There is something particularly good about an autumn dog walk.

Cooler mornings.

Crunchy leaves.

Quieter beaches.

Muddy paws.

And approximately four hundred new smells that apparently need investigating before anyone is allowed to go home.

As summer gives way to autumn, many dogs are delighted to spend a little longer outside without the heat of midsummer.

But the change of season also brings a few hazards that are surprisingly easy to overlook.

Conkers and acorns start appearing under trees. Damp conditions encourage fungi. Ticks are still around. Daylight disappears earlier than we expect. And underneath that beautiful blanket of fallen leaves could be something considerably less picturesque.

The good news?

You don't need to stop enjoying autumn walks.

You simply need to know what to look out for.

Here are nine autumn dog walking hazards every UK dog owner should have on their radar.

1. Conkers

To humans, conkers are one of those unmistakable signs that autumn has arrived.

To some dogs, unfortunately, they also look rather like free tennis balls.

Conkers are not safe for dogs to eat.

Dogs Trust warns that conkers can be toxic if chewed or swallowed. Their size and hardness also mean they can present a choking hazard or cause a blockage in a dog's digestive system.

Symptoms following ingestion can include:

• vomiting, diarrhoea
• stomach pain
• restlessness and,
• in more serious cases, neurological symptoms or collapse.

What to do

If your dog is the sort who believes everything round is a toy, pay particular attention beneath horse chestnut trees.

Use a lead where there are lots of fallen conkers and redirect your dog with their own toy or reward.

If you think they've swallowed or chewed one, contact your vet rather than waiting for symptoms to appear.

2. Acorns

Acorns may look less interesting than conkers, but they're another autumn find you don't want your dog adding to their snack collection.

Dogs Trust advises that acorns can be harmful if eaten or chewed. As with conkers, they can cause digestive problems and may also present a choking or intestinal-blockage risk.

They're particularly easy to miss because large numbers can become mixed amongst fallen leaves beneath oak trees.

And to a dog whose hobbies include sniffing bins and investigating unidentified objects on pavements, an acorn may warrant considerably more attention than we think it deserves.

What to do

Keep an eye on enthusiastic scavengers beneath oak trees.

Teaching a reliable “leave it” or “drop” cue is especially useful for dogs who like picking things up on walks.

3. Wild Mushrooms and Fungi

Cooler, wetter autumn weather creates ideal conditions for mushrooms and fungi.

Some are harmless.

Others can be extremely dangerous.

The difficult part is that identifying mushrooms reliably isn't something most of us can do while standing in a muddy field with a dog pulling enthusiastically towards them.

PDSA advises that fungi become more common in damp autumn conditions and that, because some species can be toxic, pets should be prevented from eating them.

The simplest rule?

Don't let your dog eat wild mushrooms or fungi.

You don't need to become Britain's leading mushroom expert.

Just treat unidentified fungi as something best investigated with the nose rather than the mouth.

If you think your dog has eaten one, take a photograph of the mushroom if you can do so safely and contact your vet promptly.

4. Autumn Berries and Poisonous Plants

Autumn hedgerows can look spectacular.

Unfortunately, not everything growing in them belongs on your dog's menu.

PDSA lists a number of plants that can pose risks to pets during autumn, including autumn crocus, yew, ivy, holly, horse chestnut, oak and some other plants that may produce tempting seeds or berries.

That doesn't mean every berry your dog walks past is poisonous.

It does mean that letting your dog eat unidentified berries, leaves or plants isn't worth the gamble.

This is particularly important with puppies and enthusiastic scavengers who haven't yet developed sophisticated dining standards.

If your dog frequently stops to graze while you're walking, you might also enjoy our guide to why dogs eat grass and when you should worry.

5. Blue-Green Algae Can Still Be a Risk

The end of summer doesn't automatically mean the end of blue-green algae risk.

Blue-green algae - technically a type of bacteria called cyanobacteria - can occur in stagnant or slow-moving water and may produce extremely dangerous toxins.

