Halloween Hazards for Dogs and Cats

Halloween’s sneaking up at the end of this month—don’t let the holiday turn into a real nightmare for you and your pet! Take heed of your Thorold vet’s tips for keeping your pet safe this time of year.

There’s bound to be a lot of chocolate treats floating around your home this time of year. Remember that chocolate is very bad for pets—it contains caffeine and theobromine, harmful chemicals that can induce vomiting, diarrhea, seizures, and worse in pets. Never leave chocolate of any kind out on countertops or tables where pets can get to it.

Candy, gum, and some baked goods are sweetened with xylitol, an artificial sugar that can cause serious health complications in dogs and cats. Even as little as a stick and a half of xylitol-sweetened chewing gum can poison a small pet, so keep it far out of your pet’s grasp. Also remember to tightly restrict your furry friend’s access to the trick-or-treat bowl!

On trick-or-treat night, there’s a good bet your doorbell will be ringing constantly. If your pet is the type to get excited at the doorbell, the night could be quite overwhelming. There’s also the chance that a pet could slip out of the open door when trick-or-treaters come knocking. It may be necessary to lock your pet up in a secured upstairs room to prevent escape and anxiety.

Pumpkins made into jack-o-lanterns are quite common this time of year. Don’t let your pet munch on one; although pumpkins aren’t necessarily toxic, too much of one can make a pet sick. Also keep decorate fall corn out of your pet’s reach.

Your pet sure will look adorable in that pet costume, but you’ll want to ensure your pet doesn’t get stressed out while wearing it. Not all pets like to wear clothing. Also check the costume to make sure it doesn’t have any small pieces that could be chewed off and swallowed.

Your Thorold veterinarian can offer more safety guidelines for Halloween and trick-or-treat night, so call the clinic today.