First Published: 20 March 2024. Last Updated: 10 March 2026
Spring Safety Tips for Pets
Spring is a time for more than just flowers and sunshine. Several potential dangers to pets crop up this time of year, some of which pose a real threat to your pet's health if improperly handled.
Below, we outline the key dangers to pets this spring, so you can take a proactive approach to their care this season:
Common Spring Dangers for Pets
Parasites in Pets
Parasites are a year-round problem, but the risk of infestations rise as warmer weather settles in and your pet spends more time outdoors. Most parasites are flightless, and hop or fall onto your pet in woodlands, grasslands, or from wildlife.
The risk of your pet picking up parasites also increases if your pet:
- Drinks from contaminated water sources
- Sniffs / eats things they shouldn't
- Rolls in fox poo (or feaces from other wildlife)
- Hunts infected wildlife (mice, birds, etc.)
Any one of these things can open the door to parasites like fleas, ticks, and intestinal worms. Keep your pet protected from parasites this spring with routine flea and worming treatments so you can stop infestations before they start.
Related Reading:
Seasonal Allergies in Pets
Spring is just the start of allergy season, with grass and tree pollen counts starting to rise before peaking in the summer.
Seasonal allergies in particular can act up at this time as your pet spends more time outdoors or brings allergens back into the home from walks.
Keep an eye out for the signs of allergies in pets, which can include:
- Coughing or sneezing
- Itchy, dry or inflamed skin
- Runny or stuffy nose
- Facial pain
- Watery, red, or itchy eyes.
Some allergens are unavoidable, especially for dogs that require longer walks to achieve their exercise needs. Introducing pet allergy treatments can help soothe your pets allergy symptoms, or speak with your vet about prescription allergy treatments.
Related Reading:
Herbicide Poisoning in Dogs & Cats
Many weed killers and garden maintenance chemicals can harm pets if ingested, sniffed, or even stepped on. These chemicals are popular in spring and summer as people prepare their gardens after winter.
It only takes a small amount of weedkiller to cause poisoning in pets, and if they've consumed the chemicals, it can even be life-threatening.
Always be mindful of the chemicals you use in your garden, and store them safely out of pets reach.
Some of the key ingredients to avoid include:
- Glyphosate
- Disulfoton
- Sodium Arsenite
- Metaldehyde
- Ammonium Sulfamate
- Borax
- And more!
Even if you don't have any pets of your own doesn't mean animals don't move through your garden. Using pet-safe garden chemicals ensures that any cats or wildlife visiting your garden are safe from herbicide poisoning.
Some of the key signs of herbicide poisoning in pets include:
- Burns
- Sores
- Rashes
- Vomiting
- Diarrhoea
If your pet shows the above symptoms, or you think they've consumed any garden chemicals, contact your vet immediately or call the Animal Poison Line at 01202 509000.
Toxic Plants to Dogs & Cats
Spring is when gardening seasons gets underway. Bulbs planted in autumn are flowering, and many gardeners are reading their gardens and borders with summer-flowering plants.
Unfortunately, many popular spring plants are toxic to pets and should be avoided in your garden where possible. The most common toxic spring flowers are:
- Daffodils
- Tulips
- Lilies
- Bluebells
- Azaleas
- Crocuses
How toxic the plant is depends on it's species. In some cases, only part of the plant is toxic to pets, or they're only toxic if ingested. Plants grown from bulbs (such as daffodils, lilies, hyacinths, and more) are particularly dangerous, with the bulbs being the most toxic part of the plants. These bulbs are often planted in autumn to flower in spring, but dogs may dig up the bulbs before their time.
Many of these spring plants also grow wild, which while a beautiful sight to behold, poses a risk to your pet. Crocuses and daffodils are rife this time of year on road sides, in woodlands, and in decorative flower beds, so keep a close eye on your dog during walks, or keep them on a lead to prevent accidental ingestion.
You shouldn't have to choose between healthy pets and a beautiful garden, just make sure you choose pet-friendly plants for your garden, such as:
- Roses
- Sunflowers
- Lavender
- Pansies
- Petunias
- and more!
Even if you don't have a garden, you should be familiar with what are safe plants for pets. Plants and flowers used in bouquets this time of year are likely more dangerous to your pet than you realise, such as lilies(which can cause kidney damage in cats), tulips, iris and many more.
House plants are not necessarily safe either, with many indoor plants also being toxic to pets, such as peace lilies, philodendrons, ivy, sago palms, and more.
If you want to build a home for harmony between pets and plants, check out our complete guide to pet-safe plants to get yourself started.
Spring Cleaning Products
We all love to give our homes a little spruce in the spring, but you should always be wary of cleaning products and their suitability for use around animals.
Many cleanng products contain chemicals that are toxic to pets, such as:
- Ammonia
- Chlorine
- Phenol
- Bleach
- Benzalkonium chloride
- And more!
These chemicals can be dangerous to pets if ingested, but the vapours from these chemicals can be harmful too, especially for pets with sensitive respiratory systems.
Before you get your spring cleaning underway, aim for pet-safe cleaning products, or if you need the stronger stuff, be sure to store them safely out of your pet's reach.
Livestock & Their Young
While some farmers keep their livestock in private fields, you may find more livestock near public right of way this time of year. This can be a problem for dog owners as the presence of a dog in the field can spook grazing animals, causing them to try run away.
If your dog is excitable or has a high prey drive, they may instinctually chase livestock, which can have dire consequences for the animals involved and even cost farmer's some of their livelihood if any livestock is stressed, injured, lost or worse.
Because of this, it is a criminal offense for dogs to worry livestock, and you may be prosecuted even if your dog does no physical harm to the animals.
To ensure the safety of livestock and your pet, make sure you:
- Adhere to any and all signage regarding livestock in fields
- Keep dogs on a lead on public footpaths
- Never assume a field is empty - cows and sheep may lay down under hedges or trees making them hard to spot
- Stay calm if a cow approaches you. They can be inquisitive animals or may think you have food for them.
- If you are charged or chased by cows, let go of your dog's lead. Cows are more likely to consider the dog a threat, and the dog can easily outrun a cow.
Always be cautious when walking dogs near livestock. Even the most well-trained or even-tempered dog can react out of character when other animals are near.
Spring doesn’t have to be dangerous, and by taking the proper precautions, you can ensure your pet remains happy and healthy no matter the season! If you want to find the best products to protect and care for your pet this spring, look through our fantastic collection of spring essentials, including allergy soothers, parasite prevention, and more!
This post is an opinion and should only be used as a guide. You should thoroughly discuss any change to your pet’s care or lifestyle with your vet before starting any program or treatment.
This post was written by a human.
