Please don't leave your pet in the yard unsupervised during
Halloween. Keep your outdoor cats of all colors inside SEVERAL DAYS before and after
Halloween. There are plenty of stories with pranksters tormenting, teasing or injuring
pets on this night.
A carved pumpkin is certainly fun but use extreme caution if you choose to add a
candle. Pets can easily knock it over and start a fire. Cats are very curious and
can easily get their whiskers singed or burned.
Please do not put your pet in a costume UNLESS you know that he/she will tolerate it.
Sometimes costumes can be stressful to your dog or cat. If you do dress up
your pet, make sure that the costume is not too tight or restrictive. Also, dogs
may eat things off their costume that could cause and obstruction in the trachea or
intestines. Also be aware that some animals may become nervous or scared if you are dressed
in a costume. They may be unfamiliar to an owner they have known for years.
Place your dog or cat in a separate area during peak trick-or-treating visiting hours.
Too many strangers and excitement can be scary and stressful for pets. Also, when opening
doors for trick-or-treaters, take care that your dog or cat doesn't dart outside.
ID'S PLEASE! Always make sure your dog or cat has proper identification.
Wearing a collar, tags, and/or a microchip can help increase the chance that he/she
will be returned to you.
NO TREATS! Make sure that your pets do not get into the bag or bowl of candy.
Chocolate in all forms can be dangerous for your pets! If you suspect that your dog has
ingested a potentially toxic substance, please call us at 232-0440, REACH Emergency Hospital
665-4399 or the ASPCA Poison Control Center (888)426-4435. Not only can candy make your
animal sick, the wrappers and foil may cause problems as well.
THANKSGIVING
Feeding turkey or any other kind of bones
to your pets is not a good idea. Not only can they cause fractures of
teeth, they can also become lodged in the esophagus, stomach, or
small intestines and cause a blockage. We have had to surgically
remove such items from a number of dogs and cats the day after
Thanksgiving.
Also, some delicious holiday foods can cause problems such as
vomiting and diarrhea. One big problem is eating raw or undercooked
meat, which can cause diseases such as Salmonella,
E Coli, and Toxoplasmosis.
An extremely significant problem of indulging in high fat
foods can be pancreatitis. This is the auto digestion of one’s
pancreas. The dog or cat can become critically ill and
hospitalization is needed in order to recover most cases.
Also, the ingestion of dough used for baking bread can cause
significant problems in dogs. As the dough rises and cooks (from acid
in the stomach), it starts to ferment and forms ethanol. This can
cause clinical signs seen with alcohol intoxication and can lead to
a very full and distended stomach.
HALLOWEEN SAFTEY TIPS: Adopted From ASPCA Pet Care Topics.