Summer safety tips involve a lot of common sense, but in the fall, as the weather cools off, we may become a little more lax, and worry less about pets overheating. But that doesn’t mean that this pleasant little season doesn’t pose a few threats of it’s own.

Oh, rats.
This is the time of year when rodents begin to move indoors. Gross. Super gross. Worse than that are the rodenticides that some folks use to take them out. A pet owner never, ever use these products. When ingested by any animal- rat, mouse, dog, cat- they can be deadly. Know that you may have neighbors who do poison rodents, so do your best to make sure your pet doesn’t eat one. Call the vet immediately should your pet consume rat poison or a poison rat. Either way. Gross. Just gross.

Shrooms, dude.
It’s mushroom season and that can mean terrible things if you’re not cautious. Although 99% of mushrooms are not toxic, that one percent that is can be deadly if ingested by a pet. Unless you’re a mycologist, it’s difficult to tell the difference between a safe fungi and a killer one. Keep your pet away from wild mushrooms and seek immediate veterinary attention if the little booger still gets a hold of one.

Slither hither.
Many venomous snakes are beginning preparing for hibernation as the weather cools off. This means they can be particularly aggressive. Know what kind of snakes live in your area and talk to your vet about protecting your pet before a bite, and have a plan of action should she be bitten.

In the bag
As kids are returning to school, their backpacks begin to fill up with all kinds of things- candy, gum, science projects, and supplies that can be harmful to animals. Keep everything that comes home with the kids out of your pet’s reach.

Trick or Treat
Halloween deserves 50 pages of tips when it comes to your pet’s safety, but here are the highlights:

Only dress your pet up if it’s totally safe and he/she likes it.
Keep pets calm and safe during the doorbell ringing hours.
Hide the candy.
Decorations can be eaten and cause a serious scare.
Jack-o-Lanterns can tumble over, use a fake candle.

Fleas, Release Me.
Nope. Not in Texas anyway. Make sure you continue to use flea, tick, and heartworm prevention all year long.

Go play
If your pets have grown used to relaxing all day in an air conditioned house during the hot summer, autumn can be a great time to get out, get some exercise and enjoy cooler temperatures. Just remember to go slowly and get you and your pet back in to park-shape. You’ll probably want to work on training commands too, everyone’s skills get a little rusty if they aren’t practiced for a while.

However you and your furry friend celebrate season, be safe and make beautiful memories together!