Autumn at Tribe Vets: Keeping Your Pets Safe, Happy and Stress-Free

There’s something lovely about autumn: crisp walks, golden leaves, cooler days and cosy evenings at home. But autumn also brings a few seasonal hazards for our pets, from fallen acorns to Halloween treats and the inevitable fireworks.

Here are some simple ways to keep your dogs and cats safe this autumn, and how we can help if your pet struggles with the changing season.

🍂 Autumn hazards: acorns, conkers and more

As the leaves start to fall, our parks and gardens become full of things that are tempting for curious dogs to investigate.

Acorns & Conkers

Acorns and conkers can be harmful if eaten, particularly in larger quantities. They can cause vomiting, diarrhoea and abdominal pain, and in more serious cases can contribute to significant illness, as well as potentially causing an intestinal obstruction. 

The biggest risk is often simply a dog enthusiastically hoovering up acorns or conkers on a walk!

Try to keep an eye on what your dog is picking up, particularly in areas with lots of oak or chestnut trees. If your dog has eaten a large number of acorns or conkers, or develops vomiting, diarrhoea, lethargy or abdominal discomfort, give us a call.

Mouldy food and fallen fruit

Autumn gardens can also contain fallen fruit, compost and mouldy food. Some moulds can produce toxins that cause serious neurological signs in dogs, including tremors and seizures.

Keep compost bins securely closed and discourage your dog from eating fallen or rotting fruit.

And remember: if you think your pet has eaten something potentially toxic, don't wait for symptoms to appear - contact us for advice.

🎃 Halloween: keep the treats for the humans

Halloween can be great fun for us, but some of the things that come with it are definitely not suitable for our pets.

Chocolate is toxic to dogs and cats, and the darker the chocolate, the greater the risk. Sugar-free sweets can also contain xylitol, which is extremely dangerous to dogs.

And it isn't just the sweets themselves. Wrappers, lolly sticks and other packaging can cause problems if swallowed.

Our advice is simple: keep the Halloween stash well out of reach and make sure children know that their sweets are not for the dog or cat!

If your pet does eat chocolate or another potentially harmful substance, contact us as soon as possible. Knowing what was eaten, approximately how much and when will help us assess the risk.

🎆 Fireworks: preparing for noise phobia

For many pets, fireworks aren't a few exciting bangs in the distance. They can be genuinely frightening.

Dogs and cats can respond to fireworks by hiding, trembling, panting, pacing, trying to escape or becoming very distressed. Some pets will show much subtler signs of anxiety.

The best time to think about fireworks is before they start.

Things you can do at home

• Create a safe, comfortable hiding place where your pet can retreat.
• Close curtains and windows to reduce flashes and noise.
• Put on music or the television to help mask sudden bangs.
• Keep pets safely indoors once fireworks are expected.
• Make sure your garden and doors are secure -  frightened pets can be surprisingly determined escape artists.
• Walk dogs earlier in the day, before fireworks are likely to begin.
• Let your pet choose where they feel safest rather than forcing them out of their hiding place.
• Stay calm and reassuring. You don't need to ignore your frightened pet - quietly comforting them is absolutely fine.

For some pets, however, these measures simply aren't enough.

💊 If your pet needs medication, please contact us early

If your dog or cat has previously needed medication for fireworks or suffers from significant noise anxiety, please don't leave it until the night before.

We can talk through your pet's individual needs and discuss whether medication or other support might be appropriate. Some medications need to be prescribed in advance, and ideally we want to make a plan before the fireworks begin.

If your pet has never experienced fireworks before but you are concerned about how they might cope, we're also very happy to talk things through.

The earlier you contact us, the more options we have to help.

🐾 A final autumn reminder

Autumn is a beautiful time of year to enjoy with your pets. Just keep an extra eye out for what they are eating on walks, keep Halloween goodies safely out of reach and start preparing early if fireworks are likely to be difficult for them.

And as always, if you're worried about something your pet has eaten or you're concerned about their behaviour or wellbeing, give Tribe Vets a call. We'd much rather you contact us early for advice than sit at home wondering whether something is worth worrying about.

Stay safe, enjoy those autumn walks and give your pets an extra cuddle from all of us at Tribe Vets.