At Halloween, there are a few things that we need to be aware of, to help protect our cats and dogs.

The house can be full of lots of sweets and chocolate, either in preparation for trick-or-treatin’ or when children are very successful in bringing back bags of goodies. These sweets can pose a risk if eaten by our furry friends as they contain an artificial sweetener in the form of xylitol. This is highly toxic to dogs and cats as it causes their blood glucose levels to drop, even in small doses. It can also lead to seizures or even worse.

Chocolate too is poisonous for our feline and canine companions. It contains an chemical called theobromine which is toxic. The toxic dose is dependent on the strength of the chocolate and the weight of the animal. Clinical signs can vary from gastrointestinal upset in mild cases, to seizures and sadly even death.

It’s important that if your pet consumes either  of these, that they are seen by a vet as soon as possible. If seen within  30-60 minutes of ingestion , their chances of avoiding serious medical issues and recovery are highest, as we can help eliminate it from their stomachs.

Another risk posed to our pets during Halloween, are fireworks. During this time the loud noise of fireworks can make them very frightened. Often this can lead to pets running away on a walk or escaping the garden/house. We want to avoid cats and dogs getting lost or potentially getting themselves hurt. We also want to make sure they are nowhere nearby when lighting fireworks. So it’s important to keep them inside and safe when there are fireworks in the area. If our pets are extremely frightened and stressed, there are medications that can be prescribed to help reduced their anxiety during this time.

Give us a call for any further advice!