As soon as the first leaves cover the ground, every walk turns into a sniffing expedition. Hidden under the foliage are chestnuts, acorns, mushrooms and fallen fruit, and many dogs find exactly that irresistible. In autumn our Vico inspects every verge particularly thoroughly, as if someone had laid the table just for him.
Unfortunately, some of these finds do not belong in a dog's stomach. Some are merely hard to digest, others downright toxic. Here you will learn which autumn finds are risky for dogs, how to react in an emergency and how to teach your dog, step by step, to stop eating off the ground.
Horse chestnuts: pretty, but not for a dog's stomach
The shiny horse chestnuts lying everywhere right now contain saponins, including aescin. In dogs, these substances can cause vomiting, diarrhoea, heavy drooling and abdominal pain. On top of that comes a second risk that is often underestimated: a whole chestnut swallowed in one piece can get stuck in the intestine. Especially in small dogs like dachshunds, this can lead to an intestinal blockage that needs surgery.
Playing with chestnuts is not a good idea either. When a dog chews on them, the shell splinters, and a piece is quickly swallowed. Better to throw your dog a ball or a toy that is made for it.
Acorns: the underestimated tannins
Acorns contain tannins. If your dog briefly nibbles on a single acorn, usually nothing happens. But if he eats several, or regularly helps himself to acorns, the tannins can irritate the lining of the stomach and intestines. Vets also point out that larger quantities can put strain on the liver and kidneys. Typical signs are vomiting, diarrhoea and loss of appetite. The same applies to oak leaves and young shoots.
Mushrooms, fallen fruit and walnuts
For mushrooms, the simplest rule of all applies: anything you cannot identify with certainty, your dog must not eat. Toxic species also grow right next to the path, and a dog does not distinguish between a porcini and a death cap.
Fallen fruit is trickier than it looks. When apples or plums lie on the ground for a while, they start to ferment and alcohol forms. Add to that the wasps that like to hide in sweet fruit. With walnuts, the nut itself is not the problem but the mould that can infest the green husk and fallen nuts. It produces toxins that can cause trembling and seizures in dogs.
If your dog has grabbed something anyway
You can never prevent it completely. If you see or suspect that your dog has eaten something toxic, the rule is: stay calm and call your veterinary practice or the veterinary emergency service straight away. Describe what your dog ate, when and in what quantity, and if possible take a piece of the find with you to the practice.
Important: never induce vomiting on your own. And if you see clear signs such as heavy drooling, repeated vomiting, trembling or lethargy, do not wait to see whether it gets better by itself. The sooner your dog is treated, the better.
Prevention through training: swap instead of snatch
The best insurance against autumn hazards is a dog that lets go of finds on cue. The magic phrase is swapping instead of snatching: your dog learns that giving something up pays off, because a better reward follows. Practise this at home first with toys and boring objects before trying it outside with real temptations.
For this to work, the reward has to come at the right moment, not after ten seconds of rummaging in your jacket pocket. A treat pouch like the SnackPack treat pouch sits on your belt or waistband with its clip and opens with one hand. That way the reward is within reach before the chestnut disappears into the mouth. In spots with lots of fallen fruit or acorns, it is best to keep your dog on a short leash until the training is solid. You can read how else to be considerate in the autumn forest in our post on the hunting season in the forest.
Your own snacks instead of finds from the ground
A dog that regularly gets something from your hand on walks has less reason to scan the ground. So pack your own treats and use them deliberately as rewards. For chewing in between, natural chews such as the Hundelust CH organic chicken necks are a good fit: they come from Swiss organic farms, are certified to the Bio Suisse Knospe standard, gently air-dried and lightly smoked over beechwood. As always, give chews under supervision and deduct the amount from the daily ration. You will find more Swiss snacks in our Organic treats & snacks collection.
Frequently asked questions
My dog has swallowed a chestnut. What should I do?
Call your veterinary practice and describe the situation, even if your dog is not showing any symptoms yet. A whole chestnut can get stuck in the intestine, especially in small dogs. Watch your dog closely and go to the practice immediately if he vomits, shows abdominal pain or becomes lethargic.
Are sweet chestnuts toxic to dogs?
Sweet chestnuts, the Marroni roasted all over Switzerland in autumn, are not toxic, unlike horse chestnuts. Cooked and peeled, your dog may try a small piece now and then. Outdoors, the rule still applies: paws off anything lying on the ground. The risk of confusion with horse chestnuts is too great, and raw or mouldy fruit does not belong in a dog's mouth anyway.
How do I teach my dog to stop eating off the ground?
With patience and swap training: your dog learns that giving something up pays off because a better reward follows. Practise in a low-distraction environment first and increase slowly. For dogs that stubbornly eat everything, support from a good dog school is worth it.
