Spring is the time of year when pets start spending more time outdoors. As a pet owner, there are several steps you can take to keep your pets safe and healthy. The below tips, including a reminder to spay or neuter your cat or dog, will help your pet enjoy the warmer weather. 

3 Ways to Protect Your Pets This Spring

1. Plant Pet-Friendly Flowers

While springtime flowers are one of the most beautiful parts of the season, certain varieties can be toxic to household pets. Every type of lily is dangerous for cats and can be fatal if ingested. Specific kinds, like calla lilies and lilies-of-the-valley, as well as azaleas, are also toxic to dogs. Instead of planting these in your flowerbeds this spring, choose pet-friendly blooms like roses, gerbera daisies, sunflowers, and zinnias.

2. Store Dangerous Foods in Hard-to-Reach Areas

For many households, Easter candies like chocolate eggs and jelly beans are a quintessential part of spring. But remember that chocolate is poisonous to dogs, and any products containing xylitol are potentially fatal to both dogs and cats. If you can't remove items with these ingredients from your home, store them in airtight, tamper-proof containers on high shelves.

3. Spay or Neuter Your Pet

Cats that haven’t been sterilized go into heat during the spring and fall, and unfixed dogs can go into heat anytime. If you haven't already done so, spay or neuter your pets. 6.5 million unwanted animals enter American shelters every year. This means that pet owners who spay or neuter their animals play a vital role in reducing the population of unwanted pets.

By following these suggestions, you and your pet will be able to comfortably enjoy the pleasures of spring. If your pet needs to be spayed or neutered, contact us at Nutmeg Spay/Neuter Clinic in Stratford, CT. We offer low-cost spay and neutering services and pet vaccinations for all. Schedule an appointment today by calling (203) 690-1550 or visiting our website.