Trick or trauma? Halloween is a great time for humans but can be dangerous - even deadly - for our pets. Here are some things to avoid. reproduced with permission from Pet Poison Helpline petpoisionhelpline • 800-213-6680 • click here for full article For the current edition of the New Parent Guide or for previous editions, please CLICK HERE Interested in receiving our FREE Facebook updates? SIGN UP TODAY! Halloween Tips and protect your pets! Pet Poison Helpline is a 24-hour animal poison control service that assists pet owners, veterinarians and veterinary technicians who are treating potentially poisoned pets. “Every year during the week of Halloween our call center gets busy.” said Ahna Brutlag, DVM, assistant director at Pet Poison Helpline. “Many of the cases we handle are for dogs that ingest Halloween candy – the most common denominator being chocolate. By being cognizant of potential hazards, pet owners can help reduce the likelihood of pet poisonings this Halloween.” CHOCOLATE Of all candies, chocolate poses the biggest Halloween “threat” to dogs. Many dogs are attracted to the smell of chocolate, making it a significant threat for massive ingestion. The darker and more bitter the chocolate, the more poisonous it is. CANDY & SWEETS Candy and other sweet foods – especially those containing poisonous xylitol – can also be poisonous to pets. Large ingestions of sugary, high-fat candy and sweets can lead to pancreatitis in pets. RAISINS Mini-boxes of raisins can be a healthy treat for trick-or-treaters, but they are extremely poisonous to dogs! Raisins are so dangerous that they deserve the same pet-proofing treatment as chocolate – stored in secure containers far from their reach. CANDY WRAPPERS When pets get into candy, they can eat the wrappers too. Ingestion of foil and cellophane wrappers can sometimes cause a life-threatening bowel obstruction, which may require surgery to correct. GLOW STICKS / GLOW JEWELRY Due to their curious nature, cats often accidentally ingest glow sticks and jewelry because they are bright and fun to chew. While not usually life-threatening, the contents can cause mouth pain and irritation, as well as profuse drooling and foaming. COSTUMES If you put a costume on your pet, make sure it doesn’t impair his vision, movement or air intake. If it has metallic beads, snaps or other small pieces, be aware that these pieces, especially those that contain zinc and lead, can result in serious poisoning if ingested. If you think you have a poison issue or emergency with your companion animal, call the Pet Poison Helpline: 800-213-6680
Posted on: Wed, 09 Oct 2013 17:42:24 +0000
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