by Lauren Means
Autumn Safety for Your Four-Legged Friends
As we begin to venture out on hikes and adventures with our pets, here are two things to avoid to make those trips safe for everyone.
Mushrooms
Fall is one of the blooming seasons for mushrooms. While, according to the ASPCA, 99% of mushrooms have little or no toxicity, the 1% that are highly toxic can cause life-threatening problems in pets. From upset stomachs to kidney failure, to death, the consequences of consuming a toxic mushroom are wide-reaching.
The easiest way to prevent this is to do your best to avoid your pet ingesting any mushrooms. If you witness your pet eating something poisonous or suspect they have, contact your vet immediately or the ASPCA Animal Poison Control Center at (888) 426-4435.
Snakes
Whether you love them, hate them, or tolerate their existence for the greater good, as the weather is cooling down snakes are preparing for hibernation. Be mindful of where you are walking and study up on snakes native to your area. There are many snakes that call Tennessee home, but only four that are poisonous: northern copperhead, western cottonmouth (aka water moccasin), timber rattlesnake, and western pigmy rattlesnake. You can distinguish the venomous from the non- venomous species by their triangular heads and vertical pupils.
Best practices to reduce the likelihood of a snake bite include using a shorter leash on walks, not allowing your dog to explore areas where you cannot see everything clearly, stay on open paths where snakes would be visible, and keep nighttime walks to a minimum. If your dog does end up with a bite, call your vet immediately.
Fall Events Perfect for Pets!
Nashville Humane Association’s Dog Day 2019
Centennial Park, Nashville
September 14 from 10am – 4pm
Nashville’s longest-running dog festival is a celebration of everything pup and all proceeds go to benefit the Nashville Humane Association.
Rockin’ 4 Rescues
Copper Ridge Event Venue, Murfreesboro
September 26 starting at 6pm
This year’s fundraising event will benefit six area rescues: Operation Education, Rutherford County Cat Rescue, Rags to Riches, Halo’s Second Chance, Rural Animal Rescue Effort and Middle Tennessee Treasures.
Pawpalooza Pet Festival
Gallatin Parks & Recreation, Gallatin
September 28 from 10am – 2pm
Sumner County’s only festival dedicated to pets and their human friends. Again we will celebrate the furry friends with food, vendors, contests and live music FREE!
A DOGgone Good OLD Time
Charlie Daniels Park, Mt. Juliet
October 19 from 10am – 3pm
Hosted by Old Friends Senior Dog Sanctuary. A day in the Park with Crafts, Music, and Dogs.
Halloween Pooch Parade
Cheekwood, Nashville
October 26 from 9am – 4pm
Costumed canines and their owners are invited to parade around the gardens for a fun morning stroll, costume contest, and even a popsicle eating contest for a cool treat for all the pups out there.
Pet Treats You Can Make at Home
Pumpkin Oatmeal Dog Treats
- 1 cup pumpkin puree
- 1/4 cup peanut butter
- 2 1/2 cups rolled oats
- 1/4 cup water
- Add pumpkin, peanut butter, oats, and water to a large bowl and stir to combine.
- Form mixture into 1-inch balls and roll each ball through additional oats.
- Place treats onto a baking sheet and refrigerate until firm, about an hour.
Pumpkin Cat Treats
- 5 ounce can tuna in water
- 2 tbsp pumpkin puree, canned pure 1/4 cup our
- 1 teaspoon dried catnip (if desired)
- Preheat the oven to 350 ̊ F.
- In a bowl, mix all the ingredients until a dough forms.
- Pinch off bite-size pieces of dough and place on lightly greased cookie sheets.
- Bake about 20 minutes, until crisp.
- Refrigerate in an airtight container until ready to use.
