As the clocks have now gone back and the nights are drawing in, Paragon Veterinary Practice in Carlisle is reminding pet owners to take extra precautions to keep their animals safe and visible during walks.

With reduced daylight hours and darker mornings and evenings, pets and their owners are more at risk of being unseen by drivers or cyclists.

Kelly Errington, Deputy Head Vet Nurse at Paragon, has shared some practical advice to help keep pets safe this autumn and winter.

“When you're out walking, it's quite hard to avoid the dark hours, especially in the morning before work or after work when the nights are creeping in. Just make sure that you're visible to everybody — whether that be other road users, cars, or anyone else you might come across,” Kelly said.

“So use high-vis leads, flashing collars, flashing harnesses — and wear some sort of high-vis yourself, maybe a head torch, so people are aware. Because even if you're walking on the pavement, if the dog steps off without any high-vis on, that’s a risk. Be as visible and protected as possible, and make sure your pet’s details and microchip are up to date.”

“It’s also important to keep dogs on a lead when walking through fields or open spaces at dawn or dusk, as wildlife such as deer and rabbits are more active at these times. This helps prevent pets from chasing or disturbing animals and keeps both your dog and local wildlife safe.”

It’s not just the darkness which can be a problem but also bad weather. Kelly warns about seasonal hazards such as salt and ice, which can cause painful irritation to dogs’ paws.

“If it’s frosty and there’s been gritting, be really careful walking dogs up pavements with salt on, as that can make their feet sore. Wash their paws when you get home to remove salt or ice that might have built up between their toes.

“Salt can often irritate their feet and then they come back in, start licking and make them sore. And if you're walking when it's been snowing as well, they can get big clogs of ice between their toes, especially if they've got hairy feet, which again can cause sores.”