7 Autumn Hazards Every Dog Owner Should Know About

Autumn is a very good time to own a dog.

The temperature finally drops to something sensible. Walks get muddier. The woods smell interesting again. And your dog can charge through a pile of leaves without immediately needing to lie under the nearest tree for half an hour.

Unfortunately, autumn also scatters a surprising number of things across the ground that your dog absolutely should not eat.

Conkers. Acorns. Mushrooms. Berries. Antifreeze. Add darker walks, fireworks and a few seasonal diseases into the mix, and there are more autumn hazards around than you might expect.

That doesn't mean spending the season dragging your canine companion away from every leaf with a panicked expression. Most dogs can enjoy autumn perfectly safely. It just helps to know what deserves your attention.

Here are 7 autumn hazards every dog owner should know about.

1. Autumn hazards under trees: conkers and acorns

September arrives and suddenly every path beneath an oak or horse chestnut tree resembles the floor of a particularly aggressive ball pit.

Unfortunately, conkers and acorns aren't good toys for dogs.

Conkers come from horse chestnut trees and can cause stomach problems if eaten. Their size and shape also mean swallowing one can create a blockage in the digestive system. Acorns from oak trees can cause similar problems, including vomiting, diarrhoea and abdominal pain, while swallowing large amounts or whole acorns can increase the risk of an obstruction.

This is particularly worth knowing if you have one of those curious dogs whose approach to identifying an object is simply to put it in their mouth.

On an autumn walk, keep an eye on the ground beneath oak and horse chestnut trees and avoid letting your dog pick up conkers or acorns. A reliable "leave it" command can make all the difference here.

And no, throwing conkers for your dog because they're approximately ball-shaped doesn't improve them.

Bring an actual ball.

2. Wild mushrooms, red berries and fallen fruit

Autumn is extremely good at putting unidentified food-shaped objects everywhere.

Wild mushrooms begin appearing in damp woodland, gardens and grassy areas. Trees and hedges produce berries. Wind brings down fallen fruit, nuts and pieces of plants.

Your dog has no idea which of these are harmless.

Neither, realistically, do most of us.

There are many types of fungi and plants that can be toxic to dogs, and accurately identifying a mushroom from a quick glance during a wet walk is not a game worth playing. Poisoning can cause symptoms including vomiting, diarrhoea, drooling and abdominal pain, with some poisonous plants capable of causing much more serious illness.

The safest rule is straightforward: if you don't know what it is, don't let your dog eat it.

That applies to mushrooms, red berries, strange plants and anything else growing or rotting on the ground. If something potentially harmful has been eaten, take a photograph or sample where it is safe to do so and contact your vet for advice.

If your dog develops serious symptoms, or you know they have ingested something toxic, contact your vet immediately.

3. Ethylene glycol: the autumn hazard hiding around cars

This one is significantly less amusing.

As temperatures drop, antifreeze starts appearing more frequently around cars, garages and sheds. Many antifreeze products contain ethylene glycol, which is extremely dangerous if swallowed by dogs and can cause severe organ damage, including kidney failure. Even small amounts can be extremely serious.

It can enter puddles through spills or leaks, which creates an obvious problem when your dog's normal assessment process for a puddle is:

Could I drink that?

Don't allow your dog to drink from puddles around parked vehicles, driveways, garages or workshops. Clean up antifreeze spills immediately and store containers somewhere pets and other animals cannot access them.

If you think your dog has ingested antifreeze, don't wait for signs of poisoning to appear. Contact your vet straight away. Treatment is time-sensitive.

This is one of those occasions where "they seem fine" isn't enough reassurance.

4. Shorter days mean darker walks

One day you're finishing work in daylight. About eleven minutes later, Britain has apparently decided that 4:30pm is nighttime.

Shorter days and reduced daylight hours mean many dog owners suddenly find their regular evening walks happening in the dark.

The obvious risk is visibility. Drivers, cyclists and other people may find it harder to see both you and your dog, particularly on poorly lit roads and country lanes.

