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Halloween
Hazards 
Protect
your pets
Links
updated - October 2003
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
Keep
Pets Safe on Halloween
From the Humane Society of the United States (HSUS)
"HSUS
Offers Tips to Keep Pets Safe from Halloween Tricks and Treats"
From the Humane Society of the United States (HSUS)
Tricks
and Treats can be Trying for Pets at Halloween
From the Humane Society of the United States (HSUS)
For more
chocolate toxicity links, please see:
Toxicology
Links
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