With dark nights starting to creep in and temperatures getting cooler, autumn brings with it many challenges for pets and their owners.

At this time of year, we also see the start of the fireworks season and Halloween, which can be stressful for many pets. Being aware of hazards for your pets can allow you all to continue to enjoy time outdoors and the colourful scenery that autumn creates.

Korina Stephens, RVN from pet food brand nutravet says: “Dogs can be curious animals and as the season changes, they’ll want to explore new surroundings. Many pets can also become stressed at this time of year due to the noise from fireworks, planning ahead for these particular events will help to reduce any anxiety.

“Like most seasons, pet owners should be aware of any hazards that could cause problems for your pets, such as poorly tummies if they eat something they shouldn’t. Many autumn plants are hazardous for our four-legged friends and should be avoided on walks. If you are worried about your pet’s health at this time of year, speak to your vet who is best placed to offer advice.”

nutravet share their tips for dog owners during Autumn months:

Keep up with exercise

Although the weather may be cooler, it’s tempting to spend more time indoors with our four-legged friends but it’s important to keep up with your dog’s daily walks. This will help to prevent any weight gain, as well as keeping their joints mobile and avoid stiffness. As the weather changes, you could reduce the length of their walks and support your pet’s joints with a natural supplement like nutraquin+.

Autumn plants

With seeds and leaves dropping during autumn months, some are poisonous to pets and can cause serious illness. Yew trees are poisonous and eating just a small amount can be serious. The bark, leaves, flowers and conkers of Horse Chestnut Trees are also poisonous to pets. Conkers can also become a choking hazard or cause blockages.

Acorns are also a common sight during autumn. They can be found on the ground throughout autumn months. These can cause blockages when eaten by pets.

Fleas and ticks

As we start to turn the central heating on in our homes, this makes a more comfortable environment for pesky fleas. Keeping up with your pet’s flea treatment will help to prevent any unwanted house guests at this time of year.

Ticks are also still prominent in autumn, so be sure to check your pets regularly for ticks, especially after dog walks.

Diet

If your pet is exercising less, be sure to adjust their diet to match this. Your vet will be able to offer advice on how much your pet should be eating. Keep any seasonal treats away from pets, such as Halloween chocolate as this can cause tummy upsets. For pets with sensitive tummies during this time, nutrabio is a naturally formulated probiotic paste for dogs and cats to help maintain normal digestive function.

Pumpkins

These are commonly used as decorations throughout autumn and Halloween. Although they are not poisonous, if consumed in large quantities, they could lead to your pet having a sensitive tummy. If you use candles in your pumpkins, make sure these are out of reach from your pet and can’t be knocked over.

Halloween
This time of year can prove to be stressful for pets, due to Halloween and the fireworks season. During Halloween your pet may become stressed with strangers knocking on the door for trick or treat, as they may be unsure about the scary costumes.

If you know you are going to get trick or treaters at the door, secure your pet in another room so they don’t get spooked and try to escape. Although they look cute, don’t force your pet to wear a Halloween costume if they seem anxious. If they are happy to wear one, make sure it’s not too tight, can’t be chewed and doesn’t restrict their airways in anyway.

Fireworks

Firework season can last from October to New Year and make this time of year very stressful for some pets and their owners. To help reduce stress for your pet, make your pet a den to retreat to during the fireworks and close curtains and play music to help block out the noise. Walk your dog earlier in the day before it gets dark to avoid being out when fireworks are going off and bring any outdoor pets inside. If you are worried about your pet, ask your vet about nutracalm – a natural, fast acting calming supplement for cats and dogs.

Provide shelter from the weather

If your pet spends a lot of time outside, be sure to provide a shelter for them for when the weather gets colder or if it rains. Make sure they have lots of blankets to keep them warm and comfy. As the weather gets colder bring smaller pets indoors.

Safety

As the dark nights draw in, check and up-date your pet’s microchip details in case they get lost on walks or get spooked during the fireworks or at Halloween. Up-to-date details will help to ensure your pet gets back to you as quickly as possible when found.

If you are walking your dog early in the morning or late at night be sure to wear reflective clothing. You could also use a reflective collar and coat for your dog, just in case they get lost.

Senior pets

Keep an eye on older pets who feel the cold more than their younger counterparts. Add more blankets to their bedding to help keep them warm and cosy and to support senior joints.

For more tips and advice visit www.nutravet.co.uk

A couple have been given 14-week prison sentences, suspended for 12-months, and disqualified from keeping dogs for life after abandoning their pets at a house in Doncaster.

Frazer Hugh Massey (D.O.B 20.03.93) and Zoe Natasha White (D.O.B 11.03.87) – now of Morland Road, Sheffield – appeared before Doncaster Magistrates’ Court today (Tuesday 4 December).

