Autumn Hazards: What can harm your dog?

I love Autumn, it’s my favourite time of the year! Getting warm & cosy in front of the fire after walking in a colourful forest of crispy leaves on a cold morning. Drinking hot chocolate, wrapped in a blanket, dog on lap, watching film upon film… it’s just calming bliss.

However, there is some things that we need to be wary of in the autumn when it comes to our pups. Keep an eye out while you are on woodland walks for:

Conkers & Acorns

You should be careful that your dog does not choke or ingest conkers or acorns as they could suffocate, they can get blocked in the stomach and they are also toxic.

Plants

Yew tree, cherry laurel, horse chestnut and autumn crocus bulbs can be toxic. If chewed on and ingested, these can cause dizziness, vomiting, internal bleeding and organ damage.

Decaying fruit & Mushrooms

Decaying apples can contain alcohol when rotten, so they can lead to alcohol poisoning. Care should be taken around mushrooms as some can cause mild gastrointestinal issues to seizures, tremors, hallucinations, organ failure to death.

Toxic human foods

With autumn comes Halloween, this means lots of chocolates & sweets. Chocolate contains theobromine which is toxic to dogs & sugar free goodies may contain xylitol which is also toxic. Apple pips also contain cyanide which is also poisonous. Onions, garlic & chives are also toxic. Raisins, grapes and currants are also toxic.

Antifreeze & rock salt

'Antifreeze can contain ethylene glycol which can cause renal failure in pets. Initial signs of ethylene glycol poisoning are non-specific (e.g., vomiting and lethargy) and can be easily missed.' - Veterinary Poisons Information Service. Antifreeze & de-icers are filled with lots of poisonous chemicals which can smell and taste sweet to dogs, however they are really harmful to your dog. Rock salt can lead to sodium poisoning as well, if eaten in large amounts.

The Dark

As winter drawers nearer, the days get shorter, this tends to mean more traffic accidents as it is harder for drivers to see pups on the road. Consider investing in reflective gear for you and your dog to improve your chances of being seen by drivers.

Important info

If your dog ingests any items mentioned above, it is important to try to figure out what has been eaten, how much and that your dog is taken to the vet immediately. You can also call the poison hotline on: 01202 509000 and you can visit this website: Homepage » Animal PoisonLine.