Pets need special care during spring

With the onset of spring, which began last September 22, it is essential to keep pets protected, as the most colorful season of the year is synonymous with allergies and irritations and can increase the risk of poisoning. Therefore, for those who have pets at home, this is also a moment that requires a lot of attention and care.

Priscilla Rizzello, Royal Canin’s veterinary and scientific communications coordinator, cautions against this. “Like us, pets can also suffer from allergies that get worse at this time. In addition, ectoparasites are more common during this season and, in addition to irritating the skin, they are responsible for transmitting various diseases, some of which may even worsen when not taken. Diagnose it in time.

Some pets suffer from respiratory allergies caused by dust, fungi and pollen. However, the appearance is different from that of humans. Instead of sneezing, cats and dogs tend to develop irritated and itchy skin.

This happens because, in contact with an allergen, the body causes an allergic reaction, that is, hypersensitivity of the skin, which causes symptoms such as redness, itching, scaling and other lesions. In an effort to calm the place down, the pet ends up licking and scratching the area, causing cuts and irritation.

To mitigate the problem, some preventative measures should be taken, such as cleaning the pet’s feet when they return from walking, keeping the environment moist on dry days and always leaving fresh water available. The teacher should also avoid trips to places where there are a large number of flowers, which breed during this season, to reduce the contact of the animal with pollen.

Also, maintaining your pet’s bed and favorite resting places helps remove dust and dander, which is a breeding ground for itch-causing parasites. Dogs should also be bathed to help remove irritants from the skin, but always with the right shampoo for them. Cats should not be bathed regularly.

Moisturizing lotions can also help. While caring for the skin, it is important to pay attention to any scratches. If any infection is noticed, it is time to visit the vet.

Another factor exacerbating this season is the increased infestation of external parasites, such as fleas, ticks, flies and mosquitoes. They are responsible for transmitting diseases that, if not diagnosed in time, can be fatal.

“At this time of year, walks with cats and dogs are more frequent, so your external parasite repellent application needs to be updated,” says Rizzello.

In addition, you should also be careful with bees and ants because although they are not disease-carrying insects, they can cause allergic crises in pets through their stings.

Last but not least, pets are curious creatures who love new things and spring is the best time to make the house livelier with plants and flowers. However, it is necessary to know that some types of plants contain substances that are toxic to animals, which can endanger them if you come into direct contact with these plants or if you swallow part of them.

The most common poisonous plants are lilies, lady of the night, ivy, wisteria, St. George’s sword, I nobody can, Adam’s rib, Boa constrictor, glass of milk, fern, violets, hibiscus, maidenhair, lavender, among others. But that doesn’t mean you can’t have it at home, but it’s important to be careful to leave it out of the reach of pets.

To avoid any risks, there are alternatives that do not cause harm, such as orchid, as well as herbs such as mint and basil. Valerian still has sedative properties and can be a good choice