Fun Fall Activities to Enjoy with You and Your Pets
Trick-Or-Treating Safety Tips for Your Pets
Feeding Pumpkin to Your Dogs: What Are the benefits?
Fun Fall Activities to Enjoy with You and Your Pets
It’s fully fall. And we all know what that means. It’s cooler outside and that comes with enjoying fun, outdoor activities with your pets. It’s a nice relief after hot summer temps and being stuck inside.
While you’re getting ready for the great outdoors, think about your beloved pets when making plans.
Many people took their vacations over the summer, so now is a great time for that “off-season travel destination,” according to the article, “11 Fun Activities to Do With Your Dog This Fall” at Vetstreet.com. “Many beaches allow dogs during the off-season — and as a bonus, travel prices are often lower,” the article said.
Go take a hike. For real! Whether you’re hiking in and around the city or taking a drive out of town, autumn is a great time to enjoy being outside. “Just be sure to consult your veterinarian before starting a new exercise routine and consider your dog’s physical fitness level before choosing a path,” the article said. It’s a good idea to be sure your dog is protected with flea and tick preventives first.
Get out and play. With the cooler weather, you can get out there to play with your dog. Bring along a Frisbee, a ball, or your dog’s favorite toy, and just have fun!
Along with football season comes those tailgating parties. You can get your dog involved starting with mascots all the way to dog apparel. “So huddle close and get ready for the game plan!” according to the article, “6 Great Fall Activities for Dogs” at be.chewy.com.
If you really love the outdoors, take that camping trip and bring your dog. “From the splendor of the leaves to the scents in the air, hiking trails abound, and an eager dog captivated by it all,” the be.chewy.com article said.
Trick-Or-Treating Safety Tips for Your Pets
October doesn’t just mean cooler temps, it’s the month celebrating cute costumes and treats on Halloween. Sometimes it can be scary for pets, but there are ways to ensure their safety.
According to the article, “10 Halloween Safety Tips for Pets,” at PetMD.com, the following tips can keep your pets out of harm’s way:
• Keep Halloween candy away from pets, especially chocolate, which can be deadly for them. “Halloween candies containing the artificial sweetener xylitol can also be poisonous to dogs,” the article said.
• Ensure pets are safe inside the home. They could be at high risk if left alone in the yard.
• If you plan to open the door for trick-or-treaters, keep pets safe in a separate room and/or in a secure crate far from the front door.
• “While glow sticks can help keep people safe on Halloween night, they can add some unwanted drama to the holiday if a pet chews one open,” the article said.
• Keep lit pumpkins away from pets.
• Only dress up your pet in costume if he is OK with it, and be sure to supervise him. “Costumes should not restrict movement, hearing, eyesight, or the ability to breathe,” the article said.
• Pets should always wear ID in case they dash out the door and escape. Microchips are even better. Always make sure your information is up to date on tags and chips.
If you are decorating your home, note the decorations that can be a threat to pets. These can include lit candles, rubber eyeballs, fake blood, fake cobwebs, potpourri and strung lights, according to the article, “Halloween safety tips for pets” at The Humane Society of the United States (HSUS).
The HSUS article suggests creating some pet-friendly decorations, such as making a haunted house out of cardboard boxes for your feline.
Feeding Pumpkin to Your Dogs: What Are the benefits?
The season calls for everything pumpkin, from that pumpkin spiced latte you’ve been craving all summer to pumpkin scented candles and pumpkin pie. But what are the benefits of feeding pumpkin to your dog?
Pumpkin is considered good for your dog and “contains essential micronutrients and fiber that make it a very nutritious treat,” according to the article, “Can I Give My Dog Pumpkin?” at Fetch by WebMD. It also helps alleviate diarrhea in dogs.
According to the article, other benefits include:
• It’s packed with minerals and vitamins such as A, C, and E.
• It’s great for your dog’s digestion, It has “high soluble fiber content,” the article said.
• Prebiotics found in pumpkin help “support the presence of important bacteria in the digestive tract,” the article said.
Don’t overdo it with too much pumpkin and speak to your vet about how much to give your dog. Be sure to distinguish between plain, canned pumpkin and pumpkin pie filling, which is loaded with added fat, sugar and spices, the article said. Stick with plain, canned pumpkin without additives.
Pumpkin is also good for urinary health. According to the article, “3 Ways Pumpkin Can Help Keep Your Dog Healthy” at PetMD.com, “Oils found in pumpkin seeds and flesh are believed to support urinary health. Dogs with urinary incontinence, in particular, may benefit from a little pumpkin in their diet.”
It also can help with eye health. “To prevent the development of night blindness and other eye degeneration, the beta-carotene found in pumpkin flesh is an integral nutrient in any pup’s diet,” according to the article, “Benefits of Pumpkin for Dogs” at be.chewy.com.
Dogs will also benefit from pumpkin because of its high content of water along with key nutrients vitamin A and zinc, which is good for your dog’s coat and skin.
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