🍂 Dogs in Autumn – Mushrooms, Paws & Zeolite: Everything you need to know now

There's a moment in autumn that always feels the same. The door opens. Ezra comes in. Completely wet, full of enthusiasm, paws black with mud. And I stand there with the towel. And then another. And then another. That's autumn with a dog. Beautiful. Sometimes a bit exhausting. But always close.

Minni, on the other hand — our new dog from grandma and grandpa, actually Winnie, but the name didn't stick — looks out the door when it rains, turns around, and goes back inside. No pee. No walk. No interest. Grandma and grandpa understand completely. They don't either.

This article is for everyone who goes through autumn with wet dogs, muddy paws, worried eyes in the leaves, and the eternal question 'what has he eaten again?'. I know the feeling. Let's look at it together.

❓ The most common questions at a glance

Looking for quick answers? Here are the most important ones – everything in detail further down.

★ Are acorns, chestnuts, and mushrooms really dangerous for dogs?

Yes — and this is often underestimated. Acorns contain tannin (tannic acid) which can damage the liver and kidneys. Horse chestnuts contain saponins and glycosides which are toxic and can cause intestinal obstruction if swallowed. Mushrooms can be highly poisonous — some are deadly even in small amounts. A lot hides in the autumn leaves that we don't even see.

★ My dog ate something on a walk. What should I do?

Stay calm, observe. In case of symptoms such as vomiting, diarrhea, trembling, staggering, or weakness, go to the vet immediately. When in doubt, it's better to go once too often than too rarely. Especially with mushrooms: act immediately.

★ When is the creek too cold for swimming in autumn?

As a rule of thumb: From about 15 to 17°C water temperature, most dog breeds can swim without hesitation. Below 10°C, it becomes problematic for most. Important: The water temperature in autumn is often much colder than the air temperature. A quick dip is usually not a problem — long swimming in cold water can lead to muscle cramps, hypothermia, and the painful limber tail.

★ My dog takes forever to dry. What helps?

Microfiber towels — we have five, and they are all wet at the same time in autumn. There are also dog bathrobes made of terry cloth or fleece that really help. Especially important: thoroughly dry between the toes, armpits, and ears — moisture collects there, which causes skin problems.

★ Are ticks still active in autumn?

Yes — as long as temperatures do not continuously drop below freezing, ticks are active. Autumn with mild weather is classic tick season. Check after every walk, especially the head, neck, armpits, belly, and between the toes.

★ Why do I give my dog zeolite in autumn?

In autumn, the dog's body is more stressed: coat change costs nutrients, damp ground and leaves bring more mycotoxins (mold toxins), the immune system adjusts. Zeolite binds these pollutants in the intestine before they enter the bloodstream — and provides silicon for coat, skin, and connective tissue. Daily in food, 0.5% of the food amount.

 

Autumn is a real transition phase for dogs

Not only does the weather change — the dog's body also adjusts. The summer coat gives way to a thicker winter coat, the immune system adapts, the days get shorter. Understanding this helps you provide better support.

The coat change — with tips on brushing, drying, and what zeolite can do from the inside — has been extensively covered in our coat care article. This article focuses on other autumn topics that truly concern me as a dog mom.

👉 Coat care in autumn

 

The eternal drying – and why it's more than a tiresome chore

Ezra loves rain. Puddles. Mud. The creek behind the vineyard. He isn't the least bit interested in the weather — the colder, the better. Interestingly, in summer he prefers to heel because the heat is uncomfortable for him. But autumn? Autumn is his season.

What does that mean for me? Drying. Always. All autumn long.
There are dog bathrobes made of terry cloth or fleece that really help. And then there's us — with five microfiber towels. They are all wet and dirty at the same time in autumn.
But thorough drying is not pedantry — it is genuine dog protection. Moisture in the coat, especially between the toes, under the armpits, and on the belly, creates an environment where bacteria and fungi thrive. Irritated skin, hotspots (round itchy skin inflammations that the dog worsens by scratching and licking), ear infections in dogs with floppy ears — much of this begins with a coat that stays damp for too long.
So: towel. Always. And then the paws again. And don't forget the ears.

A small tip for afterward: Spray AM+PLUS Active Microorganisms onto the still slightly damp coat. This strengthens the natural skin microbiome — the protective balance of beneficial bacteria on the skin — which repeatedly gets out of balance due to moisture and mud.

Mushrooms, acorns, chestnuts — what is truly dangerous

This is the topic that concerns me most in autumn. Because much of it hides under the rustling leaves — and dogs find it.

