Last Updated on September 17, 2021 by Dogs Vets
Everything Dog Owners Need to Know for the Autumn Months
After the hot summer temperatures, dogs are going to look forward to the cooler temperatures of autumn. Not only is this a peaceful and lovely time of the year with changing colours, but it is also one of the best times for dogs to exercise.
They are going to be able to run around for longer and have fun outdoors, all before the freezing temperatures of winter.
Use joint Supplements After Long Walks
During the summer, it is common for your dog to sit around and sunbathe. Simply, it is too hot to go on long walks during the summer months.
So, when it gets to autumn and the temperatures drop, your furry friend is going to be ready to go.
But, this huge jump between minimal exercise to a lot of exercise can be a lot for our four-legged friends.
The best thing you can do is offer your pooch a quality joint supplement. This is going to help protect their joints after long walks and help to prevent stiffness and lameness.
Be Aware for Lungworm
Have you ever heard of lungworm before? This is something you will want to know about if you want to keep your furry friend safe.
This is a bad parasite that is found in slugs and snails. During the winter months, these are bugs that you are going to find a lot.
They come out in the cooler temperatures, as well as when it is damp and wet outside. We all know that there is a bit more rain during the autumn.
So, this means that there is a chance that your dog could pick up lungworm from them. So, ensure that you always know where your canine is and that they are not eating anything. In addition, a worming treatment is recommended.
Always Bathe Your Dog After Muddy Walks
During the autumn, you are more than likely to venture into woods and forests where it is muddy. Of course, the last thing you want is your canine trailing mud through the house.
So, the best thing you can do is bathe your dog after a muddy walk. But, there is another more important reason why you should make this a standard practice in your house.
This is because something called Alabama Rot can be present and found in mud. This can be fatal for dogs and you should go to the vet immediately if you discover skin ulcers.
Stay Away from Conkers and Acorns
Most of the main toxins people know about when it comes to dogs. But, there are some that are less well-known and appear in the autumn.
We are talking about conkers and acorns. Both of these are a danger to dogs and you must keep your canine away from them.
First of all, they have the ability to block a dog’s airway. In particular, conkers contain a chemical referred to as aesculin. This has the ability to cause internal damage if your canine consumes a conker out on a walk.
In addition, the tannic acid found in acorns can lead to internal damage, as well as even causing kidney disease.
Remember Ticks are Around
Every dog owner knows to watch out for ticks. In particular, they are prevalent during the spring, as well as in the summer. But, a lot of people do not realise that you can still get ticks during the autumn.
In particular, they are going to be active until around October. So, if you are walking your dog through an area with long grass or through woodland, you should be on the lookout for ticks. There are tick treatments and collars you can use that are going to help during the autumn.
Prepare Your Routine for the Winter
We all know that the days get shorter during the winter. In other words, the sun comes up later and goes down earlier.
Autumn is a great time to start preparing for the winter routine. In other words, taking your dog out for walks when it is not dark outside.
For example, you can start to adjust the time you head out in the morning.
This should be later on. In addition, you can choose to have lunchtime walks instead of at night. This is going to mean you are going out in the daylight during the winter months.
We all know that dogs thrive when they have a routine. So, you can gradually transition your dog throughout autumn.
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