Halloween is just around the corner. As you start to prepare by picking the perfect pumpkin or decorating your house, take a few minutes to ensure that your Halloween will be pet friendly.
1. If taking your pet out on Halloween night, ensure that he/she is leashed and has reflective tape or lights to improve visibility. Be sure that your pet is wearing their regular collar and ID tags. Designate one person to be responsible for the dog so they don’t get ignored during times of excitement. As always, don’t forget to poop and scoop!
2. When outside, watch out for stray bits of candy or wrappers that dogs love to grab. Inside the house, don’t leave the candy bowl unattended. Remember that chocolate and raisins can be deadly for dogs depending on the size of your dog and the amount eaten. Even large amounts of sugary candy can upset a dog’s stomach or cause pancreatitis. Candy wrappers may cause bowel obstructions. Call your veterinarian if you have any concerns. We provide 24 hours emergency services if required.
3. Keep cats confined away from the front door during trick or treating. With the increase in people and cars on the streets, escapees are at increased risk for injury on Halloween night.
4. Don’t dye or apply colouring to a pet’s fur even if the dye is labeled non-toxic to humans. Pets absorb dyes differently than people.
5. Keep glow sticks out of reach of pets. Cats in particular are often attracted to glow sticks. Not only can these can be choking hazards, the contents of glow sticks can also cause pain and irritation in the mouth.
6. Finally, have fun! It’s OK to outfit your furry friend in a fun costume. Keep in mind that pet costumes should allow your dog to see, breath, hear and move freely in the costume. Also remove any small pieces that may be tempting to eat. Any metallic beads, snaps, etc. can result in serious poisoning if ingested (especially if made of zinc or lead). Costumes should be flame-retardant. Never leave your dog unsupervised in costume. Have a trial costume run before Halloween – if your pet appears distressed by the costume or is touch sensitive, it is better to find out at home than on a dark street on Halloween night.
Happy Haunting!
