Friday, October 29, 2010

Preparing your Pets for Halloween



Halloween can be a real nightmare for pets. Just imagine trick-or-treating from a pet's point of view. It's an absolute nightmare of doorbells that never stop ringing, loud scary noises in the night and a constant stream of annoying strangers coming into your home. 

This can be very stressful and dangerous for pets. And it's our job as good pet parents to be aware of the dangers and to keep our pets safe. Bad things happen to good pets also, pets are often teased, tortured, terrorized and even killed at this time of year. 

Veterinary clinics also see a big rise in pet accidents and injuries on Halloween. The most common problems are poisoning, ingestion of foreign bodies, trauma from car accidents and bite wounds. Here are some good tips to keep in mind this Halloween:

1. Hide the candy. Keep all candy (and wrappers) out of your dog's reach. Candy is not good for dogs - especially chocolate. Problems can range from diarrhea and upset stomach to toxicity and even death.

2. Keep your dog on a leash. Don't leave your dog tied up outside. Keep him inside where it is safe. If you take your dog trick-or-treating, keep him on a short leash and hold it tightly to help keep him from fighting with other animals or biting strangers. Frequently scan the ground for dropped candy that your dog might eat.  

3. Make a safe spot for your pet. During trick-or-treating, keep your dog indoors in a separate room that is as far from the front door as possible. This will prevent him from getting spooked by trick-or-treaters and running outside. Give your dog plenty of fresh water, a familiar blanket, and something to take his mind off all the commotion going on in other areas of the house. 


-These helpful tips from Dr. Jon and the Dog Crazy Newsletter.

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