Some helpful tips on what to watch out for this coming Fall to keep your four legged friends safe.

1. Pet Wellness Network
Fall Pet Safety Hazards
to Watch Out For
www.petwellnessnetwork.com

2. Darkness
The days are going to continue to keep getting shorter and shorter until
December. As a result, morning and evening dog walks will take in more and
more darkness. This presents a very real danger of car strikes because of the
decreased visibility, so considering reflective vests for you and your pet and don’t
let the leash run too long.
The early nightfall also means more danger to pets who are let outside to roam
free, so know your pets and neighborhood and consider the risks when you
decide to let them out.

3. School Supplies
Pets are kids are usually a great mix, but young children tend to bring home a
lot of items that may tempt chew-happy cats and dogs, such as crayons, glue
sticks, markers and pencils. If these items are ingested they may present toxicity,
choking and gastrointestinal hazards.

4. Fall Leaves
Picturesque piles of fall leaves may be fun for pets to play in, but they can also
trap in moisture and grow colonies of bacteria and mold, so intervene if pets
attempt to eat any of the foliage. The same piles of leaves can also cover sharp
tools and stumps, so be careful where you place them.
Lawn Mowers and leaf blowers produce a lot of noise, which may startle pets, so
keep pets inside when performing any heavy-duty yard work.

5. Antifreeze
With the falling temperatures homeowners may decide to add antifreeze to their
engine fluids. Antifreeze also has a very sweet taste and dogs are known to lick
up puddles left behind in garages and on driveways. The primary ingredient,
ethylene glycol, is a ruthless poison and even a small amount can kill a cat or dog.

6. Poisonous Plants & Mushrooms
Flowers like clematis, autumn crocus and chrysanthemums bloom in the fall,
which may attract the attention of cats and dogs. They are all as poisonous as
they are beautiful, so don’t let your pets be around them while unsupervised.
Wild mushrooms that grow in the yard or nearby woods are also as big a risk to
pets as they are to people.

7. Rat Poison
The cold weather encourages mice, rats and other rodents to find warm places to
nest, which often draw them to houses, garages and other buildings. These leads
to a large amount of rat poison being placed out during the fall.
If you suspect your pet has consumed any variety of poison, call your animal
hospital immediately for emergency instructions.

8. Pet Wellness Network
www.petwellnessnetwork.com
Ashbridges Bay Animal Hospital
1392 Gerrard St E
Toronto, ON M4L 1Z4
Monday to Friday: 8am - 8pm.
Saturday: 9am - 5pm
(416) 915-7387
Beaches Animal Hospital
2304 Queen St. East
Toronto, ON M4E 1G8
Monday to Sunday: 8am - 10pm
(416) 690-4040
Downtown Bay Animal Hospital
579 Church Street
Toronto, ON M4Y 2E4
Monday to Friday: 8am - 12am
Saturday: 9am - 12am
Sunday: 9am - 12am
(416) 966-5122