Fall Hazards for Pets: What Every Pet Parent Should Know

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There’s a chill in the air and the smell of pumpkin spice is everywhere — fall is finally here! While our furry friends are surely looking forward to all the fun fall festivities, like trips to the pumpkin patch, longer walks, and more time outdoors enjoying the cooler weather, there are also some unique fall hazards to watch out for. From dangerous decorations to toxic treats, let’s dive into what every pet parent needs to know to keep their four-legged friends safe all autumn long!

Dangerous Fall Decorations for Pets

Whether it’s carving pumpkins or stringing up skeletons, decorating is all part of the fall fun — but some fall decorations can present choking hazards or be toxic to pets. Here’s what pet parents should consider when decorating for the fall.

Toxic Fall Plants and Flowers

If you have pets and you’re bringing in new plants or seasonal flower arrangements to spruce up your space for fall, you’ll want to avoid anything with chrysanthemums (mums), autumn crocus, or lilies. These can be toxic to both dogs and cats. Chrysanthemums and lilies are commonly found in fall bouquets at the grocery store or in premade arrangements, so be extra careful when choosing flowers this season.

Candles and Scented Products

There’s nothing like the scents of pumpkin, maple, and cinnamon wafting through the air to bring the fall mood into your home. However, if you have pets, you’ll want to use caution with candles and scented products. Dogs and cats can be sensitive to odors and certain types of scented candles, essential oils, or air fresheners can even be toxic. When using scented products, always look for pet-safe options and take caution when burning candles. Candles can present a burn or fire risk if a curious cat or dog gets too close!

Decoration Dangers

Whether adding a few fall touches to your home or going all out on the decorations for Halloween, it’s important to consider your pets in the process. Dogs may find items like dried corn cobs and skeleton decorations enticing as chew toys, and cats can become tangled in fake spiderwebs or string decorations. These items can also lead to choking hazards or intestinal obstructions if swallowed. And when it comes to everyone’s fall favorite, jack-o-lanterns, you’ll want to use caution and keep pets far away to avoid burns from the candle or gastrointestinal distress from eating raw pumpkin.

Fall Foods to Keep Away from Pets

With pumpkin season in full swing, candied apples everywhere you look, and of course, all the parties and treats accompanying Halloween and Thanksgiving — fall is all about the food! But between buckets of Halloween candy lying around and pumpkin pies on the counter, our pets might be tempted to help themselves to a treat. Here are some fall foods to use extra caution with around pets.

Baked Goods

Fall kicks off the “holiday baking season” in many households, and whether you’re rolling out the dough for an apple pie or baking up some spooky cookies for Halloween, you’ll want to use caution in the kitchen if you have pets. Common ingredients in baked goods that can be dangerous to pets include chocolate, raisins, yeast dough, macadamia nuts, and anything sweetened with xylitol. While these are just a few of the most common toxic items, many human foods can be dangerous for pets to consume, so play it safe and keep them out of the kitchen when baking.

Halloween Candy

Nothing says Halloween like the big bowls of candy lying around our houses in October. Whether you’re stocking up for trick-or-treaters or your kids just brought home their Halloween candy haul, you’ll want to secure that candy stash far away from pets. Besides the copious amounts of sugar that can cause all sorts of gastrointestinal problems, many ingredients in candy can also be toxic to pets, like chocolate, raisins, and xylitol. Hard candies and lollipops can also present choking hazards or intestinal obstructions. Keep all candy far away from any four-legged trick-or-treaters you may have!

Thanksgiving Foods

From the aroma of roasted turkey and pumpkin pie to the excitement of holiday guests, many pets are eager to snag a seat at the Thanksgiving dinner table. Unfortunately, many dishes served at Thanksgiving include fatty meats, bones, onions, oils, seasonings, and sugars that can be dangerous for pets to consume. It’s important to keep pets away from the food (use gates or secure pets in a separate room if needed) and warn your guests not to share any table scraps. After dinner, take out the trash so pets aren’t tempted by the smell of turkey bones which can cause intestinal injuries and blockages.

Fall Outdoor Hazards for Pets

With cooler weather, fall is often the perfect time to take your dog for long walks and weekend hikes or let your cat enjoy outdoor time on the patio. Like all seasons, though, fall can have some unique outdoor hazards. When spending time outdoors with your pets this fall, remember these things.

Leaf Litter and Acorns

While dogs may love nothing more than playing in leaf piles, you never know what may be lurking under those leaves. Fallen leaves can often be home to fleas, ticks, and other parasites that take up residence in decaying plant matter. Snakes also often slither among leaf piles unnoticed. Of course, leaves aren’t the only things falling from trees in autumn, acorns can also be dangerous to dogs if eaten. Be sure to keep pets away from leaf litter and acorns on walks or hikes and rake your yard regularly if your pet spends time out there.

Poisonous Mushrooms

Depending on where you live, you may notice more wild mushrooms sprouting up in the fall, especially after it rains. Wild mushrooms are commonly found in wooded areas but can also pop up right in your backyard. Some species of wild mushrooms are incredibly toxic to pets and not always easy to identify, so it’s important to keep pets away from all wild mushrooms and routinely check your yard for them.

Antifreeze and Rodenticides

While many potential toxins can linger outdoors, fall is often a time when rodenticide and antifreeze poisoning in pets becomes more common. Antifreeze can leak onto driveways and roads, where pets may lick it or step in it and lick their paws later. Rodenticides might be found around homes and fences in your neighborhood and often have something enticing, like cheese or peanut butter, which may also attract pets. To protect your pet against these poisons and others, always leash and supervise them when outdoors.

Less Daylight

With the sun rising later and setting earlier in the fall, many pup parents find themselves leashing up in lower light conditions. Stay safe in the dark by carrying a flashlight, adding clip-on lights or reflectors to your dog’s collar or harness, and staying on well-lit streets and sidewalks. Since wildlife can be more active at night, you’ll also want to be careful around bushes, rock piles, or any other areas where snakes, skunks, or other animals tend to hide.

Seasonal Allergies and Shedding in The Fall

Just like humans, some pets may experience seasonal allergies in the fall. This can manifest in various ways, including itchy skin, watery eyes, and sneezing. Double-coated dog and cat breeds can also experience seasonal shedding, as they shed their summer coat for their winter coat to grow in. To help your pet during this time, regularly dust and vacuum your home to reduce allergens, and brush your pet regularly to reduce shedding. Also, speak to your veterinarian about your pet’s symptoms, especially if they are excessively itching, losing large patches of hair, or seem uncomfortable.

Final Fall Pet Safety Tips

While fall can be a lot of fun, it's important to keep pet health and safety in mind. If your pet gets into any potentially dangerous or toxic items we’ve covered, seek veterinary attention immediately!

Some pets can also get easily stressed with all the holiday happenings, so it’s a good idea to set them up in a safe, comfortable space to retreat to when they need a break from all the excitement. You’ll also want to ensure they’re secure when opening the door for trick-or-treaters or holiday guests. Pets have been known to slip out unnoticed or help themselves to the treat table during the hustle and bustle of the holidays.

To be prepared in case your pet decides to go trick-or-treating on their own or help themselves to the Thanksgiving table, make sure they have current ID tags and microchips and keep the number to your closest emergency vet, pet poison control, and your pet insurance information handy.

For extra peace of mind during pumpkin season, you can also protect your pet with a Lifetime Protection Membership from 24Petwatch. You’ll have access to a vet telehealth service for pet health questions, discounts on pet-sitting and dog-walking services, and lost pet recovery specialists standing by to assist should your pet ever get lost. 24Petwatch has reunited over 730,000 lost pets and will be there when you need them.