By Katherine Moseley

Soon the Skagway valley will be blanketed with vibrant fall foliage.  After a busy summer season, the arrival of fall is a time that I celebrate.

Here are a few Fall tips for you and your pets:

1. As we start to lose daylight, a reminder that reflective tape, head lamps and light up gear is vital for safety for you and your pets. Make sure your light up gear has a fresh charge and or new batteries.  To receive free reflective tape, go to this website and fill out the form: https://safealaskans.org/reflectivetape/

2. The weather fluctuations can exacerbate joint pain in pets with osteoarthritis.  It is never too soon to start your pets on joint supplements.  If your pet is experiencing pain or discomfort, please contact your veterinarian to find out about pain management options.

3. If your dog likes rolling in decomposing salmon, aka dog perfume, try this recipe to help combat the stench: 1 quart of hydrogen peroxide, 1/4 cup baking soda, 1 teaspoon of mild dish soap (Dawn is what we use), and a little lemon juice for deodorizing.   Leave the mixture on for about 5 minutes.  Rinse thoroughly. You can follow up with regular shampoo if needed.  Always do a spot test to make sure it doesn’t irritate their skin or discolor the coat.

4. Be bear aware.  Bears are especially active in the fall as they try to increase their caloric intake to prepare for winter.  Secure your trash.  Make noise when hiking.  You can put a bear bell on your dog to alert wildlife of your presence and to help keep track of your dogs.  Dogs that are noise sensitive may not do well with a bear bell so take this into consideration before using one.

5. I am all for off-leash freedom for dogs but the best way to avoid fish rolling or porcupine encounters is to leash up.  Fall can be a good time to practice your leash skills and keep your dog’s safe.  If your dog gets quilled from a porcupine, I recommend taking them to a veterinarian so they can be properly sedated.  It is more humane and the best way to make sure you don’t miss any quills.  If weather or other reasons prevent you from taking your dog to a veterinarian, you can use needle nose pliers and grab each quill as close to the skin as possible and swiftly pull them straight out.  Do not cut the quill tips, this is outdated info and can cause the quills to splinter.

As the summer season comes to an end, I hope you get to spend more time outside with your pets enjoying the magic and quiet that Fall brings us.  Stay safe, happy, and healthy.