Halloween is all about scary fun, but every year veterinarians deal with pets whose Halloween quickly became a nightmare. One of the most common problems is when pets accidentally eat something they shouldn't. Obviously, chocolate isn't good for any pet, and can in fact kill. But consider how a casually tossed candy wrapper can smell tasty and be awfully tempting to your pet. Normally an eaten wrapper would just "pass," but if it gets caught in the digestive track, it could cause a painful blockage and could even require surgery. Decorations like fake spider webs and streamers can look fun to play with and chew.
Seeing a person in costume, even a scary one, can be very entertaining for us. But for your pet, it can be truly frightening to have scary looking strangers coming to their home. Consider keeping pets indoors and in a room away from the front door. Dogs may become agitated and feel scared enough to try and protect both you and your home.
Lastly, a disturbing but necessary warning to protect all pets, and especially black cats, from cruel and inhumane pranks around Halloween. Because this actually happens, many shelters suspend the adoption of black cats near Halloween.
Be on the safe side and keep a close eye on your pets. Be aware of the dangers listed above but there are a few more. Read the article on the American Animal Hospital Association website.
