Autumn Plants Pets Should Avoid

Oak Trees and Acorns. Acorns are the nuts formed from the oak tree. Eaten by squirrels, porcupines, bears and deer. They contain tannins which can cause stomach upsets and diarrhoea. Acorns are dangerous to dogs and cats, particularly as they can cause blockages being stuck in the intestines if eaten. Acorns can start falling during the summer when green and when ripened, as featured, during autumn months.

Horse Chestnut Tree and Conkers. Conkers are the nut formed by the Horse Chestnut tree. Loved by kids for conker collecting and playing games with them. The bark, leaves and conkers are all poisonous to pets. Conkers, fortunately, are not pleasant to eat and pets can choke on them. However, as the taste is not pleasant, the case numbers are small of pets suffering from severe choking. Vets remove the conkers by having to make your pet sick.

Apple Trees. All parts of the apple, except the flesh, contain cyanide. Fallen apples are a very dangerous treat for dogs in particularly. Dogs and cats may develop signs of stomach upset such as vomiting and diarrhoea if they have eaten parts of apples. Fermenting fruit left rotting on the ground can also pose an alcoholic toxicity problem for your pets. It’s best to pick up those rotting apples left on your garden lawn to avoid any pet problems.

Mushrooms and Toadstools. Wild mushrooms and different types of toadstools and fungi are poisonous to dogs and more so to cats. Best to avoid all wild mushrooms, toadstools and fungi.

Sweet Chestnuts. These are not to be mixed up with Horse Chestnuts. Sweet chestnuts grow in woods forests and orchards and their nuts are often offered by street sellers in autumn in UK city centres served up roasted on open fires. The shell called a ‘burr’ is considerably less spikey, softer and the tree leaves are longer, flatter and more oval. These won’t poison dogs but not really the sort of treat to give them either.

Avoid dogs foraging as it will help to keep unexpected and particular toxicity accidents at bay.