Mushrooms

Ezra has a nose that literally finds everything. And in autumn, the problem is everywhere: mushrooms. The insidious thing — they smell irresistible to dogs. Especially the Death Cap and fiberheads have a slightly fishy smell, which attracts dogs. Even a small amount can be life-threatening — vomiting, diarrhea, trembling, in severe cases liver and kidney failure.

And Minni — whoever was never sure if the next meal was coming, eats what they find. For Minni, every mushroom on the ground is potential food. No ill will — pure survival. That makes autumn walks with her particularly attentive.

What is also underestimated: Even seemingly harmless mushrooms can carry mycotoxins (highly toxic metabolic products of mold). The wet, warm autumn climate is their ideal home — in damp leaves, in old fallen fruit, in rotting fruit on the ground. DOGKRAFT Zeolite binds mycotoxins in the intestine before they enter the bloodstream. This is not an emergency remedy if the dog has eaten a poisonous mushroom — then go to the vet immediately. But as a daily accompaniment during autumn walks, it is a sensible support.

Acorns

Small, round, everywhere — and poisonous for dogs. Acorns contain tannin (tannic acid) which causes abdominal pain, diarrhea, and vomiting. In larger quantities, tannin can damage the liver and kidneys. Anyone walking their dog in an oak forest should know this.

Chestnuts

Horse chestnuts contain saponins and glycosides — toxic substances that are absorbed through the mucous membranes when chewed. Minni would eat them immediately — for the same reason as the mushrooms. Whole swallowed chestnuts can cause intestinal obstruction due to their smooth surface becoming rough in the stomach. This is an emergency.

Walnuts

Fresh, unripe walnuts and their green shells can be infested with a mold called Penicillium crustosum, which attacks the nervous system — even in small amounts, this can be fatal.

In case of these symptoms, go to the vet immediately:

Vomiting, diarrhea, trembling, staggering, weakness after a walk in the forest
Suspected mushroom ingestion — act immediately, do not wait
Bloated abdomen, pain — possible intestinal obstruction due to chestnuts
When in doubt: better to go once too often than too rarely

The creek — when is it too cold?

This is my number one personal autumn worry. Ezra loves to swim in the creek. He loves it. Actually, it's: I throw the stick as far as I can and Ezra brings it back. As fast as he can. And I stand on the bank and wonder: is this still okay now?

The honest answer: It depends on the water temperature, not the air temperature. On a warm autumn day, the creek can already be ice-cold.

As a guideline: From about 15 to 17°C water temperature, most dog breeds can swim without hesitation. Below 10°C, it becomes problematic for most — especially for older dogs, short-haired breeds, and dogs with heart problems. A quick jump into the creek is not immediately dramatic even at lower temperatures. Long swimming in cold water, however, can lead to muscle cramps, hypothermia, and limber tail — a painful inflammation of the tail muscles caused by excessive strain in cold water.

Labrador Retrievers like Ezra were bred for cold water — thick fur, strong muscles, high cold tolerance. Nevertheless, I observe him closely: is he shivering? Does he seem stiff afterward? Then it was enough.
What helps: dry him immediately after swimming — with the fifth microfiber towel that is still dry and clean — keep him moving so he warms up, and let him lie down somewhere warm at home.

One thing I've learned from experience: Rushing creeks in autumn are a different story. Due to rain and melting mountain water, creeks that were harmless in summer become significantly stronger and deeper in autumn. When in doubt — leash. Because I don't like shouting all the time.

Ticks in autumn — still active

Brief but important: Ticks are active as long as temperatures do not consistently fall below zero. In autumn, with mild weather, they still gather in the leaves, in tall grass, at the edge of the forest. Ezra gets his tick tablet at the beginning of March — it lasts three months — and the next one is due in July. And it lasts another three months. So until September. Check after every walk — head, neck, armpits, belly, and between the toes. 

What to do after tick treatment and why the body needs support afterward — we have covered this in detail in a separate article.

👉 After vaccination, deworming & tick remedies: 

👉 Spring for dogs — ticks and allergies

 

Paws in autumn — what really helps

Wet paws on the light parquet. Wet paws on the couch. Wet paws everywhere. I know the feeling.

But aesthetics aside, there are real reasons why paws need special attention in autumn. The constant wet-dry-wet-dry can soften the skin between the toes and make it sensitive. Small wounds from branches or sharp edges in the leaves heal more slowly if the skin is constantly damp.

