Take precautions to protect your animals

By Dr. Beth Leermakers

“Help yourself to a treat. Please do not ring the doorbell. Dogs will bark.” With four dogs who may dash out the door, it’s not safe to open my door to trick-or-treaters, so I leave cookies in bowls on the front porch. Yes, I could put my dogs in the bedroom or in their crates, but they would bark and get stressed out. 

Here are a few important Halloween safety tips for cats and dogs:

Don’t Share Treats 

with Your Pets

Some treats are toxic to dogs and cats, while others may cause an upset stomach. Beware these treacherous treats:

Sugar free candies and gum containing Xylitol. Even a tiny amount of xylitol can cause a severe drop in blood sugar in dogs and cats, which can also lead to seizures, coma and death. Keep all treats containing xylitol away from your pets. Contact your vet immediately if your fur babies eat anything containing Xylitol.

Chocolate — especially dark or baking chocolate. Chocolate contains cocoa, which contains the compound theobromine. Theobromine is toxic to dogs and other animals at certain doses. Chocolate poisoning mainly occurs in dogs but also happens occasionally in cats or other animals. Cocoa powder, baking chocolate and dark chocolate contain higher levels of theobromine than milk chocolate. In general, the darker the chocolate, the more toxic it is to pets. Milk chocolate is safer than semi-sweet, which is less toxic than dark, which is less toxic than baker’s chocolate. Small amounts of milk chocolate may be safe, but any amount of baking chocolate is a cause for concern. If your pet eats chocolate, call your vet immediately, and tell the vet your dog’s weight and the type and amount of chocolate he consumed. Chocolate-covered raisins pose a double threat — the toxicity of chocolate and the risk of eating raisins. Some dogs become severely ill — and even die of kidney disease — from eating even a single grape or raisin.  

Candy corn and other sugary candies. Although these sugary treats aren’t toxic to dogs, they can result in significant abdominal discomfort in dogs as well as severe gas, bloating, diarrhea and — in sensitive dogs — pancreatitis (a serious, sometimes fatal disease). Contact your veterinarian for advice if you think your dog has eaten high-sugar candies like candy corn.

Keep Decorations 

Away From Pets

Holiday decorations can be harmful to pets:

Candles inside pumpkins can burn paws, singe feet or start a fire. Use a battery-operated tea light instead of an open flame.

Decorations containing wires can be dangerous, particularly if chewed. Puppies and kittens who bite into cords can burn their mouths. Running the wires through conduit, PVC, or even fish tank tubing can protect your curious pets. 

Glow sticks look like toys to pets. When punctured, the liquid in glow sticks or jewelry causes mouth pain, irritation and excessive salivation if it’s ingested.  

Pet costumes can be risky. If you choose to dress up your pooch or kitty (good luck with that!), be sure the costume fits properly and doesn’t restrict movement, cause difficulty breathing, or rub anywhere that may cause hair loss or sores. In her efforts to remove the uncomfortable outfit, your cat or dog may chew off and swallow part of the costume, causing intestinal blockage. Supervise your pet the entire time she’s wearing the costume, and leave it on for only a short time (long enough to snap a few photos). 

Provide a Safe Zone During Trick-or-Treating 

Having the doorbell ring repeatedly and people show up in scary costumes can be stressful for pets. There’s a risk that your cat or dog will bolt out the door to get away from it all. To prevent this risk, put your animals in a closed room or crate where they cannot escape. Play music or the TV to block the noise of the doorbell and excited kids. Be sure your pet is microchipped and wearing a collar with ID tag, in case he slips outside. Or do what I do and don’t open your door. I may not be the most popular neighbor, but I provide good treats (Oreos!) and my dogs are safe. 

Looking for a family-friendly Halloween outing? Join White Rock Dog Rescue for Dog Walk of the Dead on Saturday, Oct. 22 from 2-9 p.m. at Oak Highlands Brewery (10484 Brockwood Rd., Dallas 75238). 

Celebrate Halloween with adorable adoptable pups, goody bags, face painter, contests, raffles, a kids area and a “live” band at 5:30 p.m. (the Ungrateful Dead), food trucks and more! 

Happy Halloween! 

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