The weather is warming up, and it's time to start getting excited about all the things that come along with it: flowers blooming, birds chirping, the sun shining, and even the return of your favorite TV shows.

But if you're like us, you've probably also been thinking about how to make sure your dog is ready for springtime fun.

Here are our top 4 tips to get your pup ready for the upcoming months:

#1 GET READY FOR MORE SHEDDING

Pets lose a lot of hair as they shed their winter coats, but that doesn't mean you have to be covered in it too! A good brushing will help remove any excess fur before it gets stuck in your carpet or furniture.

To best loosen the hair before brushing - bathe your pet first and really scrub them with your hands against the hair growth. Once dry, give them a good brushing, and you will be amazed at how much hair comes off!

Remember: shampoos used on humans can actually harm pets (they have sensitivities we don't), so make sure to use a natural dog shampoo, like Balancing eucalyptus shampoo.

#2 KEEPING ENVIRONMENTAL ALLERGIES IN CHECK

Like humans, the changing seasons can set allergies off for dogs. If your dog's eyes are watering, he starts coughing or sneezing, or has clear discharge coming from their nose - it's likely he is experiencing inflammatory-based allergy symptoms. Here are some tips that can help:

• Ensure your dog's nutrition includes Omega-3 Fatty Acids like salmon trout, mackerel, sardines, anchovies etc. They are incredibly beneficial for overall health and can help decrease inflammation in your pet's body.

• MCT oil is another natural additive that can ease symptoms of allergies. It helps decrease the production of yeast and, in turn, stops or reduces inflammation.

• Bathing also helps by removing airborne allergens that may have attached themselves to your pet.

• To boost the immune system and protect the body from an attack of allergens - add herbs like nettles, dandelions, and parsley to your diet. Or better yet - our Skin & Fur supplement.

• Astragalus helps boost the immune system and relieve allergy symptoms. To give it to your dog, use powder or capsules, and give 100 mg per 5 kg of your dog’s weight per day. You can also use a tincture and drop some right into your dog’s food

#3 PREPARING FOR FLEA & TICK PREVENTION

Fleas, ticks, biting flies, mosquitos… they're all making their way back into our lives, and with them comes annoyance and illness for both humans and pets. Here are some safe, natural ways to prevent fleas and ticks on your dog:

• Essential oils can often be a lifesaver. Just mix 3 to 6 drops of an essential oil, like eucalyptus, lavender, lemon, grapefruit with an ounce of carrier oil and voila! You've got a natural flea spray that's super effective.
  
• When choosing natural sprays from a store — don’t forget to look at the ingredients, because some say they’re natural when they’re really not.… Natural sprays should contain as few ingredients as possible.
• You can also easily make your own natural flea and tick collar. Add a few drops of diluted essential oils to a fabric collar that your dog will wear. But remember: this is only for outings — take the collar off when your dogs are indoors so he’s not breathing in oils 24/7!

#4 RESPONSIBLE SPRING CLEANING

Replace your chemical cleaning products with more natural options. This protects your dog from the harmful ingredients in cleaning products and avoids allergies to those toxins. Also, when you vacuum, let your dog hang out in a different room. Vacuuming can stir up dust and cause allergies to spike.

Remember that your dog will be feeling all sorts of new things this season, and you'll want to make sure they are prepared for the change. The best way to do that is by following these tips and providing a healthy RAW diet throughout the year so that when spring comes around, your pup can feel better than ever before.