Fall Safety
Advice from Animal Expert Dr. Grey Stafford
 Even though it's finally starting to cool off, we all need to continue to protect pets from heat related hazards. Of course, we still need to make certain pets have adequate shade and water all day long.
But there are other temperature-related risks to keep in mind. For example, many of the animals and pests that can injure our pets during the warm summer months are still active! Just the other evening a male desert tarantula was making the rounds on my patio and driveway. Despite shorter day length, the above normal temperatures we’ve experienced means scorpions, snakes and other creatures may still be active. Tarantulas pose minimal risk except for the irritating fine hairs they can flick into the nose and mouth of curious pups that get too close; however, smaller pets are quite susceptible to scorpion stings.
Plus, Arizona has more venomous snakes that any other state, so we always need to be cautious when hiking with pets. While it is true that many snakes are dormant during winter months, it is still possible to find some of them basking on a rock during a stretch of unusually warm and sunny winter days.
Finally, make certain your pets are up to date with their immunizations. Fall is a particularly virulent time for common canine and feline diseases. These can easily be prevented by immediately cleaning up animal wastes and by giving your pets annual low cost vaccinations. (Conversely, animals that become infected can perish quickly and medical treatments are often very expensive!)
Have a safe and happy holiday season!
Dr. Grey
Learn more about Dr. Grey Stafford
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