Halloween Dangers for Pets

It’s that time of year again! Halloween is just around the corner. Halloween is very fun for people but can be a dangerous and scary time for our pets. Here are some helpful tips on how to keep your dogs and cats safe and healthy this Halloween.
Keep all candy, sweets and chocolate out of the reach of your pets. Ingestion of large amount of sugary foods can cause gastrointestinal upset leading to vomiting, diarrhea or pancreatitis. Certain candies can be especially toxic to dogs and cats, even if they ingest just a small amount. Chocolate has an ingredient in it called theobromine that is very toxic and the darker the chocolate, the more theobromine it contains per ounce. Theobromine toxicity can cause anything from gastrointestinal upset to seizures, coma and death. Xylitol, an ingredient often found in sugarless candies and gum is also very toxic to animals if ingested. It can cause an unsafe drop in their blood sugar level (hypoglycemia), which can be life threatening.
Some of the decorations we use at this time of year can be potentially dangerous as well. Make sure all lit jack-o-lanterns are kept up or out of the way of wagging tails and curious faces that can get burned by the candles. Other scary decorations may frighten a timid pet so keep them out of sight. Keep curious mouths away from small parts on costumes or decorations as well. Inappropriate items that are ingested can often become obstructed in the stomach or small intestine and may need surgery to remove it. If you plan to dress your pet up at Halloween make sure that it is a costume that allows plenty of room for your pet to breathe and move unobstructed. Also keep in mind that even though it may be cool outside, your pet already is wearing a fur coat, and then is wearing a costume on top of it. Don’t keep them in their costume for long periods of time or they may become overheated.
Lastly, Halloween night will bring the trick-or-treaters to your door. You will want to keep dogs and cats indoors and away from all of the commotion- dogs can easily slip out the front door and become lost. Black cats especially need to be kept indoors and safe as black cats are often the victims of cruel pranks at this time of the year.
Cinema Veterinary Centre is located at 23460 Cinema Drive, Suite L in Valencia 91355, 661-253-9300.