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Halloween is a fun and festive time for families, but it can pose serious risks to our pets. From toxic treats to stress in the home environment, it's important to be aware of the hidden hazards that could affect your pets. Here’s what to watch out for, and how to keep your pet safe during the Halloween season.
Chocolate
Chocolate contains theobromine and caffeine, both of which are toxic to dogs. Dogs cannot metabolise theobromine and caffeine as well as people can. The amount of toxic theobromine varies with the type of chocolate. The darker and more bitter the chocolate, the more dangerous it is to dogs.
Clinical signs of chocolate poisoning include:
Vomiting
Diarrhea
Increased thirst
Panting or restlessness
Excessive urination
Racing heart rate
In severe cases, muscle tremors, seizures, and heart failure can be seen.
Xylitol
Found in hard candy, chewing gum, and mints, xylitol is dangerous for dogs. If dogs eat something containing xylitol, it is quickly absorbed into the bloodstream, resulting in a potent release of insulin from the pancreas. This rapid release of insulin causes a rapid and profound decrease in the level of blood sugar (hypoglycemia), an effect that occurs within 10-60 minutes of eating the xylitol. Untreated, this hypoglycemia can be life-threatening.
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Common clinical signs and symptoms of xylitol poisoning develop rapidly, usually within 15-30 minutes of consumption.
Signs of hypoglycemia may include any or all of the following:
Vomiting
Weakness
Lack of coordination or difficulty walking or standing
Depression or lethargy
Tremors and seizures.
Raisins, Grapes and Currants
Grapes and raisins are bad for dogs, with one of the most serious complications of grape/raisin toxicity being severe kidney damage, leading to sudden kidney failure with lack of urine production.
Image by J Yeo from Unsplash
Grape and raisin poisoning will usually cause dogs to develop some combination of the following symptoms:
Vomiting and/or diarrhoea – often within a few hours of ingestion. Vomit and faecal contents material may contain pieces of grapes or raisin.
Loss of appetite
Lethargy, weakness, unusual quietness
Abdominal pain
Dehydration
Oliguria (passing only a small amount of urine)
Anuria (complete cessation of urine)
Foul breath
Oral ulcers
Tremors
Seizures
Snack and Candy Bags
There are always more sweet wrappers and plastic candy bags entering the home at Halloween. As well as the increased danger of choking on the sweet wrappers, pets can get their heads stuck in a plastic bag causing panic and stress. Your pet will start panting, breathing in the small amount of air in the bag, causing the bag to become vacuum-like-sealed, which could cause your pet to suffocate.
Always dispose of wrappers and bags safely and keep them out of reach of your pets.
Image by Marcos Santos from Pixabay
Keep any small plastic toys or items out of reach from your pets and keep a look out for anything that may fall off your Halloween costumes or props. These foreign items can be a choking hazard. They can also cause serious issues if they are swallowed and get lodged in your pet's digestive system or stomach.
Stress from Trick-or-Treaters
Your pet can become stressed due to constant knocking, doorbell ringing, and the parade of strangers in your house. Not to mention some of the potentially spooky costumes that might also scare them!
Image by Fale Llorente Almansa from Pixabay
Signs of stress include:
A reduced appetite
Changes in behavior
Fear of going outside to pass urine/faeces, resulting in indoor accidents.
To reduce this stress, it is best to keep your pet in a back room of your house where any commotion from strangers won’t bother them. Make sure there is a comfy bed with plenty of toys for company and entertainment for your pet.
Candles and Flames
Pets can easily brush against an open flame, which could result in severe and painful burns.
To stop this happening, keep candles up high and completely away from your pets, or buy fake battery-powered LED candles instead. Fake candles are also an ideal solution for cat owners, as cats can easily jump up onto high surfaces.
If this article has raised any concerns about your pet, please call us at Coquet Vets on 01665 252250.
