When it Comes to Pets, Take the Trick and Leave the Treat

Oct. 10, 2010 - PRLog -- Washington County, FL, October 2010- Who doesn’t love the goodies we get from a night of “trick-or-treating”?  And as much as our dentist and the bathroom scale may warn against Halloween sweets we will all indulge at least a little.  But what amounts to a special treat for us can be a serious, even life threatening, problem for our family dog or cat.

If a dog or cat eats chocolate (especially unsweetened baking chocolate), their bodies react in a variety of ways including increased heart contractions, loss of body fluid, vomiting, diarrhea, stomach ulcers, convulsions, seizures and sometimes death.  Of course the best policy is to never allow your cat or dog to eat chocolate or sweets in any form but at Halloween time we need to be especially vigilant in case our kids are a little too generous with their “trick-or-treat” plunder.  Even gum and candy wrappers can cause stomach upsets and some are made with xylitol which can cause your dog’s blood sugar to drop to dangerously low levels that can lead to a variety of problems including liver damage.

If the family pet does ingest chocolate, call your vet or animal hospital immediately.  The effects of chocolate poisoning are not always evident right away so don’t assume your pet is okay after eating chocolate even if you don’t notice any obvious symptoms.  If you cannot reach your vet it is always a good idea to have a first aid kit containing activated charcoal and syrup of Ipecac on hand to treat your pet until medical help can be reached.

If you will be hosting a Halloween party for all of the ghosts and goblins in your neighborhood, you may want to consider finding a safe, quiet place for your family pooch or kitty to hang out or hiring a pet sitter for the night.  This will keep them from becoming overexcited, confused or frightened by trick-or-treaters in costume coming to your door all evening.  Also, be on guard that they don’t dash out of an open door.  To be on the safe side make sure all pets have ID tags, microchips, or both in case they do get out.  Do not forget outdoor pets.  They should be brought inside just to be safe.  Always make sure Halloween candles, jack-o-lanterns, string cobwebs, glow sticks and other decorations are kept away from your pets who may chew and swallow them.  If your pet is going to dress in costume, be aware that this can be very stressful to some animals and you should familiarize them with their costume over a period until they are comfortable.  If your pet shows any signs of stress, it is probably best to let them sit out the Halloween festivities this year.  If they seem to be okay in costume, ensure the one you have chosen fits correctly and are not overly tight, binding or restrict their movement, vision or breathing.  
Keep an eye on what your pets are eating and enjoy a fun and safe Halloween!  For more information on pet sitting visit www.DogSmith.com.

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The DogSmith Franchise Services Inc. is a Florida based company whose mission is to enhance the lives of pets and their owners by improving their relationship, and the quality of the life they share, through providing professional support and training to pet dog owners, supporting and assisting animal shelters and rescue organizations to minimize the number of unwanted animals and offering affordable and professional care to family pets so that pet ownership is never a burden. To learn more about The DogSmith or to become a DogSmith Dog Trainer, visit www.DogSmith.com or call 1-888-364-7648