Fall is some of the best walking weather Durham gets! The humidity drops, the heat breaks, and dogs who dragged through the hot summer months suddenly want to go farther. But the season also brings its own hazards to sidewalks, yards, and trails. Here is what to watch for, and what to do if your dog gets into something.
Wild Mushrooms
Fall rain brings mushrooms popping up in lawns, mulch beds, and wooded edges, sometimes overnight. According to the ASPCA, about 99% of mushrooms have little or no toxicity. The other 1% can be life-threatening to pets, and the toxic ones are very hard to tell apart from the harmless ones.
The safest approach is to treat every wild mushroom as dangerous:
- Check your yard after rainy stretches and remove any mushrooms you find.
- Keep your dog from sniffing around mushroom patches on walks.
- If your dog eats one, call your veterinarian right away instead of waiting for symptoms. Photograph or bag the mushroom if you can do so safely.
Acorns
If your street is lined with oaks, acorns are everywhere this time of year. They contain tannins, which can irritate a dog’s digestive system and cause vomiting, diarrhea, and stomach discomfort. Serious kidney damage is rare in dogs, because they usually do not eat enough acorns to cause it.
Acorns can also be a choking hazard or cause a blockage in small dogs. Discourage acorn snacking, and keep an eye on decorative acorns and other fall decor indoors.
Antifreeze
Many people change their car’s engine coolant in the fall. Coolants made with ethylene glycol are highly toxic to pets and taste sweet, which makes them tempting. Even a small amount can be deadly.
- Clean up coolant spills in garages and driveways immediately.
- Store coolant where pets cannot reach it.
- Consider propylene glycol-based coolants. They are not completely non-toxic, but they are much less toxic.
- On walks, steer your dog away from puddles in parking lots and parking decks.
Rat and Mouse Poison
As temperatures drop, rodents look for ways indoors, and rodenticide use goes up. These products are highly toxic and can be fatal if a pet eats them.
You may not control what your neighbors use, but you can watch for bait stations along building foundations and keep your dog from nosing around them. If you live in an apartment or condo, ask building management whether and where they place rodent bait.
Fall Plants and Decor
Chrysanthemums, the classic fall porch flower, are mildly to moderately toxic to dogs and cats. Keep potted mums out of reach, and watch for decorative displays on neighbors’ steps during walks.
Snakes
As the weather cools, snakes prepare for winter. Bites to pets can happen when a curious dog finds one in a leaf pile or tall grass. Keep your dog out of brush piles and on the leash.
Halloween and Thanksgiving Food
Fall ends with two food-heavy holidays. Chocolate and sugar-free candy containing xylitol are both dangerous for dogs. Keep candy bowls, trick-or-treat bags, and holiday plates well out of reach.
What to Do If Your Dog Eats Something Toxic
- Remove your dog from the source. Save a sample or photo of what they ate.
- Call for help right away. Contact your veterinarian, an emergency vet, or the ASPCA Animal Poison Control Center at (888) 426-4435.
- Do not try home remedies. Only do something a veterinarian tells you to do.
- Do not wait for symptoms. Some poisonings do not show signs right away.
How Your Walker Helps
A walker who knows your dog’s habits is an extra set of eyes on the ground. At your consultation, let us know if your dog is a scavenger, has eaten something they should not have in the past, or has a history of stomach issues. Every mid-day dog walking visit comes with daily notes, so you will know how your dog’s day went.
Enjoy the cooler weather with your dog this fall. If you need a mid-day walker, new requests need to be made at least seven days in advance. Request services here or call 919-740-7481.
Annika Hugosson is a writer and marketing specialist with professional experience writing across various industries including sports, tattooing, veterinary medicine, and animal welfare. She has worked in soccer media, animal sheltering, and emergency veterinary medicine and presently manages a Durham tattoo shop, Ethereal Tattoo Gallery. Annika holds a Master of Science in anthrozoology (human–animal studies) and has completed additional graduate-level research focused on the human–animal bond. Her master’s research examined hyenas and the ways their portrayal in popular and scientific media shapes public perception and conservation outcomes. She has been published in academic journals and has presented at conferences on topics including pit bulls and gender, the usage of snakes’ skins in fashion, animal ethics in Harry Potter, and related issues at the intersection of culture, animals, and society. Outside of her professional work, Annika is interested in R+ dog training and has completed extensive group class training with her dog, Hawthorn, whom she adopted from the APS of Durham.
