Keep Your Pet Safe This Halloween
October 20, 2009 – 10:49 am
As Halloween approaches, it’s time for pet parents to give some thought to a few simple things we can do to keep our four legged friends safe from the dangers of the season. No, we’re not talking about ghouls and goblins. We’re talking about the very real threats that face thousands of pets every year amidst the revelry of Halloween.
According to the ASPCA Animal Poison Control Center, calls about pets who have become ill after eating chocolate spike their highest around Halloween, with several thousand such calls every year. Dogs are particularly susceptible, since cats tend to be “tasters rather than eaters” while a dog might consume an entire bag of candy, wrappers and all. As little as four ounces of dark chocolate can cause seizures or even death in a dog weighing 40 pounds.
Along with danger from treats, there are several other possible threats to consider this Halloween. Here are the ASPCA’s top ten safety tips.
1) Keep the candy away from your pet. Chocolate in all forms, but especially dark or baking chocolate, can be very dangerous for dogs and cats, as can the artificial sweetener xylitol. Even foil and cellophane candy wrappers can be a choking hazard.
2) Watch those decorative plants. Pumpkins and decorative corn are relatively nontoxic, but can produce gastrointestinal upset or intestinal blockage should pets ingest them.
3) Keep wires and cords from electric lights and other decorations out of reach of your pets. Both the glass from the bulbs and the electrical current constitute a hazard.
4) If you place a lit candle inside a jack o’ lantern, remember that pets (particularly curious kittens) may stray too close causing danger to themselves and others.
5) If your pet doesn’t seem at ease in a costume, don’t force it to wear one.
6) Make sure than any pet costumes don’t constrict the animal’s movement or hearing, or impede the ability to breathe, bark or meow. Try on costumes before the big night to make sure everything is alright.
7) Avoid ill-fitting costumes (too tight or too loose) for your pet or costumes with dangling pieces that can be chewed off and become choking hazards.
8) Keep your pet confined during visits to the door from trick ‘r treaters. Too many strangers may be scary or stressful.
9) Watch the door during trick ‘r treating so that your pet doesn’t dart outside.
10) Collars and tags are a must at all times. Halloween is no exception.
One last tip. If you do suspect your pet has ingested a potentially dangerous substance, please call your veterinarian or the ASPCA Animal Poison Control Center at (888) 426-4435.
With proper planning and observation of these tips, Halloween can be a festive occasion for both you and your pet. A little attention to safety can make a big difference in keeping your pet safe over the holiday.
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One Response to “Keep Your Pet Safe This Halloween”
Thanks for spreading the word on pet safety! Pet Poison Helpline, an additional animal poison control center, also offers:
Halloween Safety Tips for Pets
Advice on “treats” that pets should avoid and other Halloween hazards
Minneapolis (October 14, 2009) – Holidays can bring unique foods and materials into the house that pose special threats to animals. Halloween, with its costumes and candy, can be a dangerous and stressful time for a pet.
The following tips showcase what pet owners should watch out for around Halloween.
• Tricks, not treats! Some human treats can be deadly for pets
o Chocolate: Make sure your kids know to hide their Halloween stash from food-seeking dogs. Ninety-five percent of Pet Poison Helpline’s chocolate calls involve dogs getting into chocolate candy. Keep in mind, the less sweet and the darker the chocolate, the more toxic it is to your pet. Baker’s chocolate and dark chocolate pose the biggest problem.
o Other candy: Remember when you felt ill after gorging on too much candy? The same thing can happen to pets. Large ingestions of high-fat, high-sugar foods may lead to a condition called pancreatitis — a painful and potentially fatal inflammation of the pancreas. Signs of pancreatitis typically show up two to four days after ingesting a large high-fat meal. Monitor your pet for a decreased appetite, vomiting, lethargy, diarrhea and other odd behavior.
o Raisins/grapes: While small boxes of raisins are popular and healthy treats for people, keep them away from dogs. Even small numbers of raisins or grapes can cause kidney failure in dogs (and possibly cats). Never offer grapes or raisins as snacks for your pets. Choose carrots, peas, green beans or apples instead.
o Candy wrappers: Not only is candy toxic to pets, but so are the wrappers. Few animals will bother to unwrap Halloween treats before eating them. Ingestion of foil and cellophane wrappers may cause a bowel obstruction when ingested in large quantities.
• Halloween hazards
o Glow sticks/jewelry: Pets, especially cats, love to chew on these colorful toys. Though not highly poisonous, the glowing contents can cause pain and irritation in the mouth as well as profuse drooling, nausea and vomiting.
o Costumes: While dressing up our pets can be entertaining, keep in mind that your pet may not enjoy it. Make sure the costume does not impair their vision or movement. Also, beware of costumes containing metallic beads, snaps or other small pieces. If ingested, some metals (especially zinc and lead) can result in serious poisoning. Never dye or apply coloring to your pets’ fur. Even if the dye is labeled non-toxic, many are not meant to be ingested and can potentially cause harm.
Additionally, pets may be afraid of people dressed in costumes and may not even recognize those they typically know. Fear can cause animals to act aggressively or in an unpredictable manner. If your pet seems nervous or afraid, make sure to have a safe area for them to hide or take a “time out.”
o Candles: Wagging tails and curious noses do not mix with candles. Keep candles well out of reach of four-legged friends and, when possible, use safe, electric lights in jack-o-lanterns.
The best thing any pet owner can do is to be educated about the common foods and items that are potentially toxic to pets. Make sure to avoid accidentally feeding your pets human foods that may be dangerous for them and keep poisonous products out of your pet’s reach. When in doubt or if you think your pet has been poisoned, contact your veterinarian or Pet Poison Helpline immediately at 1-800-213-6680 with any questions or concerns.
About Pet Poison Helpline
Pet Poison Helpline is a service available 24–hours a day, seven days a week for pet owners, veterinarians and vet techs that require assistance treating a potentially poisoned pet. Staff can provide treatment advice for poisoning cases of all species, including dogs, cats, birds, small mammals, large animals and exotic species. As the most cost-effective option for animal poison control care, Pet Poison Helpline’s fee of $35 per incident includes follow-up consultation for the duration of the poison case. Pet Poison Helpline is available in North America by calling 800-213-6680. Additional information can be found online at http://www.petpoisonhelpline.com.
By Pet Poison Helpline on Oct 20, 2009