Halloween Hazards

 Clowns. They are creepy. They are scary. They are all the rage for Halloween spookiness. My dogs could care less. What scares them? Doorbells, unexpected visitors, fireworks. Let’s talk about some of the Halloween hazards you can avoid to make this a fun and safe time for everyone.
Halloween candy, especially chocolate, is always a big concern for our pets. Giant bowl of foil wrapped goodness? Oh yeah, the Golden Retriever is going to find that! I’ve seen dogs stalk the candy bowl just waiting for it to be unattended. Score! I had one patient who was able to unwrap all the candy before eating it, leaving a pile of wrappers as the only evidence of his indiscretion. Well, that and the empty bowl. Be sure to keep candy out of reach of pets, especially when the chaos of treat-or-treating is in full swing. That applies to any candy bags your youngsters bring home, too.
Speaking of trick-or-treating, that constantly ringing doorbell and hordes of costumed visitors can terrify pets. Try to keep pets away from the front door to minimize the risk that they will slip out. Keep collars with identification tags on just in case Fido or Fluffy makes a break for it. We had to put up a baby gate in our house to keep the dogs away from the front door.
If the noise becomes too much, some animals may benefit from something to help with their anxiety. I recommend calming supplements, calming pheromones, and prescription anti-anxiety medications when needed. There is a new anti-anxiety medication designed specifically for dogs with noise phobia that might be a right fit for your pooch. Talk with your veterinarian if you think your dog or cat needs help with anxiety around Halloween. Have a safe and not-so-scary Halloween!
Stevenson Ranch Veterinary Center is located at 25832 Hemingway Avenue in Santa Clarita. For more information, please call 661-799-0655 and visit www.srvc.com.