The rain might be putting a damper on your pet's time outside, but once the sunshine comes back, your dogs and cats will probably be pawing at the door.

Before you let them out, a local veterinarian says there are lots of things to watch for.

She says always check your pet for ticks, and make sure their collars are secure with legible tags.

It's also a good idea to look around your garage for anything that could be poisonous for pets.

"Antifreeze is a big one for dogs and cats," says Dr. Kris Hoffman of Metro Animal Hospital. "Antifreeze is deadly, toxic to dogs and cats, and they actually seek it out. It's sweet, they like it."

And if your pets go outside, you need to make sure they're protected from heartworm, which is spread by mosquitoes.

Dr. Hoffman says most pet owners know dogs should get heartworm medication. But cats are at risk for the disease too.

If you use cocoa bean mulch in some of your landscaping, make sure your pets aren't sniffing around there too much. If they eat enough of it, it could be as toxic as if they're eating chocolate.