Ideas for Fall Fun With Your Dog

Oct 15

Ideas for Fall Fun With Your Dog

By cvsg Fun Pet Facts No Comments

Enjoying pumpkin-spiced lattes, cozy sweaters, and beautiful leaves are all perks of the fall season. As outdoor temperatures become more pet-friendly, another benefit of fall is the ability to take your dog along as you enjoy the season. Following are a few suggestions for fall fun with your pet in Colorado:

Pick up pumpkin at a local pumpkin patch. Find dog-friendly options in the area: https://www.sidewalkdog.com/dog-friendly-pumpkin-patches/#colorado
Carve your find with artwork based on your pet; check Pinterest for great ideas and patterns: https://www.pinterest.com/
Visit a farmer’s market. Find a dog-friendly market near you at: https://cofarmersmarkets.org/find-a-market/
Plan a camping trip. Before you go, read this guide to be prepared for the experience: https://koa.com/blog/tips-from-camping-with-dogs/
Hike and look at colorful aspen leaves. Find leaf peeping tips at: https://www.colorado.com/articles/9-favorite-fall-dog-hikes
Gear your dog up for game day (team bandanas, collars, leashes) and watch the game at a local, dog-friendly brewery https://www.coloradobrewerylist.com/brewery_dogs/dogs-welcome/

Oct 03

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Keep your pets safe in the fall

By cvsg Pet Health No Comments

Cooler weather, the fall harvest and seasonal baking lead to maximum enjoyment of this wonderful season. However, knowledge of the specific hazards of this season is necessary to keep your pets healthy and safe.

Help keep your pets protected in the fall:

Be careful when planting bulbs. Ingestion of ornamental bulbs planted in the fall can cause heart, kidney, and liver failure. Signs after ingestion may include vomiting, diarrhea and lethargy. Bulbs may also cause an obstruction in the digestive system if consumed whole or in larger pieces. Consider planting bulbs behind fences, inside cages, or in other areas inaccessible to your pet.
Dispose of corn cobs properly. Dogs can chew and eat corncobs but cannot digest them which could be fatal. Dogs can choke on corncobs if they become stuck in the throat or esophagus. Corncobs are also a common cause of intestinal obstruction which may require surgery.
Check fertilizers and mulches for mold. Any type of solid fertilizer or mulch can become toxic to your dog if it is moldy. Common signs of mold toxicity include hyperactivity, tremors, vomiting, high body temperature, and seizures in severe cases. Packages kept open can harbor mold even if it is invisible to the naked eye. To prevent mold, keep fertilizer containers closed and store them in a dry space.
Keep pets away from mushrooms. Fall is one of the prime seasons for mushroom growth. Signs of mushroom toxicity may include vomiting, diarrhea, lethargy, weakness, tremors, vocalization, and seizures. Pets may exhibit symptoms within 15 minutes, or they may be delayed for up to 12 hours. If you suspect toxic mushroom ingestion, immediate veterinary care is recommended. Be specific when describing symptoms and their time of onset to your veterinarian; this information is vital for accurate diagnosis and prompt treatment. For additional information, including photos of some of the more common toxic mushrooms, please go to: https://www.petmd.com/dog/slideshows/6-poisonous-mushrooms-are-toxic-dogs .
Be cautious when using rodent poison. All rat and mouse poisons are toxic to pets if ingested. These poisons cause bleeding both inside and outside the body. Your pet may have pale gums, difficulty breathing, coughing, bloody urine or feces, vomiting or seizures. Immediate veterinary care is necessary if you suspect your pet has ingested any type of rodenticide.

Enjoy the crisp air and beautiful foliage, be aware of hazards, and both you and your pet will make the most of fall.

Oct 02

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Dog Coat Colors

By cvsg Fun Pet Facts No Comments

The colors and patterns of dog coats can be as diverse and beautiful as the colors in fall foliage. The following is a short explanation of coat colors and some of the more unusual names for the colors.

All dog coat colors are formed from just two pigments – eumelanin (black or brown) and phaeomelanin (red, yellow or tan). Different variations in color are created by these two pigments which are both forms of melanin.

Interesting names for coat colors include:

Blenheim. This name describes the Cavalier King Charles and King Charles Spaniels with a coat color consisting of a deep, clear red and white. This color is named for John Churchill, the 1^st Duke of Marlborough, because of the red and white King Charles Spaniels kept at his estate, Blenheim.

Deadgrass. Chesapeake Bay retrievers with a “Deadgrass,” or light, liver-pigmented red coat color virtually disappear in the dry, dead wheat stalks and grasses of autumn fields while bird-hunting with their owners.

Fulvo. Because the Cane Corso is an Italian breed they may be a fulvo color, translated in English as “fawn”.

Mustard and Pepper. Dandie Dinmont Terrier lovers describe their dogs as either mustard (reddish-brown to fawn) or pepper (bluish-black to silvery gray).

Chocolate. Refers to Labrador retrievers. Although the same color in a curly-coated retriever or pointer is called liver and it is called brown in a Poodle.

October 2024