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 a towel. And then another. And then another. That's autumn with a dog. Beautiful. Sometimes a little 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 in the rain, 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 now?' I know the feeling. Let's take a look together.
❓ The most common questions at a glance
★ 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 poisonous and can cause intestinal obstruction if swallowed. Mushrooms can be highly toxic – some deadly even in small amounts. A lot is hidden in autumn leaves that we don't even see.
★ My dog ate something on the walk. What should I do?
Stay calm, observe. In case of symptoms like 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 stream 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 swims 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're all wet at the same time in autumn. There are also dog coats made of terry cloth or fleece that really help. Particularly 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 don't consistently drop below zero, ticks are active. Autumn with mild weather is classic tick season. Check after every walk, especially head, neck, armpits, belly, and between the toes.
★ Why do I give my dog zeolite in autumn?
In autumn, the dog's body is under more stress: 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 fur, 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, and the days get shorter. Understanding this helps you provide better support.
We have extensively covered the coat change – with tips on brushing, drying, and what zeolite can do internally – in the coat care article. This article addresses the other autumn topics. The ones that truly concern me as a dog mom.
The endless drying – and why it's more than a tiresome duty
Ezra loves rain. Puddles. Mud. The stream behind the vineyard. He doesn't care in the slightest about the weather – the colder, the better. Interestingly, in summer he prefers to walk on leash because the heat is unpleasant for him. But autumn? Autumn is his season.
What does that mean for me? Drying. Always. All autumn long.
There are dog coats made of terry cloth or fleece that really help. And there's us – with five microfiber towels. They're all wet and dirty at the same time in autumn.
But thorough drying is not pedantry – it's genuine dog protection. Moisture in the fur, especially between the toes, under the armpits, and on the belly, creates an environment where bacteria and fungi thrive. Irritated skin, hot spots (round itchy skin inflammations that the dog worsens by scratching and licking), ear infections in dogs with floppy ears – much of this begins with fur that stays damp for too long.
So: towel. Always. And then the paws again. And don't forget the ears.
A little tip for afterward: spray AM+PLUS Active Microorganisms onto the still slightly damp fur. This strengthens the natural skin microbiome – the protective balance of beneficial bacteria on the skin – which is constantly thrown out of balance by wetness and mud.
Mushrooms, acorns, chestnuts – what is truly dangerous
This is the topic that concerns me most in autumn. Because a lot 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 irresistibly to dogs. Especially the death cap mushroom and fiber head mushrooms 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 could never be sure before if the next meal was coming, eats what she finds. 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 molds). The wet, warm autumn climate is their ideal home – in damp leaves, in old fallen fruit, in rotting fruits on the ground. DOGKRAFT Zeolite binds mycotoxins already in the intestine before they enter the bloodstream. This is not an emergency remedy if the dog has eaten a poisonous mushroom – in that case, go to the vet immediately. But as a daily companion 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 – and for the same reason as the mushrooms. Swallowed whole 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 quantities, this can be fatal.
For these symptoms, go to the vet immediately:
Vomiting, diarrhea, trembling, staggering, weakness after a walk in the forest
Suspicion of mushroom consumption – act immediately, do not wait
Bloated belly, pain – possible intestinal obstruction due to chestnuts
When in doubt: better to go once too often than too rarely
The stream – when is it too cold?
This is my personal number one autumn concern. Ezra loves to swim in the stream. 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 wondering: is this still okay?
The honest answer: It depends on the water temperature, not the air temperature. On a warm autumn day, the stream 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 short jump into the stream is not immediately dramatic even at lower temperatures. Long swims 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 – dense fur, strong muscles, high cold tolerance. Nevertheless, I observe him closely: is he trembling? Does he seem stiff afterward? Then it was enough.
What helps: dry immediately after swimming – with the fifth microfiber towel that is still dry and clean – keep moving so he warms up, and let him lie warm at home.
One thing I've learned from experience: Rushing streams in autumn are a different story. Due to rain and melting mountain water, streams that were harmless in summer become significantly stronger and deeper in autumn. When in doubt – leash. Because I don't like constant shouting.
Ticks in autumn – still active
Brief but important: Ticks are active as long as temperatures do not consistently drop below zero. In autumn with mild weather, they still linger 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 lasts another three months. So until September. Check after every walk – head, neck, armpits, belly, and between the toes.
What to do after a tick treatment and why the body needs support afterward – we have covered this extensively.
👉 After vaccination, deworming & tick treatment:
👉 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 slower if the skin is constantly damp.
Dry paws after the walk – really thoroughly, even between the toes. For already irritated skin, TIERKRAFT Zeolite skin powder helps: simply sprinkle it between the toes, it binds moisture and gently soothes irritated areas. For small wounds or chafed but dry and cracked areas, the zeolite wound ointment is used – it supports wound healing and keeps the paw skin supple.
And sometimes it happens even with all the care. Bakku – my parents' dog, the bravest watchdog and barking 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 caught between his toes – the tension made the cord sharp as a knife. Grandma only noticed his limp and a cut between the first two toes of his left paw in the evening.
Grandma and grandpa run an organic household with a strong connection to nature. There is zeolite powder – for all external wounds of humans and animals. Grandma gently sprinkled it on the wound. At first, he resisted a little and licked it away immediately. Then it came again. He allowed it. And relaxed.
Do animals sense what is good for them? Do they have a sense of what is healing? My feeling says yes.
The following weekend, we gently sprinkled the fine powder between his toes ourselves. The wound healed quickly. All that remained was a pink dog toe.
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'll see his pink toe. 🌈🐾
Old dogs in autumn – special attention
Bakku was 14. And autumn was different for him than for Ezra. Cool 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's coziest. Extra cushions that are washed regularly – 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. 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, precisely when the older body regulates it less well itself.
And simply more time. More patience. Make the walk as long as the old dog wants – and no longer.
Everything about accompanying an old dog in autumn and at every stage of life – with stories about Bakku, Minni and what senior dogs really need – can be found here: When is a dog old - support for seniors
Zeolite in autumn – why now
In autumn, the 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 with food – that's our simplest autumn recommendation for dogs. It binds mycotoxins and pollutants in the intestine, provides natural silicon for fur, skin and connective tissue, and supports the liver in its detoxification work – precisely when the body is performing most.
0.5% of the daily food amount. Simply mix it into the food. Ezra doesn't even notice.
"We've just had surgery and now everything that doesn't belong in the dog's body is being eliminated with zeolite."
— Sandra V. ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
"Every day our dog gets his ration of zeolite from Steinkraft in his food – and has done so from the beginning, for more than 5 years. The vet is delighted with his physique and teeth at every check-up."
— A.J. ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
The Cycle of Seasons – because each season has its own themes
🌱 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
🍂 In autumn: You are here.
And also check out the coat care 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 it's known, that's how it's always been done. But Minni is inspiring them right now. She shows them that when it rains, you can just turn back. That slower is also nice. That you can make life easier for yourself. From a dog from the divorce orphanage. Who may have had to learn it himself.
🐾 And if Ezra still wants to go out in the rain? Then I'll go with him. With the towel already in hand. 🍂 Correct: Immediately behind the front door.
👉 Here you will find the product of the month and a good overview of all STEINKRAFT areas
👉 Here you will find all STEINKRAFT products at a glance - directly in the shop
