Halloween Dangers for Pets

Keeping children safe during Halloween isn’t our only concern. Our fur babies need to be considered during this festive time of year.
During Halloween, many pet owners enjoy including their fur babies in the celebration, but it’s important to keep in mind the dangers that lurk for our four-legged family members and to stay ahead of the concerns so the fun festive day doesn’t turn into tragedy.

Toxic Treats

It is estimated that emergency pet clinics see a massive increase in chocolate toxicity cases this time year, an approximately 250% increase the week after Halloween.
The loads of chocolate that trick or treaters score on Halloween night is one of the best parts about the holiday. But it is important to note that pets think it’s pretty special too. However, for our fur babies it can be potentially deadly.

Veterinarians warn that the biggest risk for pets this time of year is candy consumption. Kids are excited and may leave their candy loot in their basket on the floor, on their bed or even up on the counter and both dogs and cats are great at coming in and partaking on the sweet smelling treats. Dark chocolate is highly toxic to pets. Raisins are not recommended and any type of xylitol, which is a common sugar substitute are bad for pet consumption. Experts warn that simply just one piece of sugar-free gum can make a small pet very sick.

Parents are warned that the entire Halloween haul should put away where your pets cannot access it. Talk to your children about the importance of not leaving it out, so they are aware about keeping the candy away from pets.

Wrappers and Choking Concerns

If you have ever seen a child excited about their Halloween candy, you know exactly what comes next – a trail of wrappers. Even something as small as a mini Snickers wrapper can be choking hazards for our pets. The smell and chocolate residue on the wrappers are often a tempting force for a pet if found and consumed by a pet, it could lead to a disastrous gastrointestinal obstruction. Not only can this be fatal if not caught and treated but it can also require an invasive and a very expensive surgery.

The temptation can also lead to suffocation. Dogs mainly will hit the trash bins, searching for goodies and that can lead to getting twisted amongst plastic bags, which can lead to suffocation within minutes. Often times if dogs get themselves in a situation where their head is stuck, panic follows, and they can hyperventilate. This leads to the bag sealing around their face diminishing their oxygen supply and can have a fatal result.

It is recommended not to leave bags and wrappers in dog’s reach. Remember their sense of smell is far greater than ours, and they may be eager to search out the scent of tossed bags or wrappers that once contained candy.

Halloween Accessories, Props and Decor

Is your pet a chewer? Decorations or props that require being plugged into an electrical outlet may be a problem.

Chewing on wires can cause injuries such as burns to their tongue, gums, and possibly lead to fluid accumulation in the lungs. Experts say that usually electrocution injuries are not common, however there is always a chance they can be life-threatening. Typically puppies or kittens are going to be the culprits in this concern due to their curiosity and the need to chew. They should be watched closely around any electrical decorations or household objects. It is recommended to cover or hide all wires and outlets from all pets.

Candles are often popular decorations for holidays. And like children, not all have a sense of danger with an open flame. Walking by and brushing up against an open flame can cause their fur to catch on fire quickly, and worst could lead to a house fire. If you have your pet out with you trick or treating or greeting the ghosts and goblins that approach your home, make sure to pay special attention to the candle lit pumpkins. They are typically at their level and can lead to painful injuries. Experts always recommend battery-operated candles to avoid any injuries.
Pet costumes are big business these days. It is estimated that pet owners will spend nearly half a billion dollars on animal costumes this Halloween. And seeing animals in their costumes is nearly as cute as the kiddos that are dressed up, but experts have some warning on this before you dress Fido up as a frog.
Some pets are love to accessorize, and well others, flop immediately down on the floor like a fish and refuse to move once in costume. An important message to pet owners, if your fur baby isn’t feeling it, and you will be able to tell immediately, the recommendations is not to force it.

The American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals has created a safety checklist, that is similar to what a parent would use to check for a child’s costume:
1. Make sure the costume does not limit movement.
2. The costume should not limit their sight or ability to breathe, bark or meow.
3. Check the costume for small, dangling or easily chewed-off pieces that could present a choking hazard.
4. Make sure the costumes fits. Outfits can get twisted and can leading to injury.
5.Take your pet in their costume on a trial run to make sure they are happy and everything fits.

Visitors and Door Monitoring

Halloween night can be a constant stream of visitors to your door. With the consistent ringing of the doorbell and dressed strangers showing up at their house can keep your dog on edge and lead to stressing them out.

In addition, the opening and closing of the front door with distracting interaction with visitors makes for a recipe for a disaster with an animal that may bolt or silently scoot out. That can lead to a heartbreaking search for a lost pet on an already chaotic night.

Experts recommend to keep the animals stress to minimum, put your animals in a quiet room, away from the hustle and bustle, with a few favorite toys, and a treat. Most importantly, if your pet tends to dart when the door is opened, make sure to take necessary pre-activity precautions to keep them safe by securing them in another room. Placing your dog outside in the backyard isn’t suggested, as the abnormal sounds and activities in the neighborhood might lead to issues.

Happy Halloween!