Do you already have your spooky or sexy Halloween costume all picked out? Or are you more excited for the endless supplies of candy on All Hallows’ Eve? (Gotta admit, I’m probably looking forward to the latter more.) Whatever your Halloween plans are this year, be sure to keep your dog or cat out of harm’s way by following a few easy pet safety tips from The Meowing Vet.

Candy

As a “former fat kid,” I’m all too excited to eat my body weight in chocolate each Halloween. However, as lustily as my dog Magnolia pines for a Snickers fun size bar, I adamantly refrain from sharing with her. If ingested in large enough quantities by your dog or cat, chocolate can trigger hyperactivity, muscle tremors, gastrointestinal upset (such as vomiting and diarrhea), heart arrhythmia (abnormal heart rhythm), high body temperature, and possible seizures. Therefore, keep your trick-or-treat bucket well out of reach of your curious pets. (Did your pooch get into the M&Ms before you had a chance to hide them? Check out the “Dog Chocolate Toxicity Meter” on PetMD.)

And if you’re not a chocoholic like I am and opt for sweet treats such as bubblegum instead, be sure to keep sugar-free varieties away from your dog or cat. Many sugar-free chewing gums and candies contain the sugar-free sweetener alternative xylitol, which can trigger severe liver disease or dangerously low blood sugar (hypoglycemia) in your pet if consumed. If you want to share a safe holiday-inspired treat with your pet this October, I recommend a small amount of pumpkin — either canned (without added sugar or spices) or freshly cooked from a pumpkin you carve yourself. Not only is pumpkin delicious, but it is also chock full of nutrients, fiber, and water; this also makes it a great treat to aid in cases of hard stools and constipation.

For further information on other human foods that are toxic to pets, read our article here. And if you’re interested in what human fruits and vegetables are safe to feed your dog or cat (in addition to pumpkin), click here.

Black Cats

Why witches got a bad rap for having black cats around is puzzling to me. Those gals were the original “cat ladies,” for goodness’ sake! Sadly, a stigma still exists against black cats in parts of the world where these gorgeous animals are thought to bring misfortune or evil. Therefore, be ultra cautious in keeping your black kitties out of harm’s way of superstitious folk this Halloween by keeping them indoors. If you have a black cat, you know what amazing pets they can be. (Residents of the British Isles and Japan even consider these melanin-rich felines to be good luck!) Unfortunately, many black cats are left unwanted in adoption centers and shelters nationwide, prompting the American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (ASPCA) to organize Black Cat Appreciation Day each year on August 17. Many animal shelters offer discounted adoption fees for black cats during this time of year, so if you’re ready to open your loving home to a grateful new pet, consider a black cat this Fall.

Bats

It wouldn’t be Halloween without a few bat decorations, now would it? But what about a few live bats?! Not really the holiday you had in mind, huh? As a veterinarian, however, the welfare of all animals is of top concern for me… including bats (and rats for that matter). Bats aid us humans in insect control and plant pollination, and they are truly unique creatures. Sadly, the health of many bat species are threatened world-wide.

While I encourage all of you to promote habitat protection for these magnificent mammals, I also must warn you about their potential to transmit rabies virus. Rabies is a disease of the nervous system transmitted to mammals (including humans, dogs, and cats) via saliva most often by bite wounds (though rare instances of transmission via inhaled virus particles from dried bat saliva have been reported). Rabies leads to death in nearly 100% of infections. Bats can harbor the rabies virus, thus posing a potentially deadly health risk to you and your pets. Furthermore, bats can also transmit Histoplasmosis, a fungal infection of the respiratory tract that can be transmitted to humans, dogs, and cats. Therefore, take precautions of securing your home (such as your chimney, attic, or barn) to prevent bat infestations. If you wake up to find a bat in your room or experience a bite, call your local health department and animal control office immediately. To learn more about rabies vaccination, read our articles on dog vaccines and cat vaccines. For additional information on zoonotic bat diseases (i.e. those potentially passed to humans), refer to the Center of Disease Control (CDC).

Safety

I’ve already mentioned the great benefits of using portion-controlled pumpkin as a yummy pet-friendly treat. However, your Jack-o’-lantern can still pose a threat to your pet if it contains a candle. Pets may be intrigued by the flickering flame inside an artistically carved pumpkin and inadvertently set fire to themselves or your home, so please keep lit pumpkins out of access of your curious doggies and kitties.

Once you’ve found a safe place to keep your candle-lit pumpkins and candy, it’s time to find a safe place to keep your pets during the inevitable commotion of adorable trick-or-treaters knocking at your door. Especially if your pet has anxiety or displays aggression, ensure that he or she has a safe, secure location such as a bedroom, bathroom, or crate in which to seek refuge in the chance of becoming overly spooked by the costumed children outside your home. Having a quiet hiding location will also decrease the risk of your dog or cat from bolting to the outdoors when you open the door for a candy-inquiring ghoul. If your dog has been experiencing long-standing or increasing anxiety due to loud noises such as doorbell rings, ask your veterinarian if, in addition to behavioral modification, Sileo® (dexmedetomidine oromucosal gel) is right for helping him cope with his noise aversion.

Costumes

Against my better judgment, I’m giving away one of my Halloween costume ideas, but it’s too good (albeit a wee bit “adorkable”) not to share with you guys: I imagine dressing up my dog Magnolia as Dorothy from The Wizard of Oz while I intend to go as Toto the terrier. How meta! Whether your pet prefers to wear a subtle Halloween-themed collar or a full-fledged costume, dressing your pet up for the upcoming holiday can be fun. However, be sure to pick the right-sized costume. Too big, and your dog or cat can get tangled up in the excess fabric; too small, and the costume could inhibit movement or even make breathing difficult if it is too tight around your pet’s chest or abdomen. Additionally, refrain from clothing that would inhibit your pet’s hearing, vision, sense of smell, or ability to obtain food or water. These costumes can be alarming to your dog or cat, causing them to panic. The ASPCA recommends refraining from dressing up your pet unless he or she doesn’t seem to mind it, so try out the costume several days before Halloween night to make sure your pet doesn’t show signs of anxiety.

For feline-inspired costume ideas, check out Meowingtons online and enter promo code FALLCATS at checkout to save 50% for a limited time. I mean, a peacock costume for your kitty?! Yeah, girl!

 

 

For additional information on keeping your pet safe and happy this Halloween, visit the American Veterinary Medical Association (AVMA)’s website and listen to their podcast. If you have further questions on dog or cat safety or health, please feel free to contact us here at The Meowing Vet and follow us on Facebook.

Happy Halloween, everyone!!!

– Maranda Elswick, DVM

(and Magnolia, my lil’ pumpkin head!)