Fall Is Coming Is Your Pet Health Cabinet Ready?
As summer winds down and routines shift with back-to-school season, it's the perfect time to do a full pet health audit. Parasites are still active, flea and tick season isn't over, and fall is one of the best times to deworm livestock and horses before winter. Here's a complete checklist to make sure every animal on your property is covered heading into fall.
🐶 Dogs & Cats
Flea & Tick Prevention
- Restock your flea and tick prevention — don't let it lapse just because summer is ending. Ticks remain active until temperatures consistently drop below 35°F.
- Check your dog and cat for ticks after every outdoor outing, especially in wooded or grassy areas.
- If you've had a flea problem this summer, treat your home environment (carpets, furniture, bedding) before fall to break the life cycle indoors.
Deworming
- Fall is a great time for a fecal exam to check for intestinal parasites, especially if your dog spends time outdoors or around wildlife.
- Restock Safe-Guard 4 or your preferred canine dewormer so you have it on hand when needed.
Ear Health
- Dogs that swam all summer are at higher risk for ear infections in fall. Check ears for redness, odor, or discharge and clean with a vet-recommended ear cleaner.
- If your dog has been shaking their head or scratching their ears, schedule a vet visit before the problem worsens.
Skin & Coat
- As the weather cools and indoor heating kicks in, dry skin becomes more common. Add omega-3 fatty acids (fish oil) to your dog's diet to support skin and coat health through winter.
- Brush regularly to remove dead coat and check for any lumps, bumps, or skin changes.
General Wellness
- Schedule annual wellness exams if you haven't already — fall is a great time before the holiday rush.
- Make sure vaccinations are up to date, especially for dogs that visit dog parks, boarding facilities, or groomers.
- Restock any prescription medications your pet takes regularly so you're not caught short over the holidays.
🐔 Backyard Chickens & Poultry
Deworming
- Fall is one of the two best times of year to deworm your flock (spring and fall). Use Safe-Guard AquaSol for FDA-approved, easy water-based treatment with only a 5-day egg withdrawal.
- If you haven't done a fecal float test this year, fall is a great time to check your flock's parasite burden before winter.
Respiratory Health
- As temperatures drop and birds spend more time in the coop, respiratory disease risk increases. Ensure good ventilation without drafts.
- Watch for sneezing, nasal discharge, or rattling breathing — early signs of mycoplasmosis or other respiratory infections.
- Restock antibiotics like tylosin or doxycycline so you're prepared if illness strikes.
Coop Preparation
- Deep clean and disinfect the coop before cold weather sets in — this reduces pathogen load heading into winter.
- Check for and seal any gaps that could let in drafts, predators, or rodents.
- Stock up on bedding material for the colder months.
🐴 Horses
Fall Deworming (Critical)
- Fall is the most important deworming time of year for horses. Use moxidectin or a 5-day fenbendazole course to target encysted small strongyle larvae before winter.
- Add praziquantel (or use an ivermectin + praziquantel combination) to cover tapeworms.
- After bot fly season ends, treat with ivermectin or moxidectin to eliminate bot larvae.
Fly Control Wind-Down
- Continue fly spray and fly mask use until temperatures consistently drop below 50°F.
- Clean up manure piles and remove fly traps before winter to reduce overwintering fly populations next year.
General Health
- Schedule fall dental exams and floating if needed.
- Check body condition score — horses should enter winter at a BCS of 5–6 to maintain warmth through cold months.
- Ensure vaccinations (flu, rhino, West Nile, rabies) are current before fall.
🐐 Goats, Sheep & Livestock
Deworming
- Use FAMACHA scoring to identify which animals need deworming rather than treating the whole herd.
- Fall is a good time for a fecal egg count to assess parasite burden before winter.
- Restock ivermectin, fenbendazole, or levamisole based on your herd's resistance patterns.
Vaccination
- Administer CDT boosters to all small ruminants in fall if not done in spring.
- Vaccinate pregnant does/ewes 4–6 weeks before kidding/lambing for passive immunity transfer to offspring.
Nutrition & Body Condition
- Assess body condition scores across your herd and adjust feed accordingly before cold weather increases energy demands.
- Ensure adequate mineral supplementation, especially copper and selenium, heading into winter.
Your Fall Pet Health Shopping List
Here's a quick summary of what to restock before fall:
- ✅ Flea & tick prevention (dogs and cats)
- ✅ Safe-Guard AquaSol (chickens)
- ✅ Moxidectin + praziquantel (horses)
- ✅ Ivermectin or fenbendazole (livestock)
- ✅ Ear cleaner (dogs)
- ✅ Omega-3 supplements (dogs and cats)
- ✅ Poultry antibiotics (respiratory backup)
- ✅ CDT vaccine (small ruminants)
Shop Fall Pet Health Essentials at Paw and Tail Supply
We carry everything on this list — from flea prevention and dewormers to poultry antibiotics and livestock health supplies. Stock up now with fast shipping so you're ready for whatever fall brings.
