out for creatures such as skunks, raccoons, or bears. Especially beware of venomous snakes and while outside keep your pet on a leash.

Keep Fall Leaf Cleanup at a Distance

Loud and sudden noises from leaf blowers can frighten some pets and cause them to hide or run from home. Animals may lick up fuel and oil that sometimes leak from these devices and become poisoned. Over time, leaf piles on your lawn quickly accumulate bacterial and mold growth which, if ingested by your pet, could cause vomiting, diarrhea, and decreased appetite. The safest course is to keep your pets confined indoors, away from your yard work

PETS

OF THE MONTH

4101 Eisenhower Avenue Alexandria, VA 703-746-4774 alexandriaanimals.org Mon-Fri, 1-8 pm Closed Wed Sat & Sun, 12-5 pm

BOOTSIE

6-year-old Bootsie is loving life in his foster home. He’s made friends with children, adults and even other cats. He’s mastered the art of cuddling and perfected his napping skills; he can nap anywhere, anytime, even in the sink. While Bootsie can be a bit shy at first, give him some time in his new environment and he thrives. Is this handsome house panther the guy for you? Email adopt@ alexandriaanimals.org to schedule time to meet him in his foster home!

REY

If a picture tells a thousand words, 102-pound Rey might need a few pictures...and they’ll all be handsome! This 8-year-old American bulldog will steal your heart - and a lot of your couch - but you won’t mind at all. His foster “mom” says that he’s a cuddler, a drooler, the absolute star of her virtual morning staff meeting and an instant conversation starter, who goes out of his way to meet everyone on their regular walks. What’s not to love? Learn more about Rey by emailing adopt@alexandriaanimals.org.

ACADIA

Striking Acadia got all the best bunny genes. Her vibrant white fur stands out in startling contrast to her beautiful eyes. In her foster home, she’s working on her decorating skills, making sure her foster “mom” arranges all of her toys just so...or she’ll have to redo it herself. She’s also an avid news follower, consuming several newspapers a day - by chewing them up. She has some visual limitations, but she is not letting them stop her from living her best bunny life. Find out how to meet Acadia by emailing adopt@alexandriaanimals.org.

The AWLA has a lot of amazing adoptables at the Vola Lawson Animal Shelter and even more in foster care throughout the community. Meet some of our foster favorites and schedule time to meet them by emailing adopt@alexandriaanimals.org.