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Seasonal dog safety through the year

Most seasonal emergencies are predictable: fireworks nights, holiday food, and whatever is growing or being spread on the ground that month. Here is the year in one table, with dates for both hemispheres.

On this page

The year at a glance

The seasons flip between hemispheres. The Met Office counts UK summer as June to August and winter as December to February. In Australia and New Zealand, summer is December to February, which is why Christmas falls in the heat there.

HazardWhen in the northern hemisphereWhen in Australia and New ZealandWhy it matters
FireworksBonfire Night 5 November (UK), Victoria Day in May and Canada Day 1 July (Canada), Fourth of July (US), Halloween in parts of Canada, New Year's EveNew Year's Eve and Australia Day (Australia), Guy Fawkes 5 November (NZ), plus shows and festivalsFrightened dogs bolt, break through fences and windows, and get hit by cars
Christmas food and decorationsDecember, in winterDecember, in summerChocolate, raisins in puddings and mince pies, onions, bones, tinsel and electric wires
Easter chocolate and hot cross bunsEaster weekend, in springEaster weekendTheobromine in chocolate is toxic, and raisins can cause kidney failure
Spring bulbs such as daffodils and tulipsSpringSpringBulbs hold more toxin than the leaves or flowers
Bees and waspsSpring to early autumnSpring to early autumnStings to the face or paws, and some dogs have allergic reactions
Slug and snail pelletsSpring gardening seasonSpring gardening seasonMetaldehyde baits can kill even in small amounts
Cocoa shell mulchGarden seasonRarely sold in Australia, says RSPCA AustraliaContains theobromine and smells like chocolate to dogs
Heat and hot carsJune to August in the UKDecember to FebruaryHeatstroke can kill quickly
Blue green algaeSummer and early autumnWarm monthsToxins in still water can be fatal
Grass seeds and foxtailsWhen grasses dry and set seed. US foxtails are worst from May to DecemberWhen grasses dry and set seedBarbed seeds burrow into paws, ears, eyes and skin
Paralysis ticksNot presentEastern Australia: all year in the north, spring to late autumn further southToxin causes paralysis and can kill
SnakesUS: autumn, as snakes prepare to hibernateAustralia: warmer monthsVenomous bites need urgent treatment
Conkers and acornsAutumnAutumn, where oaks and horse chestnuts growVomiting, stomach upset and gut blockages
Wild mushroomsAutumnAutumnA few species are deadly and hard to tell apart
Alabama rot (CRGV)UK: mostly November to MayNot flagged by the bodies we checkedRare, but can cause skin sores and kidney failure
AntifreezeAutumn and winterWinterTastes sweet, and small amounts cause kidney failure
Road salt, grit and ice meltWinter, where roads are treatedOnly where paths or roads are saltedIrritates paws, and is harmful if licked off or eaten
ColdWinterWinterSmall, thin coated, young, old and unwell dogs chill fast

Seasonal hazards for dogs and when they peak

Fireworks nights

Fireworks can reach 120 to 175 decibels, says the RSPCA, well above the 85 decibels where human hearing starts to be damaged, and dogs hear more than we do. BC SPCA cites research suggesting nearly half of dogs are fearful of loud noises such as fireworks, thunderstorms and gunshots.

  1. Weeks ahead, play recorded firework sounds quietly while your dog eats or plays, and build up slowly. SPCA New Zealand and PDSA both recommend this, especially for puppies.
  2. If your dog panics at loud noises, talk to your vet well before the night. The ASPCA suggests a practice dose of any prescribed medication before the big night.
  3. Walk your dog in daylight, then feed them a meal a couple of hours later (RSPCA Australia).
  4. Close windows, doors and curtains, and put on the TV or music to mask the bangs.
  5. Set up a den, such as a covered crate or a box with blankets, and let your dog choose it.
  6. Stay home and stay calm. Comfort your dog if they come to you, but do not punish fear or force them out of hiding.
  7. Never tether your dog outside or leave them in the garden during fireworks (RSPCA Australia).
  8. Check that the microchip details are up to date and your dog wears an ID tag, in case they escape.
Australia

RSPCA Australia lists New Year's Eve and Australia Day displays in every state and territory, plus Territory Day on 1 July in the Northern Territory, royal shows, Brisbane Riverfire and other festivals. Check your council's website for displays near you.

United States

The Fourth of July is the big one, and New Year's Eve brings fireworks and noisemakers too (ASPCA). The ASPCA also warns that dogs will eat fireworks, used or unused, because they contain chemicals and heavy metals. Clear up the garden before letting your dog out.

United Kingdom

Bonfire Night on 5 November and New Year's Eve are the peak nights, according to the RSPCA. Backyard displays across the season are a major concern for owners.

Canada

Fireworks cluster around Victoria Day (the Monday before 25 May), Canada Day on 1 July and New Year's Eve. Ontario SPCA and Toronto Humane Society both publish advice for those long weekends. In British Columbia, BC SPCA says Halloween is one of the worst fireworks nights of the year for lost and injured animals.

New Zealand

Guy Fawkes on 5 November is the main night, says SPCA New Zealand. Because fireworks are sold to the public, there is no set day, so stay alert through the weeks around it and on New Year's Eve.

