Spring is the favourite time of year for many of our furry friends. As the weather gets warmer and the flowers blossom, both cats and dogs enjoy making the most of the day, spending more time outside.
Springtime brings many opportunities for your pets to explore the outdoors, but it could also lead to Spring fever.
Like hay fever, but for our pets
Our pets can have similar Springtime symptoms to us; instead of the seasonal human hay fever, Spring fever is a condition sometimes experienced by animals in response to the changing environment from Winter to Spring.
Symptoms of Spring fever
Spring fever in your pets will show up as noticeable changes in behaviour. These exact changes will vary between pets but could include:
- Increasing energy levels
- Waking up earlier in the morning
- Becoming easily agitated
- Overheating
- Heightened curiosity
- Spending large amounts of time in the sun
- Becoming territorial
- Sniffling and sneezing
- Itching and general skin irritation
Why do our pets experience Spring fever?
Both canines and felines can be overwhelmed by hay fever-like symptoms, as their senses are far more sensitive to changes in smell and temperature than us humans’.
This makes the blossoming Spring season a stimulating, exciting and sometimes confusing time for our pets, and can often lead to a change in their behaviour.
Our pets’ behaviour can be expected to become more excitable or unsettled, and they may also experience increased libido.
Here’s our best recommendations for ensuring the changing of the seasons don’t affect our pets too dramatically…
Managing Spring fever in your Dog
- Lots of new smells and colours to see during the blooming season can be a sensory overload for your pooch and may mean that they develop selective hearing. With heightened curiosity and lots of brain stimulation, your dog may not always come back to you when you call for them. Make sure to practice recall on a regular basis at different locations and with various distractions, to ensure their recall is in tiptop condition.
- To stop them from trying to escape from the yard to fulfil their eager curiosity, try taking them on new walks to expose them to different smells and sights.
- One of the most dangerous aspects of Spring fever is that your dog may become overheated, so be sure to invest in a cooling mat or a shell pool for your backyard, and pack water with you on your walks.
Managing Spring fever in your Cat
- Cats generally aren’t groomed as frequently as our dogs, as they tend to look after this task on their own. Any small helping hand however could really aid your feline friend to stay cool in the warmer weather.
- Spring offers a lot more bacteria, dust, plants and pollen in the environment. The more outside exposure your cat gets during Spring can lead to them picking up bacteria or obtaining small injuries, so a vet check up during this season won’t hurt to ensure your kitty stays healthy and bright.
- With all the new smells and colours sprouting up, it can heighten your cat’s curiosity to explore the garden. Not all plants are safe for cats (or dogs) to eat, so make sure that your garden is entirely pet safe.
Take control this Spring – Prevention of heartworm, flea and ticks
Spring not only brings pretty flowers but also lots of bugs to thrive in the warm weather!
Check with your local vet about vaccinations and deworming during Spring to avoid those nasty fleas and ticks along with year-round heartworm prevention.
By keeping a close eye on your pets’ behaviour and looking out for these symptoms, you can be proactive in keeping your beloved animals safe during Springtime.