How to: Keep Your Pets Safe This Autumn

We have spoken to a few Pet Experts to bring together these top tips to keep your pets safe this Autumn and ensure that they are safe and happy.

I think we can all agree that Autumn is definitely here. Yes the temperatures are still OK but what is with all this wind and rain?!

Autumn can be a lovely season, especially for your pet… they will love all the fallen leaves to investigate and sniff all the lovely new scents.

This season also brings problematic issues, especially if you have a nervous pet. We have brought together these top tips to help to keep your pets safe.

Microchipping

Most importantly, ensure your pets are microchipped. It is now law to have your dog microchipped and from the 10th June 2024 a new law will come into effect for all cats to be microchipped.

Should your pet get spooked at any point and run away, once found they can be returned to you efficiently once the chips are scanned. If you have moved house recently ensure that your pet’s chip is updated as a matter of urgency. There could be a cost to this so check with your provider.

Darker Nights

Once the nights start to draw in and before we know it, come 5pm, it’s dark. You still need to get your dog out for their all important walk so we suggest that you invest in some reflective or LED accessories like harnesses, dog leads or coats. 

Pets At Home have a wide selection of reflective items on their website, take a look here.

Our experts recommend keeping your cat indoors on the dark evenings. It is difficult for drivers to see your cat on dark nights making accidents a high risk. 

Halloween

If you are expecting lots of Trick or Treaters knocking at your door on Halloween it is best to keep your dogs and cats in a safe, secure place to avoid unnecessary stress. If possible let them relax in an area where they can’t hear knocking on the door.

Pumpkins are traditional on Halloween and although pumpkins are non-toxic, if eaten in large quantities they can cause stomach upset for your pet. So keep them out of reach of your pet.

Chocolate and sweets are toxic for pets. Keep them well out of reach of your pets at all times. Should your pet consume chocolate or sweets, contact your vet for advice immediately.

If you love to light candles to decorate your home on Halloween, ensure that your pet can’t reach them to avoid any burns and singed whiskers or tails! Using electric candles is a safer option if you have pets.

If you like to dress your dog up in costumes, ensure that your dog is completely happy with this to cause unnecessary stress. Ensure that the costume fits well, make sure there are no choking hazards and ensure your dog has full movement.

Bonfire Night

While Bonfire Night is fun for us and your children, fireworks can cause stress for your pet.

Here are our tips for keeping your dog safe on Bonfire night:

• Ensure that you walk your dog in the daylight before the fireworks commence.
• Create a safe, secure place for your dog to hide. Try making a dog den and put their favourite blanket and toys in there so they feel safe and familiar. It is best to do this before Bonfire Night so your dog can get used to the new den.
• Take a look at pheromone support. Pheromones are natural chemical ‘signals’ which are secreted by animals to communicate different types of messages to themselves or others. There are lots of different pheromone products available or speak to your vet about what may be best for your dog.
• Ensure that all your windows and doors are closed to minimise sound.
• Play music or turn the volume up on the TV a little louder than normal to help disguise the sound of fireworks.
• Play a game with your dog, or give them a chew to keep them distracted.
• Never punish your dog for their behaviour when reacting to fireworks, remember, they are frightened and stressed.

Here are our tips for keeping your cat safe on Bonfire night:

• Ensure that you keep your cat indoors once it starts to get dark.
• Create a safe, secure place for your cat to retreat to. Put their favourite blanket and toys in there so they feel safe and familiar. It is best to do this before Bonfire Night so your cat can get used to the new safe place.
• Take a look at pheromone support. Pheromones are natural chemical ‘signals’ which are secreted by animals to communicate different types of messages to themselves or others. There are lots of different pheromone products available or speak to your vet about what may be best for your cat.
• Ensure that all your windows and doors are closed to minimise sound and stop your cat getting out.
• Play music or turn the volume up on the TV a little louder than normal to help disguise the sound of fireworks.
• Play with your cat, or give them treats to keep them distracted.
• Never punish your cat for their behaviour when reacting to fireworks, remember, they are frightened and stressed.

Here are our tips for keeping smaller pets safe on Bonfire night:

• If your rabbit or guinea pig is kept outside it is best to bring their hutch indoors.
• Partially cover their hutch with a blanket to muffle sounds and reduce them being able to see the flashes.
• Play music to help disguise the sound of the fireworks.
• As far as we know there are no synthetic pheromones available for rabbits and guinea pigs.
• Give your pets treats to keep them distracted.

Fleas

Once the weather turns cooler and we turn on our heating, fleas can become an issue as they love the heat and thrive indoors in a warm environment.

Although flea protection is an all-year round essential for your pet, ensure that they are fully up-to-date with their flea protection heading into Autumn.

Ensure that you wash your pets bedding regularly to prevent a flea infestation.

Antifreeze

Getting your car ready for the colder season is a must, however, antifreeze is hugely toxic and life threatening to cats. Ethylene glycol found in antifreeze is toxic  and it has a sweet taste, which means animals can be drawn to it.

If you spill any antifreeze when topping up your car, ensure that you clean it up correctly. If cats walk in it they can ingest the antifreeze when cleaning themselves. So even if you don’t have a cat please clean up spillages to avoid your neighbours’ cats becoming ill.

Should your cat digest antifreeze, consult your vet immediately!

Poisonous Autumnal Plants

Conkers and acorns are great for creating autumnal crafts with your children, however they are toxic for dogs. While fatalities are rare, if digested, your dog can suffer from vomiting, stomach issues and intestinal blockages. Dogs will love sniffing through the autumnal leaves, but ensure they don’t eat conkers or acorns, if they do give your vet a call to discuss.

Similarly, fungi and mushrooms can be toxic for dogs, just as they can be to us. Again, they may not be fatal, however your dog could end up with stomach issues and vomiting.

Read more about which Autumnal plants are dangerous for dogs on Dogs Monthly here.

Autumn is a lovely season, have fun, enjoy and we hope your furry friends stay safe and healthy!