*Updated: March 17, 2023
Your is just as anxious for as you are for it to arrive. It’s a time for more outdoor activities and explorations with our furry friends. Have you prepared your for the change to the ? As you tackle your tasks, there are a few simple things you can do to help your make this seasonal transition. Today let’s dig into how to prepare your dog for spring and on a budget.
Budget Tip: There are many things you can do with your dog in springtime. Preparation is key. The payoff of better dog health is always worth it in the end. Don't forget it's a good idea as a pet parent to prepare ahead by budgeting for your dog's needs. That's a major win-win!
1. Vet checkup
If it’s time for your ‘s checkup, make sure you schedule it now. Many veterinarians are booked several weeks or months out. To maintain your ‘s health, it’s a great idea to have your vet check your pup out at least twice a year.
NOTE: My , Henry gets a check-up in May (his rescue birthday) and November (before the holiday season starts). Most of the time, he’ll do something that will necessitate a pop-in visit to the vet between those times as well. It’s a good idea to make check ups associated with special days like rescue birthdays.
2. and prevention
is when you should think about and care. These are most active during the and summer months. The nice thing is that most of these preventative care supplements are monthly doses, much like Heartgard for preventing is administered monthly. It’s definitely something you’ll want to discuss with your vet.
3. Watch for
As you may have that arise during the , your can do the same. Some symptoms you will want to watch for are:
- runny eyes
- itching
- sneezing
- coughing
- red spots on the skin
I bet that list sounds familiar, right? It certainly does to me as I sniffle and write this article. If your ‘s appear to be getting worse, please consult your vet for advice. Henry tends to suffer from on and off throughout the year, but they are much worse in the and fall.
4. Review chip and tag data
I know this is something most of us do once and don’t think about again. But as good , we really need to review our ‘s chip data at least once a year to make sure the vet, phone number, backup person, address, , and all other pertinent information is correct. It’s something that can easily slip through the cracks.
Additionally, make sure that the information on your ‘s ID tags is still correct and legible. Some tags become worn overtime and simple are not easy to read. Or we change phone numbers or move and don’t think about our dog’s tags.
5. of your
Yep, springtime is also the time. That means lots of brushing your . As you brush your dog make sure you carefully inspect your ‘s skin for any lumps, bumps, or other ailments. If you find anything suspicious, review it with your vet.
I generally get Henry groomed with his short summer cut in . If you take your to a groomer, your dog might be getting close to a summer cut.
6. Inspect toys, bedding, clothes, and other accessories
In your springtime cleanup, review all your ‘s toys, bedding, clothing, kennels, and other items. If there is damage and you can reasonably repair it without harming your , then that’s a great option. Otherwise, discard the torn or broken items, which is generally the best choice. However, if all you need to do is put a new screw in your ‘s kennel, then that’s an easy fix and certainly doesn’t warrant tossing.
7. Clean bedding, toys, collars, clothing, brushes, and accessories
After you’ve inspected all of your ‘s items, then thoroughly clean them. Some pieces will be able to go into your washing machine on the gentle cycle. These items will most likely be bedding along with some clothing and toys. Other objects you may need to hand wash, which can even be done in a sink or outside with a hose. I like to always use at least a 1/4 cup of distilled vinegar when I wash Henry’s accessories and a no-scent detergent. However, Dawn blue dish soap will work in a pinch.
8. Pack away winter clothes for the
Now, that you’ve washed everything, go ahead and pack away in a closet, drawer, or some other place of convenience any sweaters or coats your won’t need for the . When you pull them out they will be clean. To keep them smelling fresh, you can put them into a zip bag or storage clothing zip bag with a sachet of baking soda. Simply place 1/2 cup of baking soda into a 6″x6″ cloth, tie it up, and place it into the bag. Voilà!
9. Evaluate your yard for any winter damage
Over the your yard may have been covered with , leaves, or other debris. As it is uncovered, carefully evaluate your fence, paint, trees, and other landscape that may have been damaged in the winter. Repair it as needed for your and you to enjoy.
10. Inspect the inside and outside of your home for any winter damages
Again, you’re looking for chipped paint, exposed nails, mold, pulled boards, or other issues that may have occurred over the and could hurt your or you. Repair each item while you are in mode.
11. Correct bad behaviors that have popped up over the winter
While it was cold and us parents hunkered down inside, our pups may have developed a few bad behaviors. If this is the case, then consider enrolling in a training class. It will refocus your , get you among other like-minded dog lovers, and kick off your on the right paw, so to speak. If your is high-energy, or you want to try something new, you can even look into classes. It will keep your ‘s mind active while bonding you and your in a new activity. There are many trainers available, some will even come to your home.
