Safety Tips For Every Season : Fall

Don’t Let Halloween Scare Your Pets

Witches, bats and scaredy cats!

Keep your pets safely indoors and away from noisy groups of children and parents. Make sure your pet can’t accidently escape when you open the door to Trick-or-Treaters.

Pet Costumes

Pet costumes can be fun. If you dress your pet in cute hats or witches’ capes, make sure he or she can move freely and won’t stumble over a costume that hangs to the floor. Never tie anything around its neck so it doesn’t choke or strangle. You can opt for a fancy collar instead of a costume. Let your pet be the judge. If it struggles and is uncomfortable, then maybe your pet would be happier without a pet costume.

Pets & Candy

Candy can make your pet sick and can even kill it. Chocolate contains a stimulant called theobromine that can affect your dog’s nervous system, and can cause urinary and heart muscle damage. It can even cause death if consumed in enough quantity. If you want to treat your pets, stock up on dog biscuits or catnip toys.

If you suspect your pet has gotten some poisonous substance, call your veterinarian immediately. Have the phone number to your local emergency animal hospital readily available. (link to page Emergency Vet Care if we use one) You may also call the American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (ASPCA) Animal Poison Control number at 888-426-4435. There may be a charge for that call.

: Stories

Halloween And Dogs

Thankful Your Pet Stays Healthy On Thanksgiving

Before you sit down to that fabulous Thanksgiving feast and before you give in to those gorgeous, pleading eyes and feed your pet some table scraps, stop and think of the harm that can do. It can be hazardous to feed your pet any “people food.”

If you feed your pets their regular pet food before guests arrive the animals may be less likely to beg. Be sure to tell your guests what your rules are for feeding your pets. Ask them not to feed scraps from the table to your pets. Also, if your guests smoke or if you serve alcohol, make sure none of that is within reach of your pet.

Here Are Some Of The Hazards:

Rich, fatty foods such as turkey skins, gravy, ham, bread dough and nuts can cause pancreatitis, an inflammation of a digestive gland, and can be very serious and painful, leading to hospitalization.
Any kind of bone can tear or obstruct your pet’s intestinal tract.
String, that is often used to tie up the turkey legs, can tie up your pet’s insides too.
Pets may also try to eat the pop-up thermometers from a turkey, which can cause intestinal blockage.
Onions, whether in the stuffing or side dishes, can destroy a dog’s red blood cells, leading to anemia.
Grapes and raisins can be toxic to dogs and cause sudden kidney failure.
Baking chocolate can kill your dog, so keep all such goodies well out of reach. For more about chocolate see the “Halloween” section.
Tinfoil can be attractive to your pet, but it can cause an intestinal blockage if eaten.

Don’t Tempt Your Pet

Keep all leftover food out of reach in a closed container. Food that is left out and in the kitchen garbage can may contain toxins such as e-coli that can affect your pet’s organs.

You can show your pets how thankful you are that they are part of your family by giving them a feast of pet food, catnip, special chewy or a few tablespoons of peanut butter stuffed into a favorite tube toy.

Don’t Forget The After-Dinner Nap

Some pets may not take all the excitement lying down so provide a quiet place away from all the activity. Find a room where you can close the door to give your pet some time alone to de-stress. Provide plenty of food and water and let your pet catch up on some sleep.