Reflective clothing for you and a reflective or illuminated collar, harness or lead for your dog can make darker walks considerably safer. A torch or head torch also helps you spot uneven ground, broken glass and the various disgusting things your dog has noticed several seconds before you have. Blue Cross recommends reflective or flashing equipment for dogs and bright or reflective clothing for owners when walking in the dark.

If your dog's recall becomes rather optimistic once the sun goes down, keeping them on a lead may also be sensible.

Darkness is not the ideal time to discover your dog has found a deer.

5. Bonfire Night and other noisy autumn events

From late October onwards, the UK's relationship with fireworks becomes enthusiastic.

For plenty of dogs, considerably too enthusiastic.

Bonfire Night, Halloween parties and other autumn events can bring crowds, flashing lights and unpredictable noises. Fireworks in particular can be frightening for dogs, with common signs of fear including trembling, panting, pacing, hiding, barking and trying to escape.

Where possible, arrange your walk earlier in the day before fireworks are likely to start. At home, close curtains or blinds, provide somewhere comfortable for your dog to hide and use familiar background noise to help soften sudden bangs. Never force a worried dog out of their hiding place.

It's also worth checking that microchip details are up to date in case your pet bolts after being frightened.

If your dog struggles badly with fireworks every year, speak to your vet well before Bonfire Night rather than waiting until somebody two doors down begins recreating the Battle of Waterloo in their garden.

6. Alabama rot, mud and wet autumn walks

Mud is one of autumn's great guarantees.

Your floors may disagree about whether this is a good thing.

There is also a rare disease worth being aware of called Alabama rot, or cutaneous and renal glomerular vasculopathy. It damages blood vessels in the skin and, in severe cases, can affect the kidneys and cause kidney failure. The exact cause remains unknown, although cases in the UK have often been associated with dogs walking in wet, muddy woodland and most have historically occurred between November and May.

That does not mean every muddy walk is dangerous. Alabama rot is rare.

It does mean it's sensible to rinse mud from your dog's legs and paws after particularly filthy woodland walks and check their skin regularly. Signs can include unexplained sores or ulcers, particularly around the feet, legs, nose or tongue, alongside symptoms such as low energy, vomiting or reduced appetite.

If you spot unexplained skin lesions or your dog seems unwell after muddy woodland walks, contact your vet for advice.

7. Ticks haven't necessarily disappeared

Cooler weather doesn't automatically mean every parasite has packed a tiny suitcase and left.

Ticks are more active during warmer periods, but they can still be encountered when conditions remain mild. They're particularly associated with woodland, areas containing wildlife and long grass, where they wait for an animal to brush past. Ticks can also transmit diseases including Lyme disease.

After walks through long vegetation, run your hands over your dog's coat and check areas around the ears, face, neck, legs and paws.

If you find a tick, it needs to be removed correctly rather than simply grabbed and yanked. A proper tick-removal tool is inexpensive and considerably better than improvising with your fingernails.

Your vet can also advise on suitable preventative treatment based on your dog's lifestyle and local risk.

How to keep your dog safe throughout autumn

None of these seasonal hazards should stop you enjoying autumn with your dog.

It is a beautiful time to get outside, particularly once the cooler temperatures make longer walks comfortable again. The goal isn't to remove every possible risk. It's just to notice the handful of things that can cause genuine problems.

Watch what your dog picks up. Keep antifreeze well out of reach. Use reflective equipment when it's dark. Prepare ahead of fireworks season. Check paws and coats after muddy or grassy walks. And if your dog has eaten something potentially toxic or starts showing concerning symptoms such as repeated vomiting, diarrhoea, lethargy or abdominal pain, get veterinary advice rather than waiting to see what happens.

Most importantly, let your dog enjoy the season.

There are leaves to chase, cooler temperatures to enjoy, enormous sticks to carry sideways along narrow paths and approximately eight thousand new smells that apparently need investigating before you can go home.

A little awareness of the hidden hazards is usually all it takes to help you both enjoy the season safely.