Enjoy autumn adventures with your pet, safely

Crisp walks, colourful leaves, and cosy evenings make autumn a favourite season for many pets and their owners.

And if the unexpected happens, Vets Now is here when minutes matter.

A smiling doodle lying on grass surronded by fallen leaves in an autumnal setting

Let's find your closest team

To help you make the most of autumn with your pet, we’ve rounded up our top advice on seasonal hazards and simple ways to stay safe. Don't forget to bookmark our dedicated guides:Top 9 Autumn Hazards for Dogs Every Owner Should Know and Top 9 Autumn Hazards for Cats Every Owner Should Know

Explore our autumn pet safety hub using the links below. Each section takes you straight to advice on a specific seasonal topic.

Out and about

Autumn walks can bring hidden hazards, from darker evenings and icy paths to seasonal pests and harmful chemicals underfoot.

dog-led-collar

Dark nights

Many of us are restricted to walking our dogs in low light due to a whole range of commitments.

But as it gets darker, it’s important keep yourself and your dog safe using reflective collars and leads, LED collar clips and bright reflective clothing.

dog-winter-coat

Grit and muddy paths

From rock salt and grit to muddy paths, autumn walks can be tough on your dog's paws. De-icing salt can cause irritation and may be harmful if licked off, while muddy conditions have been linked to the rare disease Alabama Rot. Always wipe your dog’s paws thoroughly after walks.  

dog-autumn-park

Harvest mites

Harvest mites are microscopic arachnids that live in long grass and woodland areas. To help prevent the mites attaching to your dog out and about, you can treat them with a preventative fipronil-based spray before you head out for walks in wooded areas.

Our soothing soundtrack for firework season

Playing calming music, white noise, or a TV show with background sounds can help drown out the sudden bangs. To help, we have created a soothing Spotify playlist to help reduce stress during firework displays.

Real life stories

From near death to recovery: Saving Gus after a serious… – hero

From near death to recovery: Saving Gus after a serious road traffic accident

A kitten left close to death after being hit by a car was saved after a nighttime dash to one of our emergency Vets Now clinics.

From the brink of death to trick-or-treat: Boo’s incredible… – body

From the brink of death to trick-or-treat: Boo’s incredible comeback

A dog called Boo who was left struck down and just seconds from death by a rare syndrome is ready for Halloween after our vets miraculously brought her back to life.

Autumn pet safety made simple

Looking for an easy way to share pet safety advice? Our downloadable dog and cat infographics highlight the most common autumn hazards, helping pet owners recognise risks early and keep their pets safe throughout autumn.

Couple walking a golden retriever in autumn

This Autumn, watch out for these dog hazards

Read, download and add our autumn hazards infographic to your own social media accounts to help spread the word.

autumn-cat-in-garden_preview

This Autumn, watch out for these cat hazards

Read, download and add our autumn hazards infographic to your own social media accounts to help spread the word.