While Halloween conjures images of costume contests, haunted mazes, and candy for humans, for our pets, the holiday can be truly terrifying. Pet parents need to be aware of the many Halloween hazards that exist so we can keep our fur babies safe.
Tricks
While there may not be as many trick-or-treaters this year knocking on your door, many pets can still be scared by costumes and other Halloween decorations. It’s difficult to predict what costumes may scare pets, but it’s safer to assume they all do. Our pets do not understand that costumes are just… costumes! To them, fake skeletons, ghouls, masks, hats, and other accessories look monstrous. Jack-o-lanterns, fake spiders, and animatronic lawn figures are inexplicable terrors, whether night or day. If trick-or-treaters do come to your door, make sure to keep your pets leashed or locked away so they can’t get spooked and escape or become injured. Calming treats and medications may be helpful for getting our pets get through the holiday happily and safely. Click below to check out our Calming Chews here at Wellnergy Pets!
Decorations can also pose another threat to our pets - spider webs or loose threads can become wrapped around necks or limbs, or ingested and tangled within the intestines; candles can burn whiskers or paws; plastic decorations can be chewed and swallowed. Extra care needs to be taken when putting out any decorative items in or around the house.
Treats
Halloween themed chocolates and candies are in abundance everywhere this time of year. Chocolate is a widely known toxin for dogs, but there are also many lesser known food items that can be poisonous. Xylitol is a common sugar substitute that can be found in gums, candies, baked goods, and even in some peanut butters or jams. Just one stick of xylitol gum can cause seizures or even death. Raisins can cause kidney failure and is another food item that is toxic for dogs. Even foods that are harmless in small amounts, such as pastries, cookies, and cakes, can cause life-threatening pancreatitis or other gastrointestinal problems in both dogs and cats.
Not only can treats be dangerous for our pets, but the packaging and wrappers they come in as well. Eating too many of these can also cause indigestion or even blockage. Furthermore, pets risk suffocation if their heads become stuck inside plastic bags that many of these treats come in.
If you are worried that your pet may have ingested something dangerous, please call the Pet Poison Helping or a veterinarian immediately.
If you're worried about your pet's digestive health this halloween, it's a good idea to get started on Wellnergy Pets Probiotics in anticipation of getting into something potentially scary! Probiotics are a great way to maintain digestive health in the long term and can help with cases of diarrhea, flatulence, and digestive upset.
Pet Costumes
Every October, pet costumes become all the rage for pet parents - almost nobody can resist dressing their pets up. It’s important to make sure your pet feels comfortable in his or her costume and is supervised at all times while wearing it. If your pet’s costume involves coloring his or her fur, make sure to use a pet safe paint or dye.
We hope you and your pets have a safe and happy Halloween holiday. If you have any questions or concerns, please feel free to reach out to our team on Facebook, Instagram, email or in the comments section below.
We would also love to see your pets in their best costumes! Share your favorite pet costumes by emailing us at hello@wellnergypets.com OR sending us the picture through Instagram or Facebook!
About the Author:
Dr. Debra Chen, D.V.M. has been a practicing companion animal veterinarian for over three years in the San Francisco Bay Area. Prior to moving to the Bay, she received both her veterinary and undergraduate degrees at the University of Minnesota. After spending a third of her life in Taiwan, she is also fluent in Mandarin Chinese. Her veterinary interests include preventative medicine, animal behavior, and surgery. When not practicing medicine, Dr. Chen can be found camping, hiking, eating, or traveling with her husband and Formosan Mountain Dog, Tuna. They also share a home with their two feline overlords, brown tabby cats Cairo and Khaleesi.