1) Mushrooms
Autumn is mushroom season in Denmark, and while you might have read up on which fungi are deadly, your dog hasn't.
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Mushrooms are among the most dangerous things curious canines can ingest during a walk. Some mushrooms lead to vomiting and diarrhoea, while others can affect a dog’s nervous system or cause serious damage to the liver and kidneys.
For that reason, its a good idea to keep your dog on a lead in areas with many mushrooms. If your dog has eaten an unidentifiable mushroom, don’t wait for symptoms to show: contact your vet straight away, and if possible, take photos of the mushroom in question.
If your dog shows symptoms such as excessive salivation, vomiting, diarrhoea, lethargy, restlessness, shaking, cramps, or changes in drinking or urination, these could be signs of poisoning. If in doubt, contact your vet.
If its out of hours and your usual vet isn't open, search for an akut dyrlæge or dyrlægevagt.
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2) Chestnuts and conkers
Horse chestnut trees also start to drop conkers at this time of year in Denmark. Conkers, also known as Aesculus hippocastanum, are poisonous to dogs. That's because they contain a substance called aesculin, which can result in excessive salivation, vomiting, diarrhoea, reduced appetite and in extreme cases neurological symptoms such as cramps, stiffness and paralysis.
Aesculin is also present in the horse chestnut’s flowers, leaves and bark.
Although chestnuts can look like small balls, you should never encourage your dog to play with them.
3) Acorns
Similarly, acorns are also poisonous to dogs due to their tannins, which can irritate and damage a dog’s gastrointestinal tract. If a dog eats too many acorns, it can also affect their liver and kidneys.
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4) Fallen fruits
To dogs, fallen fruit can look and smell appealing, but when fruit falls from trees and begins to rot it ferments, producing alcohol. If a dog eats large quantities of fermenting fruits, it can suffer from alcohol poisoning. Symptoms include unsteady gait, lethargy, vomiting, low blood sugar and, in severe cases, impaired breathing.
This isn't just an issue if you have a fruit tree in your own garden – there are often fruit trees in Danish parks and trees in private gardens may also drop fruit out onto pavements.
5) Pits from stone fruits
The stones from fruits such as plums, cherries, apricots and peaches can also pose a risk to your four-legged friend. If dogs manage to bite into the core of stone fruits, they can release cyanide, which is highly toxic to dogs and humans alike.
6) Bees and wasps
At this time of year, rotting fruits on the ground attract lots of bees and wasps. Should a dog eat a bee or a wasp – either on purpose or not – they could suffer from local pain and swelling if stung.
If they are stung further back in their mouth or throat, swelling and inflammation could lead to obstructed airways and difficulty breathing. Like humans, some dogs can also suffer from serious allergic reactions. If your dog gets stung by a bee or a wasp, you should contact your vet – bistik is the Danish word for a bee sting, hvepsestik for wasps.
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7) Snails, slugs and larvae
Snails and slugs are also drawn to rotting fruits, which can be carriers for parasites like French heartworm and fox lungworm, which can be passed on to dogs if accidentally eaten. Symptoms include coughing, breathing difficulty, lethargy, reduced appetite, vomiting or bleeding disorders.
Seven tips for dog owners
- Teach your dog the command “Drop it” or “Drop”.
- Keep your dog close to you or on a lead in areas with many wild mushrooms.
- Don’t let your dog play with chestnuts, acorns or pits from stone fruits.
- Remove rotting fruits and wild mushrooms from your garden.
- Keep an eye on wasps, bees and snails around fruits.
- Bring your dog’s own toys to play with as a safe alternative.
- Contact your vet immediately if you suspect poisoning or if there are signs of illness.
With reporting from Ritzau
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