Stay visible

With the days being shorter again and weather conditions often limiting visibility, it is important to make sure that both you and your dog are sufficiently visible when you go for a walk. Because even in a well-lit environment, car drivers and other road users often have a hard time seeing pedestrians and their dog(s) in time. So in dark weather conditions, it's all about seeing and especially being seen. Don't wear dark clothing. But use fluorescent and reflective clothing and equipment for yourself and your dog. Lights can also greatly increase your visibility. Make use of lights that you can attach to the dog's collar or a luminous collar. As a dog owner, it is best to make use of a headlamp or flashlight. 

Autumn fruits

Both acorns and wild chestnut are toxic to dogs and cause irritation and inflammation of the digestive tract. Moreover, chestnuts, nuts, pinecones are also dangerous if swallowed, as they can cause obstructions in the dog's intestines. 

Autumn is also the time of mushrooms. These too can be poisonous to our four-legged friends. Symptoms of poisoning depend on the type of mushroom and the amount eaten. Symptoms such as vomiting, diarrhea, fever, bleeding ... can occur. If you see that your dog has eaten a mushroom, it is advisable to contact your veterinarian immediately. It is often important for the veterinarian to know which mushroom is involved, so if possible, take a picture of the mushroom or bring the rest of the mushroom with you.

Cold and wet

How well your dog can withstand the cold depends on a few factors including breed, coat type, age, size, health status, etc. However, external factors such as heavy wind, rain or snow can also cause a dog to get cold or hypothermic more quickly. For skinny dogs, puppies, old dogs, dogs with bare bellies and/or light coats, a jacket can be a great solution in cold and/or wet weather. In our Belgian temperate climate, we can assume that dogs that are sufficiently active outside tend to stay sufficiently warm. For this active group, but also older dogs (short-haired breeds), the use of a coat after exercise can be helpful. The coat traps the warmth and allows the dog to cool down gradually after exercise, enabling muscles to recover safely and return to a resting state. For senior dogs, it provides additional comfort by keeping their joints warm. 'Party Paws' by Olly & Molly also helps keep joints extra smooth.

De-icing salt & snow

Road salt can be dangerous for our four-legged friends in 2 ways. First, by ingesting it when they eat snow or lick their paws. Salt is toxic to dogs. From 3,7 grams per kilogram of body weight, salt can even be lethal. The second danger of road salt is that when dogs walk on it, their foot pads are affected by the salt. This creates deep (painful) fissures at the level of their foot pads. This can be prevented by lubricating your sweet four-legged friend's paws with wax or vaseline or by using dog shoes. Also be sure to rinse their paws when you get home after a walk. When dogs with long(er) coats walk in the snow, snowballs form at the level of their legs, between their toes and at the bottom of their bellies, which are painful for our four-legged friends. These snowballs can be easily removed with warm water or a hair dryer (not too close to the skin).