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A veterinarian has teamed up with an animal behavior expert to issue an urgent warning to pet owners ahead of Halloween.
Many people enjoy dressing their beloved dogs and cats in extravagant and vibrant costumes each year.
And your pets can even accompany their owners to the front door when they knock on the door to trick-or-treat.
But resident veterinarian Dr Linda Simon and dog behavior expert Dr Emma Scales-Theobald, who work at London-based pet food company Pooch & Mutt, have urged dog lovers Animals to think twice about their pets when participating in Halloween festivities this spooky season.
Here, they share their best tips for keeping your beloved pet safe as the nation embraces all things spooky for Halloween.
Many people enjoy dressing their beloved dogs and cats in extravagant and eye-catching costumes each year, but this can be dangerous.
1. Be on the lookout for trick-or-treat candy
Dr. Simon says it’s very important to keep all candy and chocolate out of dogs’ reach all year round, but especially at Halloween, when there is more of it.
She said: “Making sure they are kept where your dog can’t reach them is incredibly important.”
‘Chocolate is poisonous to dogs, as it contains theobromine and caffeine, two stimulants that dogs cannot metabolize efficiently, so ingesting even a small amount can cause them quite a bit of discomfort.
‘Most sweets contain sugar, but some use a sweetener called xylitol. This is a substance that can cause a powerful release of insulin from your dog’s pancreas, causing a dangerous drop in blood sugar and even liver failure.’
But Dr. Simon also said it’s not just sweets that can cause problems; since wrappers and packaging also pose risks.
“Consumption of these can cause serious internal damage, such as blockages and other problems that could lead to your dog requiring surgery,” he added.
Adding to her previous point, Dr. Simon said that children may not know that animals can’t eat candy, so it’s important to keep an eye on them.
“I recommend supervising young children when they are undoubtedly rummaging through your stash and making sure they don’t fall victim to your dog’s best puppy eyes and share your Halloween loot,” she said.
Dr. Simon says it’s very important to keep all candy and chocolate out of dogs’ reach all year round, but especially around Halloween.
Dr Scales-Theobald added: “As important as it is to supervise your children, it is also worth teaching them how to behave around dogs, to keep both them and your pet safe.”
“This would be a good time to teach them about the dangers associated with dogs eating candy and chocolate, as well as teaching them how to enforce the ‘leave it’ command with your dog.”
2. Keep lit pumpkins out of reach
While many enjoy lighting a Jack-o’-lantern to decorate their homes this year, they can be harmful to pets due to the candle placed inside.
And while pumpkin itself is good for dogs, it can be harmful to dogs and cats if eaten in large quantities.
Dr Simon said: “While pumpkin is quite good for your dog, as it contains many nutrients and fibre, consuming it in large quantities can cause vomiting, pain and even intestinal obstruction.
‘No (they are Jack-o’-lanterns) a burn risk, but ingesting candle wax is likely to upset your dog’s stomach.
“While eating a candle is unlikely to cause serious harm, many candles include chemicals or essential oils that could be more harmful.
“I would recommend using natural, non-toxic tea lights for your pumpkins this Halloween to avoid potentially costly trips to the vet.”
3. Keep dogs away from the door.
With Halloween right around the corner, you’re likely opening your front door to trick-or-treaters.
According to experts, this can cause a lot of stress for dogs and causes stress in even the calmest pets.
Dr Scales-Theobald said: “Although I will always recommend proper training with a professional to correct any reactive behavior in your dog, there are things you can do to keep your dog calm and safe during the day.”
‘If you allow your dog to roam freely, the constant slamming and opening of the door could trigger a reaction that could put both your dog and the trick-or-treater at risk.
“It could be that the dog has escaped or, in the worst case, your dog jumps out and hurts those at the door.”
Dr. Scales-Theobald recommends setting up a room where your dog can feel safe, with a cozy bed and plenty of blankets.
“You’ll also want to distract your dog from the sounds of banging and new voices, so try adding some background noise, like a TV or radio, and divert his attention to something that will keep his mind busy, like a stuffed kong. treats. or a particular tasty chew,” he said.
4. Think twice before dressing your pet
Dressing up your dog or cat for Halloween can be stressful, especially since they usually don’t expect it.
A veterinarian and animal behavior expert have shared six tips to keep your cats and dogs safe this October and avoid a costly last-minute vet bill.
Dr Scales-Theobald said: “I suggest you get your dog used to the costume a couple of weeks before Halloween with some positive reinforcement.”
‘Start by taking out the costume, placing it on the floor, and letting your dog get a good sniff, all while offering praise and rewarding calm behavior with a tasty treat. “This should create a positive association with the costume.”
Dr. Scales-Theobald said you can get your dog used to the costume a couple of days before the event and reward calm behavior as a form of encouragement.
This can lead to putting on a costume without any problems or complications, but if your dog seems stressed during this process, he says it’s best to skip the costume.
She added: “Keeping your dog happy and stress-free is much more important than forcing him to dress up for a night.”
Dr. Linda Simon added: “Whatever costume you put on your dog should not limit his ability to move comfortably and freely, breathe or bark.” If you limit any of these, don’t force your dog to use them.
He said owners should make sure there are no choking hazards that could chew through the costume before putting it on their dogs.
“Of course, it goes without saying that when your dog is in costume, you must supervise him at all times to ensure his safety,” he added.
“Your dog should be happy to have his costume on for the short time he wears it, so be sure to keep an eye on him to make sure that at no point does he begin to show signs of distress, anxiety, or even being too hot.”
5. Keep decorations out of reach
Many people who enjoy Halloween love to dress up their homes with decorations that fit the spooky occasion.
But pet owners should be careful and watch where they place items, as they should be out of reach of dogs.
Dr Simon said: “Dogs are incredibly curious and explore new things with their nose and mouth.
“If you are someone who likes to decorate your house for Halloween, you should make sure that all decorations are placed out of your dog’s reach and securely secured to prevent your dog from grabbing them.”
Dr. Simon said if your dog ends up chewing and swallowing ornaments, you should contact your veterinarian as soon as possible.
She said: “Ingesting items of this type can cause a host of problems, from stomach upset to intestinal blockages, which can be fatal.”