Quote from Penny McCarthy on September 11, 2024, 9:02 am

With the change of the season comes a whole new realm of things to be on the lookout for when it comes to your dog and their general health and safety whilst out and about.

Pooch & Mutt's Resident Vet Dr. Linda Simon brings you some of the main things to watch out for on your next autumn dog walk - whether that's new things your dog could accidentally eat or certain parasites and mites that are often prevalent at this time of year.

 Slugs and snails are a real danger to our pets. They can transmit lungworm, which is a parasite that can lead to signs including a chronic cough, internal bleeding and even death.

As well as this, where we find these insects, we often find slug bait, and this can cause severe toxicity if ingested.

If there are lots of slimy slugs in your garden, it is best to monitor your dog and to walk them on a lead, so you can pull them away if they try to investigate any. Only use pet safe slug bait.

Finally, keep your pet up to date with their lungworm prevention all year round.

Fallen Fruits. It is not uncommon in the UK for our grass to be littered with fruits including apples and pears in the Autumn months. While it may seem 'natural' to let your dog munch on a few, there would be a risk of impaction, particularly if any of the fruits are pitted.

Another considerations is that fallen fruit will quickly go rotten, but not every pooch is smart enough to turn their nose up. This can lead to a bad case of gastroenteritis.

Fleas, ticks and mites are a problem all year round. There is a bit of a misconception that owners only need to provide parasite prevention in the summer months, but this is far from the truth, and we should not leave any gaps in the treatment protocol.

Owners may see parasites on their pet, and may also notice signs such as itchiness.

If an owner is struggling to get rid of parasites, they should consult with their vet who can discuss appropriate pet and home treatment.

Rodent poison, or rat bait, is highly toxic to dogs. Depending on the type, it may lead to internal bleeding or neurological signs. Owners should never use rat bait around their home or garden, if it is not dog/cat safe.

If a dog ingests rat bait, we may not see signs for several days. However, prompt treatment is needed. If we induce vomiting as soon as it is ingested, and start the antidote, the prognosis is excellent.

Conkers are one of those Autumn staples that many love, but vets hate! It is common for dogs to chew and eat them, but as they're poorly digestible, this can easily lead to a small intestinal impaction. It is typically puppies who eat conkers, with Labs and Spaniels being the top culprits in my experience.

Ideally, we'd clear the garden of conkers if we are allowing our dog free rein. If they do start munching on one, we should 'swap' with a higher value treat, so they learn it is in their favour to give up their prized conker.

Try not to constantly take everything out of their mouth without doing a swap, as this can lead to them running away, hiding or even developing resource guarding.

If used please could you attribute any quotes to Pooch & Mutt's resident vet Dr Linda