While Autumn is the season of mists and mellow fruitfulness, it’s also a potentially dangerous time for our dogs – fungi, mushrooms, spent fireworks, fallen fruit, rat poison and ticks are all hazards you need to watch out for
What do you know about wild ‘shrooms?
Autumn is also the season for fungi – mushrooms and toadstools. We get a wide variety around us, from upright, thin, tall, white columns to small yellow and brown capped growths and also those peculiar flat layered excretions you see on some trees.
I love eating mushrooms but I’ve never been brave enough to try and pick my own wild ones. It’s difficult to tell mushrooms from toadstools sometimes, even if you are an expert. Not all toadstools are like in fairy tales, pretty red mounds with yellow spots. I’m pretty sure that if I tried foraging for mushrooms I would pick toxic toadstools and we’d all die in horrible agony.
Years ago, in Derbyshire, we had a large cauliflower like fungus in the back garden. The book I consulted said it was edible but I never had the courage to try it.
Your dog may try to eat some fungi. But it could make them sick. Some may only cause a mild stomach upset while others can be fatal. Effects can appear within minutes, days, or rarely, weeks.
What do you need to do if your dog does eat an unknown wild mushroom or fungus?
- Take them to the vets immediately. Make sure to call ahead first to let them know you’re on your way
- If possible, bring along a photo, or ideally a sample of the fungi
- If you do have a sample, ideally put it in a paper bag, or carefully wrap it in paper. Do not wrap the fungus in plastic, or a plastic bag, as this can cause the sample to breakdown more quickly, making it more difficult to identify
- Take note of the area where the fungi was – was it growing in grass or on a tree stump etc. Knowing where it grew can help experts identify what type of fungi your dog has eaten should they become ill
But that’s not all.
There are other autumn doggy dangers to be aware of
- Spent fireworks – these contain dangerous chemicals that can cause sickness, an upset stomach, tummy pain or can cause their poo to have blood in it. More serious effects can include fitting, breathing problems and problems with their kidneys or liver
- Alabama rot – a rare but potentially life-threatening condition. No one knows the cause, but it is related to walking in muddy conditions. It causes problems with blood vessels in the skin and kidneys, and often first appears as unexplained marks, sores or ulcers, usually on their legs or paws. It’s rare in Ireland – there have only been a small handful of cases – but to be safe, always wash your dog’s paws thoroughly after a muddy walk
- Fallen fruits such as apples, cherries or plums contain pips, seeds or stones that are poisonous. They can also ferment and the alcohol produced is very dangerous to dogs
- Rat and mouse poison. We’ve just refilled our traps after hearing scuttling in our roof. These poisons smell and taste good to dogs as well as rodents so please make sure any traps are placed where your dog can’t reach them. Contact your vet urgently if your dog does eat any poison.
Finally, keep up your tick and flea treatments – they, too, are more common in autumn.
Make sure you can recall your dog at a moment’s notice
And most importantly, watch your dog carefully when they are out and about and call them away from any potential problems.
If you don’t have a reliable recall, a faithful focus or a loyal leave it, come along to our Perfect Pet class and help your pet respond perfectly and immediately to your requests.
Keep training and stay safe,
Carol
