2 minute read
Dangers to Watch Out For
sUNNY DAY s AND b R eez Y eve NING s AL s O COM e w ITH RI s K s FOR OUR PR e CIOUs w es TI es
1 Daffodils
These beautiful golden plants are always a sign that spring is on its way but unfortunately, they are no friend to our furry pals. Daffodils, especially bulbs, are toxic to our dogs and while we can admire them from a distance it’s best to keep Westies well clear of them to avoid a trip to the vet.
2 Chocolate
With Easter around the corner, most of us will indulge in a fair amount of chocolate and sweets – both of which are dangerous to dogs. In severe cases chocolate can cause panting, diarrhoea, sickness, shaking and a high body temperature and high blood pressure. Dark chocolate is even more of a no-go and if you’re dog consumes a lot of it you’d be wise to keep the chocolate wrapper to show your vet so he/she can help your dog as quickly as possible.
3 Warm Weather
We’ve got used to walking our Westies in the wintertime. Now, with the warm weather on its way, it’s important to remember to take your Westie’s water bottle with you when you’re off on your walking adventures. Your dog can become dehydrated quickly and could suffer from heatstroke.
4 Tulips
Another beauty, another danger. These brightly coloured gifts from nature can cause health problems for our canine friends and it’s best to keep your Westie away from them at all costs. The last thing you want is for your Bestie to be munching away on these friendly foes which could make your Westie unwell resulting in an unwanted visit to the vet.
5 Fields And Farming
It’s spring and farm animals such as sheep are getting ready to give birth. Your unknowing Westie could quite easily stumble across a protective farm animal and bear the brunt of some aggression by being in the wrong place at the wrong time. If you’re near a farm, put your Westie on a lead.
6 Sweets
Easter is a time of sweet treats and chocolate eggs come laden with goodies hidden inside (including little toys) and unfortunately this isn’t a good thing for our Westie companions. While sweets could obviously cause choking there’s also the problem of sugar as well as fat and some dogs can develop pancreatitis as a result causing them to be sick and, in some cases, even go into organ failure.
7
Fleas And Ticks
The spring season brings with it irritating fleas and annoying ticks so if you haven’t been preparing your Westie for this already by building up his immunity to them naturally then you’d best start now!
8 Gardening
We’ve mentioned daffodils and tulips but don’t forget about your garden fertilisers too! Lawn weed for example can be poisonous to dogs so bear this in mind when you’re busy prepping your garden for the summer months.
10 Allergies
9 Adventures
Don’t forget we’ve only just about got past the winter months and your Westie has been taking it easy during the hibernation season too. Ease them in gradually during the springtime and give their muscles and joints a chance to get active again by giving your pal the opportunity to ease into doing more exercise as the months go on.
Pollen and dust can trigger seasonal allergies and we all know our Westies are prone to them. Some symptoms include licking their paws, sneezing, coughing, and chewing. There are plenty of amazing natural products to help during this season and in the first instance you should have a chat with your vet.