|
Halloween
Hazards 
Protect
your pets
Updated
- October 2001
Things to Watch
For
Halloween is a fun time for kids and many adults, but can be a frightening
and stressful time for your pets. As a pet owner, you know your pet best,
but here are some points to consider for your pet's safety.
- Continual doorbell
ringing and people at the door (in costume, no less!) can be stressful
for a pet. Some pets may experience stress-related diarrhea or potentially
injure themselves if crated or otherwise contained. Keep your pet in
a quiet and safe place on Halloween.
- Watch your pet
around strangers in costume -- some animals may become unexpectedly
aggressive or fearful, even normally friendly pets.
- Candles
and Jack-o'-lanterns within a pet's range are a fire hazard.
- Candy -
many pets have a sweet tooth. General overindulgence, chocolate, and
plastic/cardboard candy-filled toys can cause added problems if ingested.
- Keep your pets
indoors on Halloween night, especially black cats. Animals are at
risk for cruel treatment by some Halloween pranksters. Many adoption
agencies and humane societies will not allow adoption of black cats
around Halloween for this reason.
Look at all of
that candy!
For many people, Halloween = candy. Please warn children not to
share their goodies with the family pet.
Chocolate
is toxic to pets. Granted, a 50 pound dog would have to eat about
50 ounces of milk chocolate (but only 5 ounces of baking chocolate) for
a toxic dose, but much smaller amounts can cause vomiting and diarrhea.
Signs of chocolate toxicity include tremors, nervousness, vomiting, diarrhea,
increased heart rate, and in severe cases, seizures and death. If you
suspect that your pet has eaten chocolate, consult your veterinarian.
Other candies, such
as lollipops and those with plastic components, pose a danger if ingested.
Lollipop sticks and plastic parts can cause intestinal obstruction and
potentially rupture the intestines, which is a life-threatening emergency.
He looks so cute
in his little red suit...
- Sometimes pet owners
can't resist dressing up their pets in costume for halloween and other
holidays. While this may be "cute" for photos, caution is
advised for the costume-wearing pets. A pet in costume should NEVER
be left alone and unsupervised.
- Tight elastics
on the costumes can get lost in the pet's hair, potentially causing
owners to overlook them, leading to swelling and pain in the area of
the elastic.
- Some pets, if left
alone in costume, may chew it up and ingest it. This could cause
intestinal obstruction if more than small shreds of material are consumed.
- If the costumed
pet escapes or is frightened away, the costume could entangle the pet
on trees, fences, etc.
Play it safe and
have fun
With a little caution and some common sense, Halloween can be a fun time
for kids and pets alike. If any acts of animal cruelty are seen or suspected,
please call your local shelter or animal authorities. Happy and safe Halloween
to everyone.
Thanks for visiting...until
next time!
Text: Copyright © Janet Tobiassen Crosby. All rights reserved.
Additional Reading
Black
Cat Month - The perils of Halloween 
From Franny Syufy, Your Guide to Cats
Halloween
Safety Tips for Pets
From T. E. Ellis, Your Guide to Dogs
Keep
Pets Safe on Halloween
From the Humane Society of the United States (HSUS)
"Halloween
Can Be a Pretty Hairy Experience for Pets"
From the Humane Society of the United States (HSUS)
"Halloween
and the Dangers It Presents for Pets"
From the American Animal Hospital Association (AAHA)
For more chocolate
toxicity links, please see:
Toxicology
Links
Have something
to say?
Post it on the board!
Previous
Features
- Check out other articles from your Guide
Veterinary
Medicine Home Page - Main page for VetMed at About.com
Library
of Topics - Browse the site library of topics
|
