Pets: Why food on the hoof can be fatal

AUTUMN is officially here - the perfect season for long walks with our beloved four-legged friends.

But with many seasonal plants now in full bloom, leading veterinary charity PDSA is warning pet owners of the dangers lurking in our gardens and countryside.

Allowing pets to nibble on the wrong type of autumn leaves, seeds or fruit can cause serious harm.

"Most pets, especially young animals, are eager to explore new things, but sometimes they accidentally swallow objects when they only meant to investigate them," explains senior veterinary surgeon Sean Wensley.

"Eating parts of certain plants can cause sickness, but owners need to be aware that consuming large amounts can prove fatal."

The PDSA advises owners to keep an eye on what their pets are investigating while out on walks and remember that dangers can be present in their garden as well.

These can include plants such as Lily of the Valley, Laburnum, Castor Oil Bush and Cherry Laurel.

"Always check before putting new or unusual plants in your garden to ensure they are not toxic to pets," says Sean.

There are many poisonous plants, but at this time of year pet owners should be particularly aware of the following seasonal dangers:

Acorns

Easily eaten, yet highly toxic, acorns are at their most dangerous before they ripen, when they are still green.

Signs of acorn poisoning can include constipation followed by diarrhoea, urinary problems and swelling of the legs.

Conkers

The bark, leaves, flowers and conkers of Horse Chestnut trees are poisonous to pets. Conkers may be less dangerous than acorns, but if they are consumed in large amounts they can prove fatal.

Signs of poisoning usually appear within one to six hours and include vomiting and diarrhoea, abdominal pain, excessive drinking, excess saliva, loss of appetite, paralysis and difficulty breathing.

Yew

Yew trees, which are commonly found in churchyards, are extremely toxic to pets.

Every part of the tree is poisonous, and eating just a handful of the leaves can be fatal. Signs of poisoning are usually seen within two hours and include sickness and diarrhoea, excessive salivation, dilated pupils, trembling and convulsions and breathing problems.

"If you believe your pet is suffering from any type of poisoning, you should contact your vet for advice immediately," says Sean.

Pet owners can find out more about poisonous plants and how to protect their pets by downloading a free copy of PDSA's A Safer Garden leaflet from www.pdsa.org.uk/safergardens