The holiday season is upon us, and the festivities have already begun! From decorating your home, finding the perfect costume, and stocking up on candy for trick or treaters, it’s a great time of the year!
Halloween is right around the corner which means lots of big round eyes will be begging for your candy and snacks! But before giving in to your furry friend’s plea, make sure those candies, snacks, leftovers, etc. are safe for your pets.
The biggest offender being chocolates. Chocolates are the sweetest and yummiest candy you can have, but to your pets it’s the complete opposite. Chocolate is quite dangerous for your furry friends, doesn’t matter if it’s white, milk, dark, baking chips, anyway it’s made it’s very dangerous for both cats and dogs. Chocolate contains natural chemicals that are harder for dogs to metabolize which can lead to vomiting, diarrhea, increased thirst, racing heart rate, panting, excessive urination, or restlessness. The best thing you can do is keep chocolate away from your pets in an area that’s completely out of reach. This could be a pantry, closed cabinet, or anywhere they simply can’t grab it.
Another Halloween favorite to keep an eye on are sugar-free candies. Sugar-free candies containing the sugar substitute xylitol can cause serious problems in pets. Even in small amounts it can be deadly to dogs. Best rule of thumb, no human candies for your pets! But a special ghost shaped pet treat that most likely smells like chicken or peanut butter? Yes, please!
If you’re like us, you want to dress up your furbaby in the cutest, spookiest, or funniest Halloween costume and that’s ok! Just make sure to keep your furbaby’s personality in mind when picking a costume. If they tend to be anxious or can’t stand having anything besides a collar on them, a festive bandana could be the way to go! If they are okay with a more elaborate costume, make sure it’s lightweight and easy to remove in case it gets caught in anything. Also, ensure it does not impair their vision or movement.
If you want to take your dog with you trick or treating, make sure you know your dog is comfortable with loud noises and large crowds. And always, always, always have them secured on a leash with an up-to-date ID collar and microchip information if anything were to happen. But if you’re thinking about staying at home and giving out candies, that’s a fun idea too! If your dog gets worked up from the doorbell or knocking at the door, try finding a spot in your driveway or patio for you to sit and distribute candy. It’s a fun time for all!
All summed up, as a human enjoy the never-ending chocolates and candies, but as a four-legged-cutie steer far and clear from these dangerous snacks. And whether you’re staying at home with your furbaby or responsibly trick or treating, make this Halloween a safe and memorable one! Happy spooky season to all!
