Fall Toxins: Hidden Seasonal Dangers for Dogs and Cats
Fall brings cooler weather, colorful leaves, crisp walks and more time outdoors with our pets. But it also brings a surprising number of seasonal toxins and hazards that can quickly turn a beautiful autumn day into an emergency. Many of these dangers are natural, which can make pet parents assume they are harmless. Unfortunately, natural does not always mean safe. Mushrooms, nuts, compost, certain plants and even standing water can all pose risks to dogs and cats. Knowing what to watch for can go a long way toward keeping your pets safe throughout the season. Mushrooms Fall moisture often brings an explosion of mushrooms in yards, parks and wooded areas. While many mushrooms are harmless, some can cause serious illness, including vomiting, diarrhea, neurological symptoms, liver failure and even death. The problem is that toxic and nontoxic mushrooms can look very similar. If your dog eats a wild mushroom, do not wait for symptoms to appear. Take a photo of the mushroom if possible and contact your veterinarian or a pet poison service immediately ASPCA Animal Poison Control Center: (888) 426-4435). Also, the Poisons Help; Emergency Identification for Mushrooms and Plants Facebook Group may be able to help. The safest rule is simple: do not allow pets to eat any wild mushroom. Acorns Acorns seem harmless, but dogs that chew or swallow them may develop digestive upset. They contain tannins that can irritate the stomach and intestines, potentially causing vomiting, diarrhea and abdominal discomfort. Whole acorns may also become a choking hazard or intestinal obstruction, particularly in smaller dogs. Dogs that love carrying things in their mouths should be watched closely around oak trees. Black Walnuts Black walnuts can be problematic for pets, especially when they have fallen to the ground and become moldy. Mold growing on walnuts can produce toxins that may cause neurological symptoms such as tremors or seizures. The hard shells can also cause gastrointestinal obstruction. Pick up fallen walnuts regularly if you have black walnut trees near your home or walking area. Moldy Leaves and Yard Debris Those piles of fall leaves may look like great fun for dogs to jump into, but damp decomposing leaves can harbor mold and bacteria. Pets that eat moldy organic matter may develop vomiting, diarrhea, tremors or other neurological symptoms depending on what is growing in the material. Keep leaf piles cleaned up and discourage dogs from eating sticks, leaves or decomposing vegetation. Compost Compost piles are one of the most overlooked fall dangers. Rotting food and plant material can produce mold toxins called tremorgenic mycotoxins. Dogs are especially likely to investigate compost because of the smell. Exposure can cause: Vomiting Panting Restlessness Muscle tremors Loss of coordination Seizures Elevated body temperature Make sure compost bins are securely covered and inaccessible to pets. Rodenticides As temperatures drop, mice and rats often begin moving indoors. That means rodenticides may be placed in garages, sheds, basements and around homes. These products can be extremely dangerous to pets. Different rodenticides work in different ways. Some interfere with blood clotting, while others can cause neurological damage or kidney failure. Never assume you can simply wait and watch after a possible exposure. Treatment depends on the specific active ingredient. Whenever possible, avoid using rodenticides in areas your pets can access and consider safer pest-control strategies. Antifreeze Antifreeze becomes a bigger concern as the weather cools. Ethylene glycol, found in some antifreeze products, is extremely toxic and can cause severe kidney failure. Even a relatively small amount can be dangerous. Clean up vehicle leaks immediately and keep antifreeze containers tightly sealed and completely out of reach. Pet-safer antifreeze products containing propylene glycol may reduce risk, but all automotive fluids should still be treated as potentially dangerous. Apples and Fallen Fruit Apple flesh is generally safe for dogs in reasonable amounts, but seeds, cores and large amounts of fallen or fermenting fruit can create problems. Rotting fruit can ferment and produce alcohol. Mold may also develop. Remove fallen fruit regularly from areas where pets play. Grapes and Raisins Fall means harvest season, baked goods and holiday cooking. Grapes and raisins can cause acute kidney injury in dogs, and there is no reliably safe amount. They may show up in: Trail mixes Stuffing Breads Cookies Fruit salads Charcuterie boards Keep them completely out of reach. Read our pet food ingredients page for more information on grapes. Chocolate Halloween kicks off chocolate season. Dark chocolate and baking chocolate are particularly dangerous because they contain higher concentrations of theobromine and caffeine. Chocolate toxicity can cause vomiting, diarrhea, restlessness, abnormal heart rhythms, tremors and seizures. Keep Halloween candy bowls well above nose level and make sure children understand that pets should never be given chocolate. Xylitol Sugar-free gum, candy, some baked goods, peanut butters and other products may contain xylitol. Xylitol can cause a rapid and potentially life-threatening drop in blood sugar in dogs and may also cause liver injury. Always check ingredient labels before sharing human foods with your dog. It is also known as birch sugar. See our first aid page for more information regarding xylitol. Onions, Garlic and Holiday Foods Fall casseroles, soups, gravies, stuffing and holiday dishes frequently contain onions, garlic or related ingredients. Large enough exposures can damage red blood cells and lead to anemia. Small amounts of garlic are fine. Rich, fatty foods are another concern. Turkey skin, gravy, butter, bacon drippings and fatty leftovers can trigger severe digestive upset and may contribute to pancreatitis in susceptible dogs. A small bite of plain, pet-safe food is very different from sharing a heavily seasoned holiday meal. Cooked Bones Cooked turkey, chicken and other bones can splinter and cause choking, intestinal injury or obstruction. If you feed raw meaty bones as part of your pet’s properly formulated diet, that is a different conversation. Cooked bones should not be given. Unbaked Bread Dough Yeast dough can continue expanding inside the stomach after it is swallowed. As the yeast ferments, it can also produce alcohol. Keep rising bread
