Halloween season has arrived, and it is expected that many people plan to have a spooky good time with family and friends, but do not forget about the safety of your four-legged friends. Halloween can be fun for you, but a number of tricks and treats can be hazardous to your pets.
What treats are harmful to pets?
Chocolate is popular with people, but your dog is attracted to it as well. Chocolate is toxic to dogs, and the darker the chocolate, the more dangerous it is. If you think your dog may have ingested chocolate, signs to watch for include vomiting, diarrhea, lethargy, agitation, increased thirst, an elevated heart rate and in severe cases, seizures.
Raisins can be just as toxic to dogs as chocolate and can cause kidney failure if even small amounts are ingested. Signs of raisin or grape poisoning include vomiting, nausea, decreased appetite, lethargy, abdominal pain, excessive or decreased thirst and urination, bad breath and rapid onset kidney failure.
If your dog ingests large amounts of any candy, it can be harmful and lead to pancreatitis, which is potentially fatal. Pancreatitis is inflammation of the pancreas and is very painful. Pet owners should be aware that clinical signs of pancreatitis may not present for several days after ingestion. Signs include decreased appetite, vomiting, diarrhea, lethargy, abdominal pain and potentially kidney or organ damage.
What are some nonedible hazards?
Other Halloween hazards include candy wrappers, decorations and small toys. These can cause bowel obstruction that may require surgery. Watch for vomiting, decreased appetite, not defecating, straining to defecate or lethargy. X-rays or even ultrasounds may be necessary to diagnose this problem.
In this file photo, Holly Swanson’s pug Chip walks around in his guitar player costume at the Baton Rouge Pug Group’s Halloween Pug Party at Raising Cane’s Dog Park in the City-Brooks Community Park on Sunday, October 22, 2023 in Baton Rouge, Louisiana.
Can I dress my pet up in a Halloween costume?
You may want your pet to join in the fun and dress up for Halloween. If so, please make sure that the costume does not impair your pet’s vision, hearing, movement or air intake and that it does not have small pieces that could be broken off and ingested. Before dying or coloring your pet’s fur, please consult your veterinarian, as some products can be harmful to pets even if they will not harm people.
I want to give out candy for Halloween, but my pet gets anxious or upset when people come to the door.
Your pet may not appreciate the frequent guests who show up for candy, so greet visitors outside if possible or leave a bowl of candy on your porch. Keep anxious pets in a quiet, comfy room.
What should I do if my pet ingests something harmful?
If your pet becomes sick, or if you think that it may have ingested something harmful, contact your veterinarian immediately. Delays in seeking veterinary help may seriously complicate the problem. If your pet requires medical care after-hours, you can contact the LSU Veterinary Teaching Hospital on Skip Bertman Drive; the hospital is open 24 hours a day, seven days a week, 365 days a year and remains open even during holidays and weekends. Please call (225) 578-9600 or visit www.lsu.edu/vetmed/veterinary_hospital for more information about the Veterinary Teaching Hospital.
You can also contact the Pet Poison Helpline, an animal poison control center based out of Minneapolis, at (855) 764-7661. The helpline is available 24 hours, seven days a week for pet owners and veterinary professionals that require assistance treating a potentially poisoned pet. The Pet Poison Helpline’s fee of $85 per incident includes follow-up consultation for the duration of the poison case.
You can also contact the ASPCA for animal poison-related emergencies, 24 hours a day, 365 days a year. Call (888) 426-4435 for more information. A consultation fee may be applied to your credit card.
If you have a photo of your pet in a Halloween costume, we’d love to see it. Submit it to us at [email protected].
