Written by Erin Campbell
Full of tricks and treats, October is a month for spooky fun. And while most pets love treats, making sure they are canine or feline treats is especially important with Halloween right around the corner. In fact, Halloween can often be a stressful, toxic and dangerous time for pets, so keeping them safe and calm is key. Our friends at Paws N’ Claws shared some insight and tricks on how best to keep your pets comfortable with the frightful fun that is to come.
As Halloween approaches, candy seems to be everywhere. Large bowls stocked and ready for trick-or-treating can certainly be tempting to humans, but did you consider how tempting they may be to our furry friends? While all candy is considered dangerous to pets, two kinds are especially toxic. Sugar-free candies containing xylitol, even in very small amounts, can be fatal to both dogs and cats. Chocolate – as most already know – is also quite toxic, especially in the form of dark or baking chocolate. While smaller amounts of milk chocolate generally aren’t too concerning, any amount of baking or dark chocolate is a concern. Should your furry friend ingest any xylitol or chocolate, it is extremely important to contact your veterinarian right away.
While you and your human family enjoy candy and sweet treats around Halloween – and make sure to keep them out of your pet’s reach – you might want to consider special pet-safe treats for your furry friends. Many pet-friendly recipes can be found online, or you can stop in Paws N’ Claws and pick up some fall-inspired treats they are sure to love. Dave Terranova at Paws N’ Claws stocks a wide range of treats to help your furry companions enjoy the fall season just as much as you. “From Bocce’s pumpkin, peanut butter and cinnamon soft treats to Honest Kitchen’s puréed pumpkin and goat’s milk probiotic cookies to Plato Pet Treats’ turkey strips with either cranberry or pumpkin to Lord Jameson’s organic apple pops, we have tons of fall-themed treats for your pup,” says Dave. “And not only are they fun for fall but they also have functional benefits as well to keep them healthy and moving.”
A time for costumes, Halloween can certainly be festively fun, but also pose dangerssome might not be aware of. While dressing your furry friend up can be exceptionally adorable, it is important to consider their comfort and safety level. Dave says, “as with jackets, cooling vests or other pet attire, it is important for anything your canine or feline wears to fit snuggly, but not be too tight or constricting. You want to avoid anything loose fitting that could cause entanglement, or that they would potentially chew and ingest.” And while humans can easily voice their opinion on costumes, it is not so plain and simple for our canine and feline companions. Signs of anxiety in dogs can include lip licking, head turning, a tucked tail, stillness, running away, growling or barking, and are important to watch for. In our feline companions, take note of any behaviors indicating anxiety such as pacing, hiding, decreased appetite, vocalization, hypervigilance, trembling, salivation or excessive grooming. Should any of these behaviors present, removing the costume is important. Also, remember to only put a costume on your pet while supervised as they can chew off and ingest a portion of the costume, which could lead to intestinal obstructions.
Like costumes, Halloween decorations can also pose a threat to curious pets. Open flames in pumpkins can cause burns to inquisitive pets, wires running to decorations could be chewed by puppies or kittens and cause mouth burns, fake cobwebs and rotting pumpkins that might be enticing to eat can cause intestinal obstruction and the solution used in fog machines can be toxic to pets. Glow sticks are also something to beware of as the chemical inside of them can be mildly toxic, causing profuse drooling, stinging, irritation and gastrointestinal upset if ingested.
Aside from costumes and decorations, the increase of unusual and perhaps frighteningactivity in or around your home can cause even more stress and anxiety in your pet. If you have a pet likely to be anxious around Halloween, providing a quiet and safe area in your home is an easy remedy during times of increased activity. Beyond that, Dave explains how calming remedies can also be helpful during more stressful and potentially scary times. “Calming products with melatonin, CBD or colostrum are all good ingredients to look for because they really do help to ease the anxiety,” says Dave. “Colostrum, known to calm babies, sends off a pheromone to ease their anxiety, and that combination of calming effect, smell and taste can help reduce stress in pets too. CBD has been proven safe and effective and we even have some fall-inspired pumpkin CBD treats to keep them less anxious. And melatonin helps to mellow pets out and allows them to relax and sleep during stressful times.”
With calming tricks and fall-inspired treats, Dave and his team at Paws N’ Claws are ready to help you and your furry companions enjoy the season that is upon us. As you partake in the festive fun, make sure to remember how best to accommodate your pet in allowing them to also enjoy the frightfully fun month of October.