5 Ways to Prepare Your Pets for Fall
Autumn has arrived! With it comes a change in the air and often a difference in household schedules. Kids are back in school, the days become shorter and many people begin to anticipate the holiday season that will be here before you know it. With all the excitement of pumpkin spice and everything nice, don’t forget to keep the well-being of your pets at the top of your priority list. Here are 5 ways to prepare your pets for fall.
1. Keep Your Pets Groomed
Taking your dog to the groomer or doing the best that you know how to yourself should become a part of your schedule in the fall. Getting your pet’s nails trimmed regularly is essential for keeping them healthy. Also, your dog’s coat will begin to thicken when the temperatures drop.
When this happens, you will need to make sure that its fur doesn’t become matted. Regular brushing helps a lot; however, your dog might require a haircut, depending on the breed.
2. Watch Your Dogs When They Are Out in Nature
Going hiking with your dog out in nature can be a fun and bonding experience for you to share with one another. Dogs love to explore their incredible sense of smell and find new things to experiment with or taste. They are known for their tendency to eat grass at times. This is why it is important to watch dogs around certain autumn foliage.
Mushrooms in particular are most worrisome. If you can’t identify the mushroom that you see out in the wild, don’t let your dog eat it. Some wild mushrooms, (including autumn Galeria, fly agaric, and death cap mushrooms) can all cause death.
Plants that are poisonous to dogs that you need to look out for in the fall include chrysanthemums, autumn crocus, and clematis.
3. Adjust Feeding and Walk Times
With the amount of daylight you have each day becoming less and less, you will likely find it necessary to switch up your dog’s schedule a bit. You may need to take your dog on its walk earlier in the evening, or later in the morning if that works better for you.
Remember that it might take a little bit of time for your dog to adjust to the season and schedule changes as well. Have a little patience as his sleep cycle adjusts to more darkness in his day.
4. Leave a Light On
As it is going to begin getting dark so much earlier, you might not always be able to get home and be with your canine before he is left alone in the dark. To remedy this, all you need to do is leave a light on in a room where his bed is located. To save on cash, you can always put a timer on your lights so you don’t have to leave them on all day.
5. Consider Shopping for a New Dog Bed
Fall is the right time to prepare for winter. If your dog is in need of a cozy bed, shop around for the best deal on the right type of dog bed. Keeping your dog warm and comfortable in its bed during the winter is important. Otherwise, your dog is going to end up wanting to sleep in your bed.