This pet safety tip is good for Halloween and all year-round, especially the dark days of winter. The afternoon light is closing in, fall is here. It's dark so early now! I can still see where I am going, but will cars see me?
To be more visible to commuters, I purchased a reflective collar for Sophie (complimented by bright orange and hot pink), a coat for Argos with reflective striping, and a neon reflective vest for me. What a sight! We are now very hard-to-miss, if not stylish.
I know that whenever I see an animal or person in the headlights, it is right there, with little time to react. I was actually a little surprised at the response by drivers to our new reflective wardrobe. Car headlights are adjusted and speeds are slowed down considerably. Wearing something reflective gives drivers time to put down the cup of coffee, hang up the cell phone and watch out for pets and pedestrians.
Pet Safety Tips
Check out the large pet safety tip archive for keeping your pet safe from poisons, during hot weather, cold weather, around the house, and more.
Got a safety tip to share?
What have you done to make your household and pet travel times safer for pets? Did you think ahead or learn the hard way? Please share your pet safety tip here and read what other viewers have to say.
Shop And Compare For Reflective Safety Wear:
Photo: Sophie wearing her reflective collar by Janet Tobiassen Crosby DVM
Comments
Thanks for spreading the word on pet safety! Here’s some more pet-friendly information from Pet Poison Helpline, another animal poison control!
Pet Poison Helpline Offers Halloween Safety Tips for Pets
Advice on “treats” that pets should avoid and other Halloween hazards
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
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.
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.
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.
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
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.
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.”
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.