Seven Autumnal Hazards To Your Dog And How To Keep Them Safe

7 Autumnal Hazards To Your Dog And How To Keep Them Safe.....

Autumn is definitely my favourite time of year, getting out your best comfy jumpers, crinkly footsteps in the fallen leaves and the last few delicious, warm sunny days the year has to offer. As dog walkers we get to witness all these wonderful changes, we also make sure we have an up to date knowledge of any new seasonal challenges we may face and how we can keep our PAWS family members safe and well on their adventures! 

In no particular order, here are 7 Autumn hazards we wanted to share to help you keep your doggy safe too.

Conkers and Acorns
One of the first signs of autumn are the squirrels hastily collecting these fallen treats, more than a few of our PAWS family members go crazy for chasing these hard working squirrels. Many foraging dogs also find the acorns and conkers pretty tempting too. However they can cause more than just minor stomach upsets. If eaten whole they pose a choking hazard, can cause intestinal blockages and in the worst case scenario they can be toxic enough to cause fatal poisoning.

What can I do?
Keep an extra eye on your dog in wooded areas, you can also encourage and reward your dog for resisting the temptation to pick these up. Try using some fun games or challenges to bring their focus back to you and away from the temptation, dog parkour is a firm favourite for us to use.
If you have an avid scavenger, you can help them to stay out of trouble by avoiding heavily wooded areas for the season or consider investing in a basket muzzle to prevent them from picking up anything on walks. (Make sure to properly research the correct fit for any muzzle you purchase for your pup to ensure safety and comfort).

Fleas and Parasites
It's a myth that fleas and ticks are just a seasonal problem, although it may be getting colder outside, as we turn on our central heating we can encourage the natural life cycle of the flea to carry on in our own homes! Tick season tends to draw to a close in October, but ticks can still be active even on mild winter days.  

What can I do?    
It can be a lengthy process to rid your house of fleas once you have them, and though tick bites are rarer in winter they can pass on several diseases including Lyme disease. Prevention is the best cure in this scenario, by keeping your pup's flea and tick treatments up to date.

Fireworks 
For dog owners I’m sure it feels like fireworks night starts earlier and earlier every year! A few of our dogs struggle with this time of year and need a little extra love and understanding. With all that is happening in the world right we probably won't have to worry about large scale displays, but it does make the possibility of fireworks in your neighbours gardens and on your street even higher. Many dogs find the loud noises and flashes very distressing. 

What can I do?
Now is the time to start. You can easily help your pup prepare for the experience and reduce their fear and anxiety. Simply find one of the numerous video clips of fireworks on youtube and choose a couple of nights in the week to play them to your dog. Start off quietly and praise your dog for relaxed or calm behaviour, in the weeks leading up to bonfire night you can gradually increase the volume so by the time the night arrives it's all part of the drill for your dog. You can also introduce your dog to an anxiety wrap, which creates gentle pressure to help release natural calming endorphins. There are many options to buy online, but I’d recommend checking out this fantastic blog post that outlines how to easily create your own DIY solution: DIY Thundershirt: How to Make Your Own Canine Anxiety Wrap 
On the actual night you can help your dog even more by providing them with a safe space, make a den in a quiet part of the house and play some soothing music to help mask the sounds from outside.

Alabama rot 
Okay this one is a little bit scary. If you haven't already heard of Alabama rot, it's a cold weather loving disease that affects dogs by causing damage to their skin and kidneys resulting in visible ulcers and often kidney failure. Although cases are rare, you still need to be aware of the disease. Visible symptoms to watch out for include: swellings, rashes or ulcers on the skin, which are often found on the legs or armpit. Kidney damage can also produce symptoms such as: increased water drinking, lack of appetite, lethargy or vomiting. The disease is often linked to low temperatures, standing water and mud.

What can I do?
Even though vets still don't know the mechanism of how the disease is transmitted there seems to be a suggested link to mud being ingested when a dog cleans itself after a walk. Giving your dog a clean down after walks (even if it's a just dip in running water) has been suggested to help prevent this. If your dog has any symptoms and has been in muddy or wet areas consult a vet immediately. The most important thing is to just be aware as the sooner your dog can get treatment the better their chances are. 

During my research for our PAWS walking risk assessment I came across this amazing website by  Vets 4 Pets- you can find it here. It explains a bit more and also has an amazing map that shows the locations of all the confirmed cases (UK only, scroll to the bottom of the link page to view). You can check your local area to see walking spots to potentially avoid and whether you have to be vigilant.
      
Antifreeze  
Why on earth would your dog want to drink this, after all the nice treats we give them?! Antifreeze is actually very tempting for dogs, it tastes sweet and given the option most dogs wouldn't hesitate. However good it tastes it is extremely toxic and can easily be fatal.

What can I do?
When using or storing this product make sure the container is sealed and out of reach of your dog, be aware of any spills and make sure to clean them up as soon as they happen. If you suspect your dog may have ingested any antifreeze contact a vet immediately and seek help

Darker nights
As the nights draw in and the sun rises later we take more and more of our daily walks in the dark. Lack of visibility can make the likelihood of our dogs getting separated from us higher and when separated, dogs can end up in dangerous situations including attempting to cross roads.
 
What can I do? 
There are many fun reflective or light emitting products we can buy for our dogs, coats, collars, bandanas, harnesses and tags included. 

Gritted  roads 
Who knows what the weather holds for us this season? Probably some meteorologists, but even they know they can't be 100% accurate. Early frosts and snow could mean the gritters could be out early, road grit can cause irritation and cracking of paw pads and if licked off can also cause stomach irritation or more serious internal issues.

What can I do?
Be aware of gritted areas and limit your dogs time in them, certain paw balms can help to protect against irritation and paw pad cracking. I like the look of this one that was formulated for the cold winters of Canada Musher's Secret Pet Paw Protection Wax. There are also many brands of dog ‘boots’ to help protect those cute little toes!

It may seem like a bit of an intimidating list, but just by being aware of these hazards, you’re making life safer for your precious pooch. Knowledge is power people and getting out doors in the autumn with your dogs can be a very positive experience....we just want you to be safe whilst you're at it! 

If you would like to see our PAWS family members enjoying their autumnal adventures or you think your dog might enjoy experiencing them first hand you can join us in our Facebook Daily Adventures Group or you can contact Sarah via her Mrs Paws Facebook/ or DM her on Instagram.

Alternatively you can email me at:
poppy@pawsadventurewalkingservice.co.uk    

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