As the autumn season begins, dog owners are being warned about an unlikely but potentially dangerous obstacle - conkers.

The seeds, which fall from horse chestnut trees, are poisonous to dogs because of a toxin they contain called aesculin - according to Andy Jones, director of Kennel Store, who shared advice as conker season approaches.

Aesculin can cause vomiting, diarrhoea, abdominal pain, drooling, increased thirst, refusal of food, restlessness, wobbliness, muscle tremors, and difficulty of movement.

Symptoms of conker poisoning usually appear within one to six hours of a dog eating them, according to Mr Jones - but may be delayed for a few days.

The severity of the symptoms depends on the number of conkers eaten and the size of the dog, and in particularly severe cases, respiratory paralysis and even death can result.

If a dog is suspected of having eaten conkers, owners are advised to contact their vet immediately for advice.

Owners are also advised not to try to make their dogs sick, as this can be dangerous and cause other issues.