Who
says Halloween is just for kids? Nowadays, more and more pet owners are
involving their pets in this fun-filled holiday. If you’ll be one of them, it’s
important to use caution, since Halloween can be actually be a dangerous time
for a pet if you’re not prepared. Consider the following three pet safety tips
by Brookfield Animal Hospital, so your
four-legged friends can have a safe, happy Halloween with you and the rest of
the family.
1. Choose
Your Pet Costume Wisely
Dressing a pet
up is one of the most popular and probably most enjoyable ways to include a pet
in the Halloween festivities. Whether you’re thinking of dressing up your fur
baby as an Ewok, a comic book superhero, or maybe even a piece of food, always
consider the comfort level of the costume you choose before leaving it on your
pet. Keep in mind that not all pets will tolerate wearing anything more than
their own fur, no matter how comfortable the costume. Also, some costumes can
actually be dangerous if they fit too tightly or have sharp pieces or pieces
that can pose a choking hazard. If possible, try to get your pet comfortable in
the costume a few days before Halloween. And if, after all your preparation,
your pet still appears uncomfortable or downright irritated in the costume,
don’t force them to wear it. Just hope for better luck next year.
2. Provide
Pet Identification
Halloween is one
of the most common times of the year that pets go missing. Sadly, this can be
the result of being stolen from their own yards or from making a quick dash
through the front door after seeing it continuously open for costumed
trick-or-treaters. This is why it’s so important to make sure that your pet has
sufficient identification that includes your current address and phone number.
A microchip is
another great method of pet identification that we recommend. A microchip is a
tiny device that’s about the size of a grain of rice that’s placed just under
the surface of the skin, near a pet’s shoulder blades. Your pet’s microchip can
contain a unique bar code that links to your contact information and can be
scanned by most animal hospitals and shelters. Having both an ID tag and
microchip can greatly increase the chances of
safe, happy reunion, should your pet ever become separated from you on
Halloween—or any other time of the year.
3. Use
Caution with Candy and Decorations
Did
you know that chocolate is one of the toxic foods to pets, due to the presence
of the alkaloid theobromine? Although the amount of theobromine varies in
different types of chocolate, typically, the darker the chocolate, the higher
the toxicity. The clinical signs of chocolate toxicity can range from vomiting
to diarrhea to seizures and can take several hours to develop. The sugar
substitute xylitol, which is common in many candies, is another ingredient
that’s toxic to pets and can result in hypoglycemia if ingested. It’s best to
keep all the sweets out of your pet’s reach.
Decorations
like candles and lit jack-o-lanterns can also be dangerous to a curious pet
that might accidentally knock them over, so use caution if you plan to have
these around your home this Halloween.
Feel
free to contact us
at (203) 775-3679
if you have any questions about the tips mentioned above or if you’d like to
learn more about Brookfield Animal Hospital. We
hope you and your family—fur babies included—all have a safe, fun Halloween!
