Johnson: Change of season means activity changes for pets

Believe it or not, a change of season is upon us, and with it you can expect to see some changes in your critters over the coming weeks.

It’s hard to imagine it’s been almost a month, especially when daytime temperatures are still in the mid-to-upper 80s a good bit of the time, but it’s definitely fall.

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In search of ponies

If you aren’t convinced, take a moment to look around. Many of the birds have gone and the ones that remain are different, the grasshoppers have drastically reduced in number, the frogs are virtually nonexistent, spiders and rodents are trying desperately to move indoors, fly numbers are tapering and brown miller moths are bursting onto the scene in quantity — all activity predicting colder temperatures on the way.

Though they may be first to respond to the changes in seasons, wild things who live in the elements 24/7 aren’t the only ones who notice things are different and even those of us who live indoors begin to react, whether we know it or not.

Prepare yourself, because on those first few cooler days the critters can be expected to get a sparkle in their eyes, tremors in their muscles and, in general, seem like completely different critters altogether.

On the surface, spring fever and fall fever can look a lot alike — both a response to being released from the oppressive weather of summer or winter — the pets want to play, tend to get into more trouble and, overall, they just get spunky.

As temperatures continue to decline, they, just like us, will want nothing more than a warm spot to call our own, sleep, and comfort food to get us through.

In the meantime, however, as cooler temperatures give the pets more energy to explore and get into mischief, there are a few things to be on the lookout for.

Antifreeze: It’s time to get vehicles ready for colder temperatures but it’s also important to dispose of chemicals safely so pets and children aren’t accidentally exposed.

Deadly poisonous, antifreeze has an appealing odor and sweet taste that animals and small children are often attracted to. Never leave open containers within reach and seek medical help immediately if antifreeze ingestion is suspected.

Symptoms of antifreeze poisoning include: Appearing drunk or uncoordinated, sluggishness, nausea and vomiting, seizures, head tremors, increased thirst and urination.

Rodent poisons: With rodents looking for cozy spots to spend the winter, people often use poison to get rid of them.

If you have pets, place poisons out of reach. Eating poisoned rodents can also result in a pet being poisoned, so keep the packaging just in case so a veterinarian will know the best treatment to use.

Symptoms vary with poison types but can include: Appetite loss, tremors, seizures, and impaired movements.

Not for consumption: School is in full swing and the kiddos have pens, pencils, glue and all kinds of goodies — just a few of the things a bored pet stuck indoors might chew on. Even nontoxic items pose choking and impaction risks, so they need to be kept out of reach.

If a pet does eat something they shouldn’t and starts to show signs of trouble, a vet may be needed.

Symptoms of impaction include: Vomiting, loss of fluids, dehydration, weakness, and weight loss.

Changing seasons means changed activities, schedules, moods and energy levels and, for pet people, peak energy levels during the in-betweens can bring unique challenges.

It will only get colder, however, and before long the challenge will be fighting your critter for a spot on the couch.

Sharna Johnson is a writer who is always searching for ponies. You can reach her at:

insearchofponies

@gmail.com