Halloween safety for our pets!

October 21, 11:11 AMDC Pet Health ExaminerDr. Steven Wolchinsky

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                                                                       Steven Wolchinsky D.V.M.

1. Lots of people like to have fun during the Halloween festivities, but our pets can truly be "spooked" by all of the noises and costumes.   Halloween is a holiday with many dangers for our dogs and cats.

2. Dressing up is fun for everyone, but may not be very fun for our pets. If your pet tolerates a costume, there are some things to keep in mind.

3. Your pet must be comfortable at all times.  Avoid any costumes that use rubber bands or anything that might constrict circulation or breathing. Likewise, avoid costumes with toxic paints or dyes.   Your pet's costume should be inedible.

4. If your pet appears uncomfortable in any way, allow him to dress up in his "birthday suit".

5. Costumes on people can be equally scary to pets.   Masks, large hats, and other costume accessories can confuse pets and may even trigger territorial instincts.   It is not unusual for pets to act protective or be fearful of people in costumes, even if they normally are very social with that person.

6. The two biggest concerns for pets during the holiday are injuries and poisonings. .

7. The excitement of the day may be too much for even the best-behaved dog.   Constant visitors to the door as well as the spooky sights and sounds may cause some pets to become fearful, These pets could run away and become injured in a variety of ways.

8. Consider allowing your dog to spend Halloween in his own special place inside with special treats, safe and secure from the goblins.

9. Some Halloween decorations can be unsafe as well.   Fake cobwebs or anything resembling a string can be tempting to cats, leading to a foreign body obstruction.  

10. Candles inside of pumpkins are easily knocked over, burning your pet or even starting a fire.

11.  Keep your pet away from the Halloween candy.   Chocolate can be toxic to pets and even small amounts can cause heart problems and vomiting.

12. Lollipop sticks and foil wrappers can become lodged in your pet's digestive tract, causing painful obstructions.

13. Candy that is sweetened with Xylitol® can cause low blood sugar in dogs and has been implicated in liver failure as well.

14. Although the threat is probably minimal, many people are concerned about black cats during this time of year.   It might be wise to keep all cats indoors during this holiday.