Spring Pet Wellness & Safety Guide

How Pet Parents Can Prevent Seasonal Risks and Keep Pets Healthy 

As spring returns to Indy, pets are eager to stretch their legs, sniff fresh air, and enjoy longer days outdoors. While the season brings opportunities to explore outdoors, it also introduces a variety of hazards. 

Spring is the ideal time to refresh your pet’s safety and prevention routine, starting with the outdoor risks hiding right in your own backyard and neighborhood. 

Outdoor Hazards: What to Watch for This Spring 

More sunlight and warmer temperatures mean more time outside but also brings an increase in environmental hazards that can affect your pet’s comfort and health. 

Toxic Spring Plants 

Some of Central Indiana’s most common landscaping plants look beautiful but can be harmful if chewed. These include: 

• Tulips 
• Daffodils 
• Sago palms 
• Azaleas 
• Rhododendrons 
• Lily of the valley 
• Hostas 
• Certain lilies (dangerous to cats, even in small amounts) 

If you’re unsure about a plant in your yard or on a walking route, checkout ASPCA’s Toxic and Non-Toxic Plants Database. 

Seasonal Allergies 

Just like people, pets can struggle with uncomfortable allergy symptoms that affect their daily happiness and wellbeing. If your pet seems uncomfortable, our veterinarian can recommend allergy treatments or at-home care to keep symptoms under control. Signs of allergies in your pet: 

• Itchy skin 
• Paw licking 
• Ear irritation 
• Red or inflamed skin 
• Watery eyes 

Lawn & Garden Irritants 

Spring yardwork often introduces substances that can irritate paws or cause stomach upset. Wiping your pet’s paws after walks and limiting exposure immediately after lawn applications can help minimize irritation. Watch out for: 

• Fertilizers 
• Mulch 
• Weed and lawn treatments 
• Insecticides 

Fleas & Ticks: Growing Threats in Indianapolis 

Fleas and ticks are active year-round, but their presence increases in the spring as temperatures rise and our outdoor activity picks up. 

• Fleas: Fleas thrive once temperatures warm up, and infestations can develop quickly indoors. They cause itching, skin irritation, and can transmit tapeworms. 
• Ticks: Ticks are active in wooded areas, parks, and backyards across Indianapolis. They can carry diseases such as Lyme disease and ehrlichiosis. Prevention and routine checks are especially important during spring and summer. 

Your Flea & Tick Care Checklist 

• Keep your pet on a veterinarian-recommended preventative all year. 
• Check for ticks after time outdoors—especially around ears, under legs, along the neck, and between toes. 
• Maintain grass, remove brush, and reduce leaf litter where ticks hide. 

Heartworms: A Serious but Preventable Risk 

Heartworm disease is transmitted by mosquitoes, which become active as soon as temperatures rise above 50°F. Heartworms affect the heart, lungs, and blood vessels and can cause life-threatening illness if untreated. 

Heartworm Protection Essentials 

• Give prevention consistently year-round. 
• Consider long-lasting options like once-yearly injections for your dog. 
• Have your dog tested annually. 

If a dose is missed, schedule a heartworm test before restarting medication to help avoid dangerous complications. 

Spring Prevention Checklist 

• Keep your pet on year-round parasite prevention  
• Schedule a wellness exam if your pet is due 
• Take a quick look at your yard and walking paths to ensure outdoor spaces are safe 
• Refresh your pet’s routine for the season (grooming, brushing, paw checks) 

With consistent prevention and seasonal awareness, your pet can enjoy a healthy, comfortable spring.