As Halloween approaches, our thoughts drift to ghosts and ghouls, spooky decorations, lots of treats and fun times.  Sadly, for our pets it can be a frightening time.  There could be hazards in our homes, from toxic foods to dangerous decorations.  We are reminding you to be aware of the dangers Halloween poses to all animals and to take extra measures to safeguard the safety of not only domestic pets but farm animals and wildlife too.

Our small animal veterinary team has pulled together a Halloween survival guide to help keep pets happy.

Hide the treats

The sweets bowl is for trick-or-treaters, not our furry friends. Several popular Halloween treats are toxic to pets. Chocolate in all forms and sugar-free candies containing the sugar substitute xylitol can cause serious problems in pets. If your pet does ingest something toxic, contact your vet immediately.

 

Halloween decorations out of pets’ reach

Many cats and dogs love to play with dangly decorations. However, they could end up chewing and swallowing something harmful, leading to serious problems such as a gut blockage.  Its important to keep pets away from wires and candles.  Also, swallowing foil or plastic wrappers can lead to digestive problems and may require surgery.

 

Don’t dress up pets

Some pets may find wearing Halloween costumes stressful. Consider a festive themed bandana instead which will be less restrictive. If you do choose to put your pet in a costume, make sure it does not limit the animal’s movement, vision, ability to breathe or behave normally.

 

Fireworks

The sound of fireworks can cause a lot of distress for pets.  It is important to ensure pets are kept safe in a secure area where they cannot dart out an open door from the noise.  Keeping the lights low and playing a radio or television in the background can help drown out some of the noise outside. Close the curtains and windows if there’s lots of noise outside.

 

Be home before dark

Trick-or-treaters in costume and loud music from parties can be scary for our pets, so it’s best to be at home with them before Halloween activities start.  To avoid stress in dogs, take them for walks before it gets dark.  For cats, encourage them to come home earlier by moving their dinner time to before it gets dark outside.

 

Outdoor Pets and Wildlife

Horses, ponies and donkeys should be securely stabled to prevent them from escaping or hurting themselves if they live in areas with a considerable amount of Halloween-related noise. It is important you check under all wood piles before lighting any bonfires to ensure there is no wildlife hibernating. Some outdoor decorations such as fake spider webs can snare wild animals, so be careful if hanging them and ensure they are removed after the festivities.

 

Unfortunately stray animals can fall victim to abuse or cruel Halloween pranks. If you witness any animal cruelty, please contact your local Garda station immediately.

Did you know Glasslyn Vets offer a Pet Health plan that helps you spread out the costs of your veterinary bills?

 

A Health plan gives you peace of mind that you are actively monitoring your pets’ health with regular visits, updated vaccinations and year round parasite treatment!

 

At Glasslyn we don’t judge or discriminate, so the health plan is open to all ages and preexisting conditions so you can sign up your new puppy and senior cat so that they both can benefit from our plan.

 

We do have a few exclusions, this plan does not cover:

• Once off medications
• Visits out of hours, home visits or public holidays
• Vaccination restarts after missing the booster
• Maximum of 12 visits a year

 

Lets look at the benefits of the Healthplan!

1. Year round parasite protection

 

The harm from parasites to a pet’s health can range from minor irritation to serious conditions that, if untreated, can be fatal.

At Glasslyn we stock a wide variety of Flea and Worm medications, giving you the option of a spot on or tablet, monthly or every 3 months.

 

2. Annual Vet check

Having your pet in for an annual vet check ensures that we catch any health problems early, avoiding an escalating illness and saving you added vet bills!

On the Essential plan you get a yearly vet check, and on the Premium plan you get up to 12 visits a year!

 

3. Yearly Vaccinations

Unvaccinated pets are always at a greater risk of coming in contact with deadly diseases and spreading them to other pets or even humans.

Our Health plan covers your pets first and second vaccination, as well as the yearly booster. We also cover Kennel Cough for dogs and Feline Leukemia for cats.

 

4. 10% Discount on Glasslyn Pet food

We stock Royal Canin, James Well Beloved and Calibra which offers a veterinary approved pet food for all budgets.

These brand have Vet specific diets like Gastrointestinal for pets prone to upset stomachs, Urinary for pets prone to bladder stones, Sensitive for pets with allergies and much more!

They also have the Health range for every day health and wellbeing.

 

5. 10% Discount on Neutering

Did you know neutering your pets let them live longer?!

Neutering your pets prevents females from coming into season, attracting unwanted male attention which can lead to pregnancy or false pregnancies. It also prevents the risk of testicular cancer in males and uterus infections and cancers in females. It helps reduce urine marking and roaming in male dogs and cats.

This procedure is very straightforward with your pet coming in in the morning and going home that afternoon.

 

6. 10% Discount on Long term medications

We know the vet bills can add up when your pet is diagnosed with a long term illness or condition, that is why our Premium plan covers any long term medications that your Vet has approved, this includes arthritis medications, allergies, heart or liver and others.

 

7. Optional Dental pack

If your pet is prone to dental disease or bad breath, this added option would be for you!

At a small added monthly fee, we will include a yearly dental scale and polish, to keep your pets teeth healthy! By having a dental cleaning once a year, we can avoid tooth decay early enough to save you from expensive extraction surgery.

 

8. Optional Blood and Urine analysis

This option is also at a small added fee and gives you added peace of mind. This is a good option for our older pets, to catch any underlying issues early enough.

Talk to our team or sign up on our home page for savings up to 490 euros a year!