Dry paws thoroughly after walks – even between the toes. If the skin is already irritated, TIERKRAFT Zeolite Skin Powder helps: simply sprinkle it between the toes; it absorbs moisture and gently soothes irritated areas. For small wounds or chafed but dry and cracked areas, use Zeolite Wound Ointment – it supports wound healing and keeps paw skin supple.

And sometimes, despite all precautions, it happens. Bakku—my parents' dog, the most diligent watchdog and bark-expert during the week—transformed into a completely different dog on weekends when visitors from Vienna came. Today is not a school day. He forgot everything he had ever learned, chased sticks, romped, played. Once, his leash got tangled between his toes—the tension made the cord sharp as a knife. Grandma only noticed his limp in the evening and a cut between the first two toes of his left paw.

Grandma and Grandpa run an organic household with a strong connection to nature. They have zeolite powder – for all external wounds on humans and animals. Grandma gently sprinkled it on the wound. At first, he resisted a little and licked it away immediately. Then she applied it again. He allowed it. And relaxed.
Do animals sense what is good for them? Do they have a feel for healing? My gut feeling says yes.

The following weekend, we very gently sprinkled the fine powder between his toes ourselves. The wound healed quickly. All that remained was a pink dog toe. Bakku was such a good, loyal dog – even in his last days, he never stopped being curious, curious about each of his walks, every ball, every good scent, every moment.
Bakku is now waiting at the Rainbow Bridge. But his stories will be told again and again. And if you look closely at him in this picture – you will see his pink toe. 🌈🐾 

Old dogs in autumn — special attention

Bakku was 14. And autumn was different for him than for Ezra. Cold floors hurt his joints. Getting up after lying down took longer. Walks became shorter — not because he didn't want to, but because his body said so.

What really helps: soft, warm sleeping places — preferably near the heater or stove, where it is coziest. Extra cushions that are regularly washed — and then sprayed with AM+PLUS microorganisms. This strengthens the natural balance on the fabric and keeps germs at bay that wet autumn paws and damp fur bring in. Also, spray the sleeping place itself occasionally. And the old dog's fur after drying — AM+PLUS gently cares for the skin microbiome from the outside, exactly when the older body regulates itself less well.
And simply more time. More patience. Making the walk as long as the old dog wants it to be — and no longer.

Everything about caring for an old dog in autumn and at every stage of life — with stories about Bakku, Minni, and what senior dogs truly need — can be found here: When is a dog old? — Supporting seniors

Zeolite in autumn — why now in particular

In autumn, a dog's body is more stressed than one might think: shedding costs energy and nutrients, wet weather weakens the skin microbiome, damp leaves and soil bring more mycotoxins and pollutants, and the immune system adjusts to winter.

DOGKRAFT Zeolite daily in their food — that's our simplest autumn recommendation for dogs. It binds mycotoxins and pollutants in the intestines, provides natural silicon for fur, skin, and connective tissue, and supports the liver in its detoxification work — precisely when the body is performing its best.

0.5% of the daily food amount. Simply mix it into their food. Ezra doesn't even notice.

 

 

The Cycle of Seasons — because each season has its own challenges

🌱 In spring: The first ticks awaken, allergies begin, the body restarts.
👉 Click here for the article

☀️ In summer: Heat, drinking behavior, diarrhea due to warm weather.
👉 Click here for the blog post

👉 Summer vacation with a dog

🍂 In autumn: You are here.
And also check out the grooming article:
👉 Click here for the article

❄️ In winter: Road salt, cold protection, paws in ice and snow.
👉 Click here for the article

Finally — and about Minni

Minni stands at the door. Looks out. Rain. Turns around. Goes into the living room.
Grandma and Grandpa usually go out in all weather — that's how they know it, that's how they've always done it. But Minni is inspiring them right now. She shows them that sometimes, in the rain, you can just turn back. That slower is also nice. That you can make life easier for yourself. From a dog from a divorce orphanage. Who perhaps had to learn it himself.
🐾 And if Ezra still wants to go out in the rain? Then I go with him. With the towel already in hand. 🍂 Correct: Immediately behind the front door.

Autumn is wet, sometimes exhausting, and always close. With zeolite daily in the food, AM+PLUS on the fur, and a good towel right behind the entrance door, you will both get through it well. Promised.😄

👉 DOGKRAFT Zeolite Powder → 👉 TIERKRAFT Skin Powder → 👉 AM+PLUS Active Microorganisms →

👉 Here you can find the product of the month and a good overview of all STEINKRAFT areas
👉 Here you can find all STEINKRAFT products at a glance - directly in the shop