4 Essential Tips To Keep Your Pets Safe During Fall in Richmond, VA

Fall in Virginia is a blissful time full of golden leaves, crisp air, and the promise of cozy holiday gatherings. For pet owners, though, this time of year also brings a few hazards along. There’s a drop in temperature. The increase in seasonal allergies. The prolificness of holiday treats that can damage Fido or Kitty’s health. 

The team at Capital Home Veterinary Care has 4 essential fall pet tips to help you keep your furry family members safe from any autumnal hazards. 

4 Fall Pet Tips for Fido and Kitty

#1. Get Ahead of Seasonal Allergies 

Spring isn’t the only time of year for seasonal allergies to rear their itchy head. During the fall, many plants, trees, weeds, and flowers release pollen and seeds into the air. In the Richmond, Virginia area, we must watch out for ragweed, thistle, and goldenrod, all of which bloom in the late summer through late fall. 

If you already know your cat or dog struggles with fall allergies every year, get ahead of the itch by: 

• Steering clear of areas where these plants are great in number
• Applying medicated shampoos to your pup or kitty
• Giving frequent baths to remove the pollen from your pet’s coat

For more serious symptoms, like severe itching, hives, swelling, watery eyes, and chronic ear infections, head to your local veterinarian. They can give your pet antihistamines and other allergy-fighting solutions to help keep your pets from itching. 

#2. Prepare Pets for Colder Weather

Fall means winter is just around the corner, so now’s the time to think about preparing our pets for colder weather. 

Take your pup or kitty—and yourself!—on daily walks to acclimate to cooler temperatures. Make sure your pets have warm places to shelter when they’re outside, as well as comfortable, warm bedding indoors. 

Monitoring your pets for signs of cold stress is also key. Senior and geriatric pets often have a hard time staying warm in the fall and winter—even worse, the cold can wreak havoc on their joints and immune systems. 

Keep your pets warm, hydrated, dry, and well-nourished, and you’ll be poised to enjoy a cozy fall and winter season with your furry friends.

#3. Outdoor Safety

While you’re out and about enjoying the fall weather, make sure to keep reduced visibility in mind, too. The sun sets sooner, which may mean more walks at dusk or at night. Equip yourself and your furry friend with reflective vests to stay visible to any vehicles on the roads where you walk. 

It’s also a good idea to bring extra layers to keep both of you warm should you encounter any inclement weather, like rain or snow. And if your pet isn’t already microchipped, make sure she is before fall turns to winter. 

#4. Indoor Safety 

Crisp, fall weather means fabulous fall holidays, like Halloween and Thanksgiving. While these events are fun for humans, they can present unique challenges to your pets. As in…the unique challenge of staying away from Halloween candy or potentially toxic Thanksgiving foods, like onion stuffing or cooked turkey bones. 

These can make Fido and Kitty very sick. 

Make sure you keep all holiday food (and decorations) out of reach of your pet. Have a plan in place for what to do if your pet accidentally consumes something they shouldn’t—like keeping your vet’s phone number readily available, along with the ASPCA’s 24/7/365 Animal Poison Control hotline. 

A Fabulous Fall

With these tips, you and your four-legged family members can enjoy a happy, healthy fall. Our caring team at Capital Home Veterinary Care is here to help navigate everything autumn can toss your way, from allergies to dietary indiscretions and beyond. Call us at 804-432-2534 to schedule an appointment for your pet. We can’t wait to meet you!