Keep your pets safe on Halloween
HOUSTON (KTRK) -- Halloween can be fun for the entire family. But remember that many of the things that make the holiday so much fun for people, also make it dangerous and scary for our pets.
Dr. Amy Vogt, with Friendship Animal Hospital in Richmond, says there are several things to watch out for on Halloween.
"We have to remember that not all of these dogs and cats are going to appreciate all of these strangers, looking very strange, coming to the door," said Dr. Vogt.
She suggests that even before trick or treaters start showing up, put your pets in a safe, quiet room. Consider putting on some white noise, like a fan or some classical music. This will help make them feel more secure and also keep them from escaping when you answer the door to hand out candy.
We all know our pets shouldn't eat candy at all. Dr. Vogt reminds us that some types of candy are downright dangerous. Most of us know that chocolate can make your dog very sick. She also says you need to make sure your pets don't eat sugar free candy or gum. Xylitol is an ingredient that is often in sugar free candy and gum and is very toxic to dogs. She also says the empty candy wrappers can be very attractive to animals looking for something to play with, but can be a problem if they are eaten.
In addition to all that candy, Dr. Vogt says Halloween costumes themselves can also be a hazard.
"Something that has string or a lot of fringe can be really tempting to pets, especially cats. This is dangerous if they swallow those things. Glow sticks and glow jewelry contain ingredients that are toxic. Cats and dogs can ingest those if they bite them."
Many household pets are lost each year on Halloween and end up at local shelters. Now is a good time to make sure your pet is always wearing a collar with an updated contact information tag. A microchip can also help ensure your beloved pet is returned to you if they are lost and turned into a shelter or veterinarian's office.