Christmas, Halloween and holiday food

Holiday tables are full of foods that are toxic to dogs, and decorations are easy to swallow. Stick to your dog's normal food. If they get something, ring your vet straight away. Do not wait for symptoms.

Australia

Christmas falls in summer, so the holiday food hazards come on top of heat, hot cars and snakes. Plan walks for early morning.

United States

The ASPCA says its holiday advice applies to whichever holiday you celebrate: keep your dog on their normal diet, and keep turkey or chicken bones, fatty food and drinks out of reach.

United Kingdom

Christmas falls in winter, so add antifreeze and grit to the list if you are travelling or walking on treated roads.

Canada

Christmas falls in winter. Wash off road salt and ice melt after walks, and keep snow globes and salt dough ornaments out of reach (ASPCA).

New Zealand

Christmas falls in summer, so plan for heat, hot cars and the black iron sand on west coast beaches alongside the food risks.

Easter

Spring

Summer

Heatstroke, hot cars, hot pavements and sunburn have their own page. The other summer hazards are blue green algae in still water, grass seeds and foxtails, and in Australia, paralysis ticks and snakes. See the hot weather guide for first aid and the local hazards in each country.

Autumn

Alabama rot (cutaneous and renal glomerular vasculopathy) is a rare disease tracked mainly by UK vets. PDSA says almost all cases occur between November and May, often after muddy or woodland walks. Check for unexplained sores on the legs, feet, face or tongue, wash muddy legs after walks, and see your vet about any sore you cannot explain.

Winter

This is general guidance, your vet sets the actual schedule. Local disease risk, the products your clinic stocks and your puppy’s own history all change the plan. Take this page to your vet as a starting point, not as an instruction.

Breeds this matters most for

Greyhound 27.2 to 31.8 kg Whippet 11.3 to 18.1 kg Italian Greyhound 3.2 to 6.4 kg Chihuahua Up to 2.7 kg

Common questions

How do I keep my dog calm during fireworks?

Walk them in daylight, keep them indoors with the curtains shut and the TV or music on, and give them a den to hide in. Stay home and stay calm. If your dog panics every year, talk to your vet weeks before, and start playing quiet recorded firework sounds while they eat.

What Christmas foods are dangerous for dogs?

Chocolate; raisins, sultanas and currants in pudding, mince pies and cake; onions, garlic and leeks, including in gravy and stuffing; cooked bones; and alcohol. PDSA says the toxic dose of raisins varies and can be very small. Ring your vet straight away if your dog eats any of them.

Are hot cross buns bad for dogs?

Yes. They contain raisins, currants or sultanas, which PDSA says can cause kidney failure, and chocolate versions add theobromine. There is no known safe amount for any one dog, so ring your vet if your dog eats one.

Are conkers and acorns poisonous to dogs?

They can be. PDSA says serious poisoning is rare, but conkers and acorns can cause vomiting, stomach upset and gut blockages. Stop your dog picking them up on autumn walks and keep any the children collect out of reach.

Is road salt or grit bad for dogs' paws?

It can irritate and crack the pads, and swallowing ice melt can upset the balance of salts in the body, says the ASPCA. Wash and dry your dog's feet after winter walks, use a paw balm or boots, and choose a pet friendly ice melt at home.

What should I do if my dog drinks antifreeze?

Go to the vet immediately, before any symptoms appear. PDSA says dogs have a better chance of surviving if treatment starts within 12 hours. The same poison, ethylene glycol, can be in screen wash, brake fluid, water features and snow globes.

Which dogs need a coat in winter?

PDSA says thin coated dogs such as Greyhounds and Whippets, small breeds such as Chihuahuas, and dogs that are very young, old, underweight or unwell benefit from a coat. A fit dog with a thick coat usually does not need one while active. Bring any dog home if they start shivering.

Next guideFoods to avoidWhat poisons dogs, and what to do now.

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How we worked this out

Hemisphere dates come from the Met Office (UK seasons) and NIWA (New Zealand summer). Australia's Bureau of Meteorology pages would not load when we checked, so the Australian months follow the same southern hemisphere split. Where a source gives no months, the table uses season names rather than invented dates.

Fireworks dates come from the organisation named for each country: RSPCA (UK), SPCA New Zealand (Guy Fawkes), RSPCA Australia (its state by state list), the ASPCA (Fourth of July and holiday season), Ontario SPCA (Victoria Day), Toronto Humane Society (Canada Day), BC SPCA (Halloween in British Columbia) and the Government of Canada for how Victoria Day's date is set.

Alabama rot is included only for the UK, where PDSA describes it and gives the November to May pattern. None of the Australian, New Zealand, US or Canadian bodies we checked lists it as a seasonal risk, so we do not suggest it is one there.

Cocoa mulch: RSPCA Australia says it is generally not sold in Australia but could turn up as a by-product from local chocolate makers. The 250 g figure is its own hedged wording (some reports suggest), and we kept that hedge.

Metaldehyde: the UK government announced a ban on outdoor use in Great Britain from the end of March 2022. Rules differ elsewhere, so the advice to keep pellets away from dogs applies everywhere.

Sources

Last reviewed 2026-09-25.