Keep Your Pet Safe This Halloween

Halloween is full of fake scares and fun frights, but it isn’t always so fun for our pets.

While you are out trick-or-treating with your kids or carving pumpkins, you need to make sure that your pet stays safe and out of trouble. Halloween can come with many things that could be potentially hazardous to your four-legged friend. At East Meadow Veterinary Center, our veterinarian in Levittown is dedicated to helping you to enjoy a fun, safe holiday. That’s why we’ve come up with the following guide to keep your pet safe this Halloween:

#1. Candy and Treats

Many pet owners know this already, but chocolate is toxic for our pets. Chocolate contains caffeine and theobromine, which can stimulate your dog’s nervous system to a dangerous and possibly deadly degree. It’s important to note that chocolate is also toxic for cats, but cats are less likely to actually eat it. Artificially sweetened candy commonly contains xylitol, which is also highly toxic for pets. Other concerns include food wrappers, alcoholic beverages and other human foods and drinks. Keep the Halloween treats far away from your pet, and never offer them any people food unless you know that it is safe for them.

#2. Decorations

With so many new objects around the house, your pet’s curiosity is likely to be piqued. Make sure that you keep all decorations out of your pet’s reach, and that includes power cords, pumpkins, candles and more. Your pet could chew on a power cord and get an electrical shock, they could ingest something that might require surgical removal or they could burn themselves on a candle or inadvertently start a fire. Keep your decorations far away from your pet!

Learn about more ways to keep your pet safe this Halloween by staying tuned for our next blog.

Get the most out of Halloween by keeping your pet happy and safe.

With Halloween only a day away, many people are scrambling to find costumes, buying last-minute Halloween candy and putting the final touches on their jack-o-lanterns. Unfortunately, with all of the excitement, we often forget how dangerous Halloween can be for our pets. That’s why, in our last post, our veterinary clinic in North Merrick went over a couple of Halloween safety tips for your pet. Keep reading to learn more:

#3. Halloween Costumes

While some pets may love to wear Halloween costumes, others can feel uncomfortable or frightened in their costume (or any clothing for that matter). If your pet doesn’t like to wear a costume, don’t try to force him or her to wear one. Instead, choose a cute bandana or a new collar, if you insist on getting them in the spirit. If your pet doesn’t mind wearing a costume, make sure it fits properly and has no loose pieces that could be ingested. Never leave your pet alone when they have a costume on!

#4. Trick-or-Treaters and Guests

Even if your pet loves other people, keep them somewhere safe and quiet while the Halloween festivities are in full swing. When people are dressed in costumes, it can frighten pets, and some may even exhibit aggressive behaviors due to their nervousness or agitation. Keeping your pets away from all of the excitement also minimizes the risk that they could get out while you are greeting guests or trick-or-treaters.

#5. Other Possible Dangers

Unfortunately, pets are commonly stolen around Halloween, and this is especially true for black cats. Don’t leave your pets unsupervised outside around Halloween.