Enjoy Halloween, but look after your pets

We may enjoy having fun at Halloween, but it can be a spooky time for your pets.  Vet hospitals deal with Halloween-related emergencies every year so here are the biggest Halloween pet hazards to watch out for, courtesy of Pet Poison Helpline.







Why it’s dangerous: It’s hard enough for a human to stop at just one sweet, so imagine how difficult it is for a pet. Large ingestions of sugary, high-fat candy can lead to pancreatitis, which may not show up for two to four days after the pet ingests the candy.

What to watch for: Pets that have ingested sweets may show signs such as decreased appetite, vomiting, diarrhea, lethargy, abdominal pain, and even kidney failure or organ damage.

Sweet wrappers

Sweet Wrappers

Why they’re dangerous: The sweet itself isn’t the only threat. Ingestion of foil and cellophane wrappers can cause life-threatening bowel obstructions, which often require surgical intervention.

What to watch for: Symptoms in pets that have ingested sweet wrappers include vomiting, decreased appetite, not defecating, straining to defecate, or lethargy.





Glow sticks and jewellery

Glow Sticks

Why they’re dangerous: Pets love to chew on things they’re not supposed to, and cats in particular seem to love these items. Over the past year, 70 percent of Pet Poison Hotline’s calls relating to glow sticks and jewellery involved cats. In addition to the choking hazard, the contents of glow sticks can cause pain and irritation in the mouth.



Halloween Costume

Why they’re dangerous: You may love the costume, but does your pet? Some costumes can cause discomfort in pets, and any metallic beads, snaps, or other small pieces (particularly those made of zinc or lead) can result in serious poisoning if ingested. Finally, don’t ever dye or apply colouring to a pet’s fur, even if the dye is labelled non-toxic to humans.

What to watch for: Make sure the costume doesn’t impair your pets’ vision, movement, or air intake and don’t put a costume on a pet who is distressed in any way.  Your pet should have fun with you if you expect them to wear a costume.

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