Autumn in West Yorkshire is a lovely time to own a dog. It is also the season when our phones get busier with the same handful of problems: a Labrador that has swallowed a conker, a cat that has licked something sweet smelling in the garage, a dog that has been sick after a woodland walk, and, from mid October onwards, pets that are terrified of fireworks.
Most of these are avoidable once you know what to look for. This is our vet team's guide to the autumn hazards we see most, the signs, and when to pick up the phone.
Conkers and Acorns
Both are everywhere right now, and both cause problems in two ways. Conkers contain a chemical called aesculin which can cause drooling, vomiting, diarrhoea and abdominal pain if a dog chews or swallows them. Acorns contain tannins that irritate the gut and, in larger amounts, can affect the kidneys. On top of that, a whole conker or a mouthful of acorns can lodge in the stomach or intestine and cause a blockage, which is a surgical emergency.
If you know your dog is a picker upper, keep it on a lead under horse chestnut and oak trees through October and November, and if it has swallowed something, do not wait to see what happens. Signs of a blockage, such as repeated vomiting, straining, a painful tummy or not passing anything, can take a day or two to show.
Fungi and Mouldy Leaf Piles
Wild mushrooms are hard to identify even for experts, and some of the species that grow in Yorkshire woodland and on lawns in autumn are dangerous to dogs. Some cause vomiting within hours, others cause tremors or liver problems that appear a day or more later. If your dog eats a mushroom, bring the mushroom (or a photo of it) with you. It helps us enormously.
Piles of damp, rotting leaves and garden compost are a less obvious risk. Mould growing on decaying material can produce toxins that cause tremors, twitching and in serious cases seizures. Keep compost bins lidded and discourage digging in leaf litter.
Antifreeze and Rodent Poison
These are the two we worry about most, because the consequences are so serious and the early signs are so easy to miss.
🧪 Antifreeze (ethylene glycol)
Tastes sweet, and cats in particular will lick it from a garage floor or a leaking car. Even a very small amount causes kidney failure. The early signs, which can look like the animal is wobbly or drunk, pass within hours before the real damage shows. Any contact is an emergency.
🐭 Rodent poison
Use goes up as mice and rats come indoors. Most baits stop blood from clotting, and signs such as lethargy, pale gums, bruising or bleeding can take several days to appear. Dogs eat the bait; cats are more often poisoned by eating affected rodents. Call us even if your pet seems fine.
Store antifreeze sealed, clean up spills straight away, check under the car, and keep any bait where no pet can reach it. Early treatment makes an enormous difference with both.
Blue Green Algae
Usually thought of as a summer problem, but blooms can persist into the cooler months and autumn rain stirs up ponds, reservoirs and slow rivers. Keep dogs out of water that looks green, scummy or murky. Signs after exposure, including vomiting, drooling, weakness and breathing difficulty, can come on very fast and the toxin can be fatal. Rinse the dog and contact us immediately.
Halloween: Chocolate, Sweets and Visitors
Chocolate is toxic to dogs and cats, with dark chocolate the most dangerous, and a bowl of trick or treat sweets by the front door is an open invitation. Sugar free sweets and chewing gum can contain xylitol, which is dangerous to dogs even in small amounts and can cause a sudden drop in blood sugar. Keep the treats up high, and if you know your dog has eaten chocolate or sweets, phone us with the packaging to hand so we can work out the amount.
Halloween also means a doorbell that goes every few minutes. Give pets a quiet room away from the door.
Fireworks
Bonfire Night and Diwali both fall in early November, and in practice fireworks in Leeds and Wakefield run from mid October to mid November. In a 2025 survey for the RSPCA, almost two thirds of dog owners said fireworks had a negative effect on their dog, and cats are affected just as much even if they show it more quietly.
Practical steps help: walk dogs in daylight, keep cats in after dusk, close curtains, put the television on, and give pets a quiet, covered place to settle in that they already use every day. Make sure microchip details are up to date, because frightened animals bolt. If your pet's fear is severe, there are options we can discuss with you in a consultation, and the earlier in October you come in the more we can do. We do not prescribe anything without seeing the animal, so please do not rely on products bought online.
Research from the University of Lincoln, published in Frontiers in Veterinary Science, found that dogs with undiagnosed muscle or joint pain were more likely to develop noise sensitivity, and that it often appeared later in life. If an older dog has suddenly become frightened of bangs, or is also stiff, slow to get up or reluctant to jump, a check over is worthwhile before fireworks season starts.
For the behavioural side, where a dog's fear is really about not trusting its owner to handle the situation, we refer owners to our sister company, The Dog Training Company, whose trainers work from the same site as us in Tingley and in Sheffield. Their approach is relationship based, and it addresses the cause rather than just managing the night.
The Clocks Go Back on 25 October
Darker evenings mean more dog walks in poor light and more cats out on the roads at dusk and dawn. For dogs, a reflective collar or lead and a light on the collar make a real difference on unlit paths, and keeping the dog on a lead near roads matters more when drivers cannot see it. For cats, consider keeping them in overnight through the winter and feeding them before dusk so they come home.
Cold, wet weather also shows up stiffness in older pets. If your dog or cat seems slower on the stairs or less keen to go out now the mornings are chilly, do not put it down to age. Our post on senior pet care explains what to look for.
Fleas Don't Stop When the Weather Turns
A common assumption is that flea treatment can lapse once summer ends. In fact, central heating going on in October creates ideal conditions for flea eggs and larvae in carpets and bedding, and we see plenty of flea allergy cases through the winter. Ticks are also still active on mild autumn days. Keep flea and worm treatment going year round. Our health plans are designed to spread the cost of routine care like this across the year; ask the team what is included. Our guide to flea allergy dermatitis covers what to look for.
When to Call Us
Please ring us straight away, during the day or out of hours, if your pet:
- has eaten antifreeze, rodent bait, chocolate, xylitol sweets, mushrooms or a whole conker, or you suspect it has;
- is vomiting repeatedly, drooling heavily, straining or has a painful or swollen tummy;
- is wobbly, twitching, trembling, collapsed or struggling to breathe;
- has pale gums, unexplained bruising or bleeding;
- has been in suspect water and is unwell.
Home remedies can cause more harm than the thing you are worried about. Phone us, tell us what has been eaten and when, and we will tell you what to do next. We also offer 24/7 support through VidiVet, so there is always a vet to speak to; ask the team how to access it.
Book an Autumn Check Up
If your pet has not been seen for a while, autumn is a good moment for a health check before the cold sets in: weight, joints, teeth, parasite cover and, for older pets, anything that might be making fireworks season harder than it needs to be. Dental checks are free for dogs and cats at Paws & Co, so mention any bad breath or reluctance to eat when you book. You can see everything we offer on our services page.
Worried About Something Your Pet Has Eaten?
Paws & Co Veterinary Centre is an independent practice in Tingley, serving Leeds, Wakefield and Morley. Call us straight away for anything urgent, or book an autumn health check online.