Spring is here! And for our four legged friends this means lots of walks, playing and exploring is just waiting to be had. Even cats enjoy more outside time during spring due to the sunny weather. With warmer weather can also come seasonal issues for our pets such as pests and allergies.
Here’s some tips on preparing your pet for spring and ensuring our dogs and cats stay happy and safe.
Grooming
Warmer weather means more shedding. Cats and dogs will be getting rid of their winter coats for a thinner and more sleek coat suited to spring. For us pet parents, this unfortunately means having a lot of extra hair around the house. Giving your pets regular baths and brushing will help reduce the amount of fur in your home and keep your pet happier. The Furminator Deshedding Tool range caters for both short haired and long haired dogs and cats. They are the perfect way to keep shedding under control as the comb reaches through the topcoat to remove loose undercoat hair. It’s curved SkinGuard design glides over cat or dog’s skin.
Read more about how to groom different types of dog coats.
WashBar have a range of natural shampoos that are great when it comes to bath time for your pooch. Their products are made in NZ and are gentle on dogs who have sensitive skin. Try one of their spritzers to leave your dog smelling great in between bath times too!
Flea and Worming
While it is important to treat your pet for fleas all year round, spring is when our animals are particularly susceptible to catching these nasty pests. You’ll also want to treat your four legged friend for worms. Tapeworms, roundworms and hookworms can be a problem throughout the warmer months. Be proactive and make sure your pet is up to date with their worming treatment.
You can find most flea and worm treatments are combined such as Advocate flea treatment, which targets both fleas and worms and is an easy to use, highly effective monthly application.
Broadline for cats also protects against fleas, ticks and worms. It controls flea bite hypersensitivity by flea control and will kill newly acquired fleas within 8-24 hrs. It prevents flea eggs from hatching and can be used for the treatment and control of tick infestations, biting lice, roundworms, hookworms and tapeworms and can be used on kittens from 8 weeks of age.
Handy tip: Set up and AutoDeliver for your flea and worm treatments so you never forget too treat your pets. AutoDeliver lets you choose the frequency of your flea and worm treatment and sends an email reminder 3 days before so you can reschedule if you need it later. Plus never pay full price again - with every AutoDeliver order, you save 16% off.
Keep an eye out for allergies
Spring time means all sorts of different flowers, trees and pollen in the air. Our pets suffer from seasonal allergies just like us humans, so it’s important to keep an eye on any signs of allergy or irritation they may show. These include excessive scratching, licking or hair loss. It is always a good idea to take your pet to see the vet if you are concerned about allergies. They may recommend applying products to help soothe and heal your pet's irritated skin, like Dr Pottles Aloe and Tea Tree Cream, an easy to use at home cream to heal, soothe, replenish and acts as an antiseptic.
Get them active
After perhaps being a little bit less active throughout the cold winter months, why not add some variety into your pet's exercise time and get them enthusiastic with some new toys. Chuckit! have a great range for active dogs including The Chuckit! Ball Launcher which perfect for a game of fetch. Our other favourites include the Chuckit! Zipflight and Chuckit! Breathe Right Football. We also recommend interactive toys that are also a great way to keep your pets mentally stimulated as they work for their treats.
The Hartz range of cat toys are perfect for getting even the laziest of cats active. Cats should have between 20 and 60 minutes of exercise a day, and wand toys are bound to keep things entertaining for the both of you as your feline pounces to try and catch the feathers.
Spending more time out and exercising with your dog means you'll want to do a round up of collars, leads and harnesses. If you've been meaning to replace that tattered collar or want to reduce pulling on the lead, now is the perfect time to make sure you've got all the right gear. EzyDog's range of collars, leads and harnesses are perfect whether you're training your dog, taking them on a run or simply taking them around the block.
Joint supplements
If you have an older pet or a dog with a genetic condition such as hip dysplasia, ached and pains may be a bother for them. During spring time, when your pet is more active, these symptoms may become exacerbated. To promote healthy joints it’s a good idea to consider a joint supplement such as ProVida. ProVida Bone and Joint Oil is a a specially formulated blend of premium quality Flax Seed Oil, Glucosamine, Chondroitin, NZ Green Lipped Mussel Powder, Vitamins and Minerals to provide the ultimate in Bone and Joint health for your canine or feline friend.
Read more about health supplements for your pets.
Update their vaccinations
In warmer seasons, your pet will come into contact with other pets that may or may not have been properly vaccinated. So, before you head out to the dog park or organise pet dates with your fur friends, make sure your pet has had their vaccinations and are properly protected from infectious diseases. You may wish to schedule a check up with your vet to discuss which vaccinations your pet needs. Not every pet will need to be vaccinated against every disease.
Read more about puppy/dog vaccinations and kitten/cat vaccinations.