Goodbye Summer. Hello Autumn: How to enjoy autumnal dog walks safely

October 4, 2023

As the leaves begin to change colour and the air turns crisp, autumn beckons us back outdoors to enjoy the beauty of this season. And what better way to enjoy the autumn offerings than with your four-legged friend?

It’s a favourite amongst many dog owners to take their furry friends on long, leisurely walks during the season of pumpkin spice. However, amidst the seasonal beauty, there are potential dangers lurking for your beloved pets. In this blog, we’ll explore the autumnal hazards to be mindful of while walking your dog – read on for our tips to ensure your dog stays safe this autumn.

Darker Evenings

With autumn comes shorter days making evening walks a common occurrence. To ensure your dog’s safety during these darker outings, consider the following precautions to be more visible.

Reflective Gear: Equip your dog with reflective collars or harnesses, leads and even vests. These accessories enhance visibility, reducing the risk of accidents during low-light conditions.

Torches and Lights: Carrying a torch can illuminate your path and make you more visible to others during evening walks. You can even invest in a light up collar or small flashing LED lamp to attach to your dog’s collar or lead to make them more visible too.

Well-lit Routes: Choose well-lit walking routes, such as those with streetlights, to enhance visibility for both you and your dog.

Toxicities

Autumn introduces various toxic substances that your dog might encounter, indoors and outdoors. Be cautious of the following common toxicities:

Mushrooms & Fungi: What did one mushroom say to the other mushroom? You’re a fun-guy! But they’re not necessarily fun for your dog! Fungi and wild mushrooms often appear in autumn, some of which can be toxic to dogs. Keep a vigilant eye and prevent your dog from ingesting any mushrooms found during walks.

Antifreeze: As temperatures drop, antifreeze is commonly used in vehicles. This substance is highly toxic to dogs, so keep your pet away from any spills or puddles of antifreeze and keep any bottles well away from your furry friend.

Plants and Bulbs: Some autumn plants, like chrysanthemums and certain lilies, can be toxic to dogs. Ensure your dog avoids nibbling on these plants during walks. Also, if you’re planting any garden bulbs ready for spring, keep these out of reach of your pooch.

Acorns & Conkers: Both acorns and conkers are poisonous to dogs when chewed and ingested, also potentially leading to blockages in their digestive tract or choking hazards. Staying cautious during walks or keeping your dog on lead in areas abundant with these hazards is crucial to prevent your pet consuming them.

Fallen Leaves: We all love the colours of the autumn leaves, but did you know that piles of fallen leaves and fruit can decompose and produce harmful moulds and bacteria? If your dog ingests these it can lead to digestive upsets and make dogs very unwell.

Slugs & Snails

In autumn there are lots of slugs and snails on the move outdoors which can pose potential dangers to dogs. These creatures can carry a parasitic lungworm that can travel around your dog’s body through their blood vessels and affect the heart and lungs as well as other parts of the body. If a dog ingests an infected slug or snail, or even the slime trail they leave behind on toys and bowls in the garden, it can lead to a serious health issue.

Symptoms may include coughing, breathing difficulties, lethargy, and in severe cases, even abnormal bleeding and neurological problems. To protect your furry friend, it’s essential to talk to your vet / speak to us about regular lungworm prevention and discourage your dog from eating or playing with slugs and snails.

Halloween hazards

Whilst many of us enjoy the spooky fun-filled time of Halloween, we may come across some lesser-known hazards whilst walking your dog. From not-so-safe tempting treats to unwanted visitors, dogs face a variety of hazards during Halloween. Here are some tips how you can enjoy the festivities, whilst keeping your pet safe on a walk:

Costumes: you may want to bring your dog trick-or-treating with you, and while dressing up your dog can be fun, some dogs prefer not to dress up. If your dog is happy to wear a costume, ensure it is comfortable and safe. Do not force your pet to wear something if they don’t want to, and be careful around exposed pumpkin candle flames.

Trick-or-Treaters: Whilst on a walk, you may come across ghostly and ghoulie beings. Whilst this may be amusing for us, it can appear strange or frightening to many dogs. Consider walking them in a quiet space before peak trick-or-treating hours. In addition to this, frequent doorbell ringing and knocking can stress your dog. You can always place a “help yourself” bowl of trick-or-treat sweets to discourage people from knocking.

Chocolate, Sweets & Wrappers: Chocolate contains a chemical called theobromine, which can be toxic to dogs, and certain sweets contain xylitol, which is very poisonous to them. Be sure to keep all sweets out of paws reach and be extra vigilant whilst walking in case any remnants, such as lollipop sticks or wrappers, are scavenged on your dog walk. Bonfire night

Bonfire night is another autumn event that can be stressful for dogs due to loud fireworks. Research from the PDSA Animal Wellbeing (PAW) Report¹ showed that 41% of dog owners state their dog is afraid of fireworks – an estimated 4.1 million dogs in the UK. In the run up to Bonfire night celebrations, follow these tips to keep your dog safe:

Daylight Walks: Walk your pooch before it gets dark to avoid any sudden and unexpected bangs, whizz or whistles.

Identification: Ensure to keep your dog’s microchip details up to date as well as any pet tag identification, in case your pet suddenly becomes startled and attempts to escape. This will give you a better chance of being reunited if they run away.

Stay Indoors: Sometimes it may be better to stay indoors than to venture out especially around bonfire night. By closing your curtains, playing some background music and making a den, you can help your pet feel more calmer during fireworks. If you are worried your dog may be bored, you can try and distract them with something fun. Use treat-filled toys or puzzle games to distract your pet from the bangs and crackles outside.

Speak to us: If your dog has severe anxiety during fireworks, speak to us for advice on calming medications which may make the firework season more bearable for your dog.

Creating safe dens for dogs

Help your dog feel secure during stressful events like Halloween and Bonfire night by building them a den so they can familiarise themselves with a new safe space, consider these den-building tips:

Choose a quiet familiar space: pick a room or area where you know your dog goes when they are worried, where your dog can retreat to in peace, such as behind a sofa, under a table or a big safe empty cupboard.

Secure, dark and enclosed: use blankets and/or old towels draped over to make it as enclosed as possible.

Comfort and familiarity: place their favourite toys, blankets, or bed in the den to provide comfort and familiarity.

Don’t force it: Sometimes your pet may choose not to use the den, but don’t be disheartened. Give your dog access to it at all times but never force or shut them into it.

In conclusion, autumn offers a picturesque backdrop for dog walks, but it also brings potential hazards, from darker evenings and toxic substances to Halloween festivities and bonfire night. By taking these precautions and creating a safe den for your furry friend, you can ensure their well-being during this beautiful season.

REFERENCES:

1. PDSA ANIMAL WELLBEING (PAW) REPORT 2018.
   https://www.pdsa.org.uk/media/4371/paw-2018-full-web-ready.pdf