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Summary of easy steps to prepare your for
You may have never thought about prepping your for . But just like most things in life, a successful outcome happens with a little prep work. While most of the prep doesn’t take much time or effort and can be done with your regular springtime clean-up, some will take a bit of scheduling. This includes such things as making an appointment to see your vet. Knowing your is springtime ready and you don’t need to worry, is cause to rejoice and hit the trails for the first spring hike.
I don’t have a dog however these are great tips to share with my dog Mom friends. It’s funny how some of these tips I actually use for myself! (ie: pack away winter items) Springtime is a great time for a refresh and a reboot! That baking soda trick is a good idea too.
You’re absolutely right. Spring prep for our pets and ourselves do have a lot of similarities. I like the baking soda trick as well. That’s a great one to remember and easy too! Thank you for the continued support! 😊💖
These are all great ideas! I never would have thought about putting a sachet of baking soda in with a bag of winter items. That’s really smart! Many of these things are the same with kitties. You need to clean thing up again after a long harsh winter and make sure that your pets are healthy and safe. It will be nice to have the warmer weather back again!
Yes, you are absolutely right. It’s very nice to have warmer weather back after a long winter. A nice spring clean-up for our pets is a good idea. That baking soda idea is a winner! You’ll definitely like it. It’s simple and easy.
Give your kitties a pet for Henry and me. Henry would LOVE his own kitty. Maybe one day. 😉🐶💖
I always remember there are so many health things you need to do for a dog in summer (at BlogPaws in Arizona people walked their dogs at 5 a.m.!!!) so finding out there is a spring list too is so useful!!!
Our cats and us have packing away the summer stuff (its back to front here!) and getting the duvet out and tidying the garden is in full swing!
Oh yes, you are very right Marjorie. There are many things to do for cats as well with the changing seasons. That’s a great idea to change the duvet covers. I remember changing and doing a deep defuzz cleaning with my kitties. Since Henry doesn’t shed much I don’t have to worry about that so much. However, I still clean all his things and change them out. It feels new and fresh. I think he feels like he then has to work to get everything the way he wants it though.
Thanks for the continued support. 😊💖🐶
I know we’re certainly excited for spring at our house! We are currently fully entrenched in “mud season”, an interesting “season” in between winter and spring that fellow new Englanders will be all too familiar with. It makes all the spring-cleaning related stuff particularly challenging, but after months and months of cold and snow, most people here will happily deal with the mud. It means things are finally starting to warm up!
Oh yes, mud season! I forget about that season since I live in the high desert and we’re in a major drought. A few drops of rain and we relish in it. That can be a challenging season though. I like to have a super absorbent rug at the door (well when the plants are getting water or there’s water outside) and a towel by the door for wiping those wet and muddy paws. You probably already know these tricks. But if not, maybe they will help you with the transition season of mud to spring. 😉
Thanks for reminding me of mud season. Good luck! 🐶💖
Thanks for sharing these tips to help our dogs stay safe and comfortable as we transition to warmer weather. Our Maltese needs a bath about every 6 weeks, so I wash all the dog beds on bath day. One of our dogs has a winter bed and a summer bed, so I’ll try the baking soda sachet when I put away her winter bed.
I’ve never thought of a winter and summer bed for Henry. I’ll have to give that one thought. I generally just put out all of Henry’s beds and wash them during bathing and/or grooming time. Hmmm….
I’m glad I could provide you with a new one with the baking soda sachet. Good luck with your spring cleaning! 😊💖🐶
Great tips and I have stocked up on flea meds for Madam. Layla with age does not do dog parks anymore as she is afraid of them but I do walk her through parks or go on adventures so I make sure she is ready for the spring. She gets groomed in spring and then again about 6 months later and I bathe her once a month. We are all ready for spring and some warmth here.
I’m glad to hear Layla is ready for spring. I’m certain she’s excited for some new sniffs and show you some new adventures.
Henry and I are definitely ready for warmer weather too. Enjoy your spring adventures with Madam Layla. 😉💖🐶
Wow, and there I thought me and my dog were more than ready for spring. Well, we definitely are. And we’ve done some of the things on the list 🙂
I’m glad I could give you a few ideas to help transition your dog to the warmer weather. I know some of these tips are a bit surprising even for the seasoned dog parent. Enjoy your dog’s spring prep season. 😊💖🐶
What a great checklist of things to do as you Spring forward with your dog! I really like the idea of packing away winter items with some baking soda – great way to keep them smelling fresh. We need to find a new Vet now, we had a major negative setback with the one we were using.
Oh no! A new vet is always a traumatic event. I’m so sorry to hear you had a major negative setback. I’m sending you lots of positive thoughts and huge hugs that the new vet will be better and more amazing than you can even imagine. In the meantime, I hope you and your pups can do something to enjoy the Spring. 😊💖🐶