While Halloween can be ghoulish good time for kids and their parents, let's not forget the pets.
Pet owners, veternarians say, shouldn’t loss sight of potential dangers and sources of stress for their four-legged family members.
Denise Petryk, director of veterinary services at Trupanion, a pet insurance provider, offers these tips for keeping pets safe and happy while celebrating the holiday weekend this year:
· Candy and Treats: Many pet owners know that dogs shouldn't eat chocolate, but year after year Trupanion sees a 71 percent increase in chocolate toxicity during Halloween compared to the previous six months of the year. Consider scouting out alternative treats, such as Homemade pumpkin treats so pets can indulge in something other than chocolate.
· Costumes: Costumes aren’t for every pet. If you do plan to dress your pet up, make sure the costume is comfortable, non-restricting, and doesn’t have any loose pieces they might try to swallow.
· Trick-or-Treating: Remember to keep your pet’s identification on them at all times. A startled pet may dart out the door when the doorbell rings with trick-or-treaters. Consider keeping them in their crate or in a different area of the house.
· Decorations: Lights, cords, paper decorations, fake spider webs, maize, candy wrappers, and other fall décor can be tempting for pets and dangerous if consumed. Always keep smaller chewable items out of reach.
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