Autumn can be a really enjoyable time of year for us and our four-legged friends,
beautiful morning full of mists and mellow fruitfulness, glorious sunsets and
surprisingly warm days. But with the change of season comes a change in care for
your dog. Here are some tips and things to look out for.
Fleas and ticks
In the warm but wet conditions, you’re not safe from ticks; this is actually when they
are at their most active. Have you checked to see if their parasite treatments and
vaccinations are up to date? Try to give them a quick check regularly and if you find
a tick - don’t panic! Twist them off with a tick hook - we can show you how if
needed!
Temperature Changes
With the colder temperatures, pets often find somewhere warm to hide. If you have
a garage or shed where the door has been left open, just double check before you
close it that your, or more importantly someone else’s, pet isn’t hiding inside. Now’s
the time that we get reports of missing pets on social media - only for them to be
discovered later trapped in someone’s outbuilding. If you suspect your pet is
missing, check warm areas before panicking.
Beware! Antifreeze is toxic to dogs. Ensure that if you are using it, you do not spill
any into puddles or drinking bowls. Store it well out of reach so they can’t get to it. If
you think they may have consumed it, look out for symptoms that include
incoordination, nausea, excessive urination, diarrhoea, weakness, and tremors. If
any of these symptoms are displayed by your dog, then you should contact a vet as
soon as possible.
Short Daylight
With the shorter days naturally comes less time to exercise your pets, particularly if
you are at work. If your pet has had an active summer and is likely to have a quieter
winter, then monitor their diet accordingly. Just like their humans, they need less
calories in if there are less calories going out! Obviously the best thing is to
exercise your dog regardless - and if you need help fitting it into the day, then give
Harris Hounds a call and we can do it for you.
Celebrations
The first thing coming up is obviously fireworks! It is vital you stay with your pet if it
is their very first time to experience fireworks. You can then make a judgment on
how they react and will know for the future. If you don’t know that fireworks are
happening and your pet happens to go missing, then you need to be reassured that
their microchip is up to date.
Halloween is another celebration that can distress your dog. If you are going to be
going out, then make sure that your pet is in their safe place - and possibly with the
radio on to distract from any noise that might be going on outside the house.
Make sure all sweets and chocolates are kept out of the reach of your dog - both at
Halloween, Christmas and any other time of year.
Ensure that candles and lit pumpkins cannot be accessed by your dog in case they
burn themselves or knock them over causing a fire. Glow sticks can irritate animals
too if ingested, so be sure to keep them away and seek help from your vet if you
are worried.
Gardening
Some of the typical Autumn fruit and vegetables can also affect your dog. They will
probably stay clear, but it’s best that you are armed with the knowledge to identify a
danger when it’s present. Heres a list of some common ones that can be dangerous to your dog -
Horse chestnut tree
Allium species (leek, garlic, onion, shallot etc)
Holly
Mushrooms and toadstools
Ivy
Oak (especially acorns)
Rowan (aka mountain ash)
Yew
Mistletoe
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