A Halloween Special from The Meowing Vet

Halloween is almost here! The Goosebumps TV show theme song is stuck in our brains, our pumpkins are carved, and our costumes are assembled. The Meowing Vet is not only excited to celebrate Halloween, but we’re also eager to share our pet safety tips and fun Halloween ideas with our readers. (Kitty Litter Cake, anyone?)

Learn more below…

Halloween Pet Safety Tips

Halloween can be a bit frighteningly fun for you, but this holiday shouldn’t cause fear in our dogs and cats. Adhere to our pet safety tips below to prevent an unnecessary scare to your pet.

Chocolate is my favorite part of Halloween. How about you? However, chocolate is toxic to pets, causing GI upset (vomiting and diarrhea) with possible cardiac complications. Therefore, don’t be sharing your Halloween treats with your dog or cat, and be sure the candy dish is out of your pet’s reach. Additionally, many sugar-free candies contain xylitol, a sugar-free sweetener alternative, which can be deadly to dogs and cats, causing liver failure and dangerously low blood sugar (hypoglycemia). Furthermore, accidental ingestion of candy wrappers can lead to GI foreign body or obstruction. Click here to learn about other human foods that are toxic to pets.
Miniature pumpkins, small gourds, ornamental corn cobs, and even other Halloween decorations can pose a choking or GI foreign body risk to inquisitive pets who may ingest these items. Ensure that your pet will not be able to reach them.
Keep your pets away from jack-o-lantern candles to prevent accidental burns and fires.
Make sure any fog machine liquids are non-toxic. Keep them and glow sticks out of the reach of pets just in case. Even if they’re non-toxic, ingestion can cause drooling.
Trick-or-treaters will be knocking on your door or ringing the doorbell all evening long in their quest for candy. If your pet is reactive or fearful when visitors arrive, consult with your veterinarian or a reputable pet behaviorist to help your pet learn coping mechanisms for dealing this anxiety-ridden behavior.
Because you’ll be frequently answering the door to treat the costume-clad kids in your neighborhood, be sure to keep your pet in a secure location to prevent them from sneaking outside and potentially becoming lost. It’s also a great idea to have your dog or cat microchipped, which greatly increases the chances of being reunited with your pet should he or she become lost. Ask your personal vet about microchipping for additional details.
Prevent dog bites to children and other guests at your home by keeping your dog secured safely away from guests. Even well-behaved dogs may become unnerved by children in scary costumes, leading to an accidental dog bite. Because a dog bite can sometimes occur without warning, it’s always a good idea to ensure that your pet is also up-to-date on his or her Rabies vaccine if you live in a region of the world affected by this fatal viral disease.
If your dog or cat seems panicked or uncomfortable in a pet costume, remove it right away and avoid future use. As cute as pet costumes are, some animals are easily stressed when in a costume. If your pet doesn’t mind wearing apparel, avoid costumes that are too tight and could make breathing difficult.

Click here for our Halloween article from last 2016, packed with even more in-depth safety tips to aid your pet in enjoying this upcoming spooky night.

Gross out your friends with this edible (and poop-free) Kitty Litter Cake!

I first made this cake several years ago while I was still in vet school. Yes, it’s entirely made for human consumption. And yes, it grossed out my fellow veterinary classmates when it was served at our class Halloween party. Therefore, this Kitty Litter Cake is sure to make your own party guests gag and giggle at your next Halloween celebration.

Because this cake contains chocolate, which is toxic to dogs and cats as we explained above, it should not be shared with your pets. This cake is a blend of chocolate and vanilla cake mixes with Tootsie Rolls® that are shaped to look like… uh, how do I phrase this delicately?… cat turds. The final result is displayed in a brand-new cat litter tray with a clean litter scoop used for serving.

If you make a Kitty Litter Cake, The Meowing Vet would love to see your finished result! Tag us on Facebook and/or Instagram @themeowingvet or post a photo to our Facebook page!