They left the property on Wembley Road, Moorends in June. Their dogs were locked in an upstairs bedroom with no food or water.

At an earlier hearing they admitted, between 10 June and 28 June, causing unnecessary suffering to eight-month-old male Yorkshire terrier cross Rexy and seven-year-old female Jack Russell Missy by leaving them unattended without taking reasonable steps to ensure that adequate arrangements were made for their care.

RSPCA inspector Tamsin Drysdale said: “When I opened the door to the bedroom Missy ran straight past me, she was so desperate to get out.

“Then I saw the scratch marks in the carpet where the dogs had clearly been trying to escape.

“I went downstairs and gave Missy some water, and she drank excessively and for a long period of time.

“Rexy wasn’t so lucky. His body was amongst the clothes, empty takeaway boxes and fizzy drink bottles on the floor.”

Veterinary examination found that Rexy was very thin and had a lot of flea dirt in his coat. A subsequent post-mortem found he had most likely starved to death.

Missy was found to be underweight by the vet. She was still very thirsty and hungry, drinking a large volume of water and eating ravenously when food was offered. She was very itchy and had lots of live fleas and flea dirt in her coat.

She was taken on by RSPCA Doncaster and Rotherham Branch Animal Centre in Bawtry, from where she has been happily rehomed.

The court heard that the couple had left the property on 9 June after an incident during which police were called and had never gone back.

The RSPCA was contacted by a concerned member of the public four days later and placed seals on the door to establish whether anyone was attending. Inspector Drysdale spoke with White the next day who said the 15-year-old daughter of a friend was attending, and they were returning the day after, but that didn’t happen.

Inspector Drysdale said: “It’s hard to imagine any circumstances where I would leave my dogs locked in a bedroom alone, without food or water, and without ensuring that someone was attending to them, like Massey and White did here.

“The animals were discovered after I got a call from White saying she wanted to rehome them and directing me to a spare key so that I could go and get them. If they’d done that sooner, both dogs might have survived.”

In mitigation, the court heard that it was their first offences, they were remorseful and pleaded guilty at the first opportunity.

As well as the suspended prison sentence and disqualification, Massey was also ordered to do 150 hours of unpaid work. White was also given a curfew order between the hours of 7pm and 7am. They were ordered to pay £150 costs and a victim surcharge of £115 each.

A beautiful German Shepherd is looking for a new home with an owner who will spend time grooming her and bathing her beautiful coat.

But six-year-old Sheena hasn’t always had such a healthy set of locks. The poor dog was almost completely bald when she was rescued by RSPCA inspectors in September last year.

The dog – who should have a thick black and tan coat – had no hair left on her body and just a thin layer of fur around her face.

RSPCA Inspector Sara Jordan, who responded to complaints from the public about Sheena’s condition, said: “A member of the public grew concerned about Sheena and a second dog – Staffordshire bull terrier Belinda – at a property in Sheffield and contacted us.

“Both dogs were suffering from extensive fur loss and, when I took them to the vets, we discovered they both had severe flea infestations.

“Police seized the dogs and placed them into our care while we investigated.”

Sheena and Belinda, eight, were taken in by the RSPCA’s Sheffield Animal Centre.

A spokesperson said: “Sheena is an absolute trooper. When she arrived in our care she was totally bald apart from a little hair around her face, and she was underweight and in very poor condition. It was difficult to even see what type of dog she was.

“After many months of love, medication and TLC she has absolutely flourished and now she’s finally ready for a brand new life.”

Staff spent months of dedicated time and special medication to nurse Sheena and Belinda back to health and now, the German Shepherd looks like a different dog with a full coat of beautiful thick hair!

On 7 August, Sheena’s previous owner, Jason Pearce (08/12/69) previously of Scarsdale Street, Dinnington, was presented to Sheffield Magistrates’ Court in custody on warrant. He pleaded guilty to two offences under the Animal Welfare Act and was disqualified from keeping animals for 10 years. He was deprived of both dogs and ordered to pay £120 fine, £200 in costs and a £30 victim surcharge.

A warrant has been issued for a second defendant – a 47-year-old woman – who is also due before court for the same offences.

Now the case is over, it means Sheena can find a new home.

“This fantastic girl has been through so much yet she always brings us so much joy and happiness to everyone she meets with her amazing personality,” a charity spokesperson added.

“She loves to go exploring with you and is quite food focussed. She is very clever and enjoys learning new skills.”

Sheena would like a new home where she will be the only dog but where her new owners will help improve her socialisation with other dogs. She would also like a quiet home with older children.

She’s active so would like somewhere she can stay busy, learn new tricks and go on long walks and lots of adventures.

For more information about Sheena, visit her online profile on the RSPCA website.