PDSA advises being particularly careful around stagnant water during summer and autumn and says dogs should never be allowed to drink from or swim in water suspected of containing blue-green algae.

Warning signs can include:

• Green or blue-green scum
• Paint-like streaks across the surface
• Floating green or brown clumps
• Cloudy greenish water
• Foam around the edge
• Warning notices near lakes or ponds

The important thing to understand is that you cannot always identify dangerous water just by looking at it.

If you suspect exposure

• Get your dog away from the water.
• Don't allow them to lick their wet fur.
• Rinse them with clean water if possible and contact your vet immediately.

Blue-green algae poisoning can become serious very quickly.

6. Muddy Puddles and Stagnant Water

There are two kinds of dogs in autumn.

Dogs that carefully walk around muddy puddles.

And dogs that see one from 100 metres away and immediately begin calculating their launch trajectory.

Even when blue-green algae isn't present, dirty or stagnant water isn't ideal drinking water.

PDSA advises avoiding muddy stagnant puddles and ponds because they can cause stomach upsets, and recommends carrying fresh drinking water so your dog isn't tempted to drink from questionable sources.

A collapsible bowl and small bottle of fresh water can be particularly useful on longer countryside walks.

And if your dog's preferred autumn aesthetic is “completely covered in mud from nose to tail”, a towel in the car won't hurt either.

7. Ticks Haven't Disappeared

It is easy to associate ticks with hot summer walks.

But don't stop checking your dog simply because September has arrived.

The RSPCA says ticks are active throughout the year but are most commonly encountered between spring and autumn, particularly in woodland and grassland.

After walks through long grass, woodland or areas with lots of vegetation, get into the habit of checking your dog.

Pay particular attention around:

• The head and ears
• Under the collar
• Under the front legs
• Around the groin
• Between the toes
• Under the tail

If you find a tick, remove it correctly using an appropriate tick-removal tool or seek veterinary advice if you're unsure.

Avoid simply pulling at an attached tick with your fingers, as part of it can be left behind.

If ticks are particularly common where you walk, speak to your veterinary practice about appropriate parasite protection for your dog.

8. Fallen Leaves Can Hide More Than You Think

A pile of leaves looks fairly harmless.

Your dog may even think it is the greatest thing anyone has ever invented.

But once pavements and paths become covered, you can't always see what's underneath.

PDSA specifically warns that sharp stones and rubbish can become hidden beneath mud or fallen leaves and may cause cuts to a dog's paws.

There may also be:

• Broken glass
• Sharp sticks
• Uneven ground
• Holes
• Discarded food
• Acorns or conkers
• Other objects you simply can't see

You don't need to prevent your dog from ever walking through leaves.

Just be more cautious when they're charging through deep piles or when you're walking somewhere unfamiliar.

After muddy woodland walks, take a quick look at paws and between the toes before heading home.

Thirty seconds checking their feet is considerably easier than discovering a cut when muddy pawprints have already reached the sofa.

9. Darker Evenings Arrive Quickly

One week you're finishing your evening dog walk in daylight.

The next you're standing in the park wondering exactly when somebody switched the lights off.

Autumn evenings become darker remarkably quickly.

PDSA recommends using reflective or illuminated equipment on dogs during darker walks and suggests carrying a torch and charged phone.

Consider:

• A reflective lead or harness
• A high-visibility dog coat
• A suitable collar light
• Reflective clothing for yourself
• A torch or head torch

And around traffic, keeping your dog on a secure lead becomes even more important when visibility is poor.

You may know exactly where your dog is.

The driver approaching you may not.

What Should You Do If Your Dog Eats Something Suspicious?

Dogs can be spectacularly quick when they discover something interesting.

Sometimes you're already saying:

“What have you got?”

while watching the final mysterious object disappear.

If you think your dog has eaten something potentially poisonous or harmful, don't wait for symptoms before asking for advice.

