Watchdog Owner Alert: Five Unexpected Risks to Be Aware of While Taking Your Pet for a Stroll This Autumn
As the leaves change colour and the weather begins to cool, it's important to be mindful of potential risks for our furry friends. Dr. Linda Simon, a resident vet at Pooch & Mutt, has highlighted five potential dangers that dogs may face during the fall season.
- Mild Dehydration: With shorter days and cooler temperatures, dogs may not drink as much water as they usually do. It's crucial to ensure your pet has access to fresh water at all times.
- Lethargy: The drop in temperature can make dogs feel sluggish. If your dog seems unusually tired or lacks energy, it could be a sign of mild dehydration or other issues.
- Paw Burns: Although the ground is cooler, it can still reach temperatures that can burn a dog's paws. Be aware of hot surfaces like asphalt or metal when walking your dog.
- Heat Stroke: Even as the temperatures drop, heat stroke can still be a concern, especially for young, old, unwell, or brachycephalic dogs. Symptoms include weakness, collapse, trouble breathing, and excessive panting.
- Other Signs of Overheating: Weakness, collapse, and trouble breathing are all signs that your dog may be overheating. It's essential to keep an eye out for these symptoms and seek immediate veterinary help if necessary.
In addition to these risks, Dr. Simon advises caution when walking dogs during the fall. Puppies are more likely to eat buckeyes and conkers, which can cause problems for their intestines. Fallen fruit can quickly go rotten, increasing the risk of gastroenteritis if pets eat it. Using pet-safe slug bait is recommended, and keeping a watchful eye on pets and walking them on a lead in areas with many slugs can help prevent them from ingesting slugs or slug bait.
If a pet ingests rodent poison, it can lead to internal bleeding or neurological signs, requiring urgent treatment. If a dog finds a buckeye or conker, swapping it with a high-value treat is best. Pitted fruits can also be dangerous for pets, as they can lead to a bad case of gastroenteritis.
Long walks with pets are still recommended during the fall, even though the weather will get colder and the nights will get darker. Just be sure to walk your dog during the cooler parts of the day to avoid the heat-related risks.
For more information on whether dogs need coats in the winter, further resources are available. Pooch & Mutt provides advice and tips for pet care, ensuring your furry friend stays safe and healthy all year round.
[1] Dr. Linda Simon's advice on walking dogs safely during warm weather: [Link to the source] [3] Risks of heat-related issues in early autumn: [Link to the source]
- During fall, puppies may encounter buckeyes and conkers, which can potentially harm their intestines, so it is advisable to watch them closely while walking.
- Fallen fruits can quickly rot, increasing the risk of gastroenteritis if pets eat them, so it's essential to keep an eye on what they consume.
- Using pet-safe slug bait is recommended when dealing with slugs, and walking pets on a lead in such areas can help prevent slug ingestion.
- Rodent poison ingestion can lead to internal bleeding or neurological signs, requiring immediate veterinary attention; as such, ensuring the home is rodent-free is crucial.
- Swapping buckeyes or conkers with high-value treats can be beneficial if encountered while walking pets.
- Pitted fruits can cause a severe case of gastroenteritis in pets, so it's best to avoid feeding them such foods.
