Howl-o-ween Purrvival Guide

Written By Alyson Jurgovan
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Friends and Neighbors,

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Spooky season is upon us! Check out our Howl-o-ween Purrvival Guide below with tips on keeping your pet safe from our own Dr. Gail Simpson.

Do’s

  • Steer clear of the door. Be mindful of your door opening more frequently than normal. “The celebration of Halloween may look a little different this year, but if you expect a flurry of visitors and strangers to your door, I recommend keeping dogs and cats in a separate room, ideally far from the noisy front door to reduce stress,” says Dr. Simpson.

  • Check the chip! “Stressed and fearful dogs and cats are more likely to slip through a door and escape, so make sure your pet has a collar with an ID tag and up to date phone number, so you can be reached if they are found outside. Additionally, check that their microchip number is registered to you and up to date!” says Dr. Simpson. If you’re having trouble figuring out if your pet’s microchip is registered to the correct address, give us a call!

  • Stay enriched. If your pet would rather stay at home, give them lots of exercise and mental stimulation prior to the start of trick or treating. Check out our at-home enrichment blog for some DIY ideas!

  • Stay safe. Keep wires, decorations, and candy out of reach of pets—chewing or ingestion of these can be dangerous, ranging from causing mild gastrointestinal upset to serious conditions requiring immediate veterinary care!

Don’ts

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  • Force it. If your pet likes to be involved, dress them up and make them part of the fun! Make sure the costume doesn’t restrict movement or breathing and is comfortable for them. If they are exhibiting mobility issues, pacing, panting or circulation issues it’s best to remove the costume from your pet. If your pet isn’t exhibiting physical symptoms, but is appearing stressed by wearing the costume, you should still remove it. Forcing the costume on them will only cause anxiety and trauma. If you really want that picture of your pet in their costume, be sure to use positive reinforcement methods to do so!

  • Let them party alone. “Never leave your pet alone in a costume, particularly if they are the curious type who might chew or swallow pieces of fabric, which can cause a gastrointestinal obstruction,” Dr. Simpson says.

  • Share your sweets! Never feed them candy—many types are toxic to dogs and cats. Learn more about dangerous toxins below.

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Toxins

  • Chocolate is by far the most common toxin we see on or after Halloween. Chocolate is toxic to both dogs and cats, with dark and baking chocolate causing more severe toxicosis. Lower doses of chocolate cause vomiting and diarrhea, while higher doses can cause restlessness, a racing heart, muscle tremors, seizures, and heart failure.

  • Xylitol is another common toxin, mainly seen in sugar free candies and gum. It causes vomiting, diarrhea, depression, tremors, wobbly gait, seizures, and can be fatal.

  • Raisins, sometimes found in candy, can cause kidney failure in dogs. Signs aren't always seen right away, so if ingested, your pet should be seen by a veterinarian immediately.

  • If you think your pet has ingested a toxin, immediately contact the ASPCA Poison Control Center (888) 426-4435. If you’re going to the emergency room, bring along the container of the substance your pet ingested.

We hope you found these tips useful and that they help you keep your pet happy and healthy! If you have any questions, don’t hesitate to ask us. As always, we’re here for you and your pets.


Sincerely,

The BLVD Team

Alyson Jurgovan
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