PDSA recommends contacting your vet as soon as possible. Do not attempt to make your dog vomit unless your vet specifically instructs you to do so, because making them sick can sometimes cause additional harm.

If possible, take a photograph or safely collect information about whatever your dog has eaten.

That might mean photographing a mushroom, bringing a remaining piece of plant with you or taking packaging from a discarded food item.

The more information your vet has, the easier it may be to determine the appropriate response.

Your Quick Autumn Dog Walk Checklist

Before heading out, particularly for longer woodland or countryside walks, consider taking:

• A secure lead and well-fitting harness or collar
• Fresh drinking water and a collapsible bowl
• Poo bags
• A few rewards for “leave it” and recall
• A small dog first-aid kit
• A tick-removal tool
• A towel for the inevitable mud
• Reflective or illuminated equipment for darker walks
• A charged phone and torch

Nothing particularly complicated.

Just a few things that can make autumn adventures considerably easier.

Don't Stop Them Sniffing

After reading a list of nine potential hazards, it would be easy to spend your next walk repeatedly shouting:

“NO! DON'T TOUCH THAT!”

at everything your dog approaches.

That's not the goal.

Sniffing, exploring and investigating their environment are important parts of being a dog.

A good walk isn't simply about covering as many kilometres as possible.

It's also an opportunity for your dog to use their nose, experience different environments and spend time with you.

Knowing about seasonal hazards means you can give them that freedom more safely, not remove the fun.

And when the weather makes a long walk impossible, simple activities at home can provide another opportunity for dogs to use their brains.

Our 10-minute dog enrichment games are ideal for those particularly wet autumn days when neither you nor your dog is enthusiastic about spending an hour in horizontal rain.

Autumn Wellness Is About the Everyday Things

Dogs don't suddenly need an entirely new wellness routine because the leaves have changed colour.

The basics still matter.

A suitable complete diet. If you're wondering where supplements fit into that picture, read our honest guide to whether dogs need a daily multivitamin.

• Fresh water
• Appropriate exercise
• Mental stimulation
• Rest
• Regular health checks
• Parasite protection appropriate for your dog
• And noticing when something isn't normal

Chewpions can simply sit alongside those everyday habits as a convenient complementary nutritional supplement

If you'd like to understand exactly what goes into our formula, read Behind the Chew: What Does 12-in-1 Dog Support Actually Mean?

Because supporting your dog doesn't have to mean doing everything perfectly.

Sometimes it's remembering the torch.

Sometimes it's spotting the conker before they do.

Sometimes it's allowing another five minutes for sniffing.

And sometimes it's accepting that the clean dog who left the house twenty minutes ago is absolutely not the dog that's coming home.

Here's to crisp mornings, muddy paws and plenty more adventures together.

Where Wag Meets Wellness.

Frequently Asked Questions

Are conkers poisonous to dogs?

Yes. Conkers can be toxic when chewed or eaten and can also cause choking or intestinal blockages. Contact your vet if you think your dog has swallowed one.

Can dogs eat acorns?

Dogs should not eat acorns. They can cause toxicity and digestive problems and can potentially become a choking or blockage hazard.

Are mushrooms poisonous to dogs?

Some mushrooms are harmless while others can be extremely toxic. Because wild mushrooms can be difficult to identify accurately, the safest approach is to prevent dogs from eating them and contact your vet if ingestion occurs.

Are ticks still active during autumn in the UK?

Yes. Ticks can be active throughout the year, but the RSPCA says they are most commonly encountered between spring and autumn.

Is blue-green algae still dangerous in autumn?

Yes. Although blue-green algae is strongly associated with warm weather, PDSA advises taking extra care around stagnant water during summer and autumn.

What should I do if my dog eats something poisonous?

Contact your vet immediately. Don't wait for symptoms to develop and don't attempt to make your dog vomit unless specifically instructed to do so by your vet.