All
holidays pose special hazards for pets, but Halloween is by far the
most dangerous one of the year, and parents need to be vigilant about
keeping their dogs and cats safe, animal welfare experts warn.
More
dogs die or stray during Halloween than any other holiday, according
to Liam Crowe, a dog behavioral therapist and CEO of Bark Busters
USA, which has 250 franchises nationwide.
“Halloween
is intended to scare and startle us - making it a spooky holiday for
dogs, too," he states in a media release. "By being more
sensitive to dogs’ fear-driven ‘fight or flight’ instincts, we
can help keep our furry friends safe this Halloween.”
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Mr.
Crow advises bringing dogs indoors and putting them in a separate
room where they cannot be harmed, overwhelmed by children in costumes
or frightened by all the trick-or-treating activity. A timid, scared
or excited dog may dash out the front door, so placing a pet in a
quiet, separate room will limit his excitement, aggression and chance
of running outside and getting lost or injured.
Pet
parents should also reassure their dogs that all is well by simply
acting as normal as possible, Mr. Crowe said. Too much reassuring or
extra attention may actually make a dog worry that something abnormal
is happening, causing a pet to become more frightened.
Mr.
Crowe also suggests getting your dog familiar with Halloween costumes
or he could regard family members as strangers when they are dressed
up. Allow your dog to smell the costumes before the children put them
on and keep masks off when the dog is present.
Mr.
Crowe also discourages pet parents from dressing their dogs in
costumes. Some dogs do enjoy being dressed up but many dislike it, so
a pet parent should experiment to see if their dog likes being in a
costume. If a dog shows resistance, simply tie a fun bandana around
his neck instead.
According
to 2013 statistics from the National Retail Federation, 15 percent of
Americans will dress their companion animals in costumes.
Mike
Canning, president and CEO of the Pet Industry Joint Advisory
Council, advises pet parents to exercise caution if they plan to
dress their animals in costumes.
“Not
all animals enjoy being in costumes as much as some pet owners enjoy
seeing them in costume,” Mr. Canning states in a media release.
“Pet costumes can compromise the natural instincts and defense
mechanisms of our four-legged friends, so we encourage pet owners to
monitor the pet’s stress level and ability to function in any
costume that might make them fearful or even aggressive.”
Pet
parents also should be aware of potential poisoning from sweets and
other hazards during the Halloween season, the American Society for
the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals warns.
"Many
of our favorite Halloween traditions could pose a potential threat to
our companion animals," Steven Hansen, a veterinary toxicologist
and official at the American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to
Animals, states in a media release. "So as you start to make
plans for trick-or-treating or Halloween costumes, pet parents should
be aware of Halloween-related products and activities that can be
potentially dangerous to pets."
According
to the ASPCA, Halloween hazards include:
Sweets.
Several treats are toxic to pets. Candy containing the artificial
sweetener xylitol can be poisonous to dogs. Even small amounts of
xylitol sweetener can cause a sudden drop in blood sugar, which leads
to depression, lack of coordination and seizures. Chocolate,
especially baker’s and dark chocolate, can be potentially poisonous
to animals, especially dogs, and can cause liver damage. Symptoms
include vomiting, diarrhea, hyperactivity and increased thirst,
urination and heart rate and even seizures.
Wrappers.
Cats especially love to play with candy wrappers, but ingesting
aluminum foil or cellophane can cause intestinal blockage and induce
vomiting.
Trick-or-treating.
During trick-or-treating hours, keep pets in a room away from your
front door to avoid having them run out. Pets should wear a collar
with tags and be microchipped.
Costumes.
They can present a suffocation hazard. If you dress up your pet for
Halloween, make sure the costume does not limit its movement,
hearing, sight or ability to breathe or bark. Also check the costume
for choking hazards. A simple, festive Halloween bandanna is a smart
alternative to dressing your pet from head to paw.
Decorations.
Avoid putting candles in jack-o-lanterns. Pets can knock over them
over and start a fire. Also, make sure pets have no access to wires
and cords from holiday decorations. If chewed, a wire can damage a
pet’s mouth from shards of glass or plastic, or deliver an
electrical shock.
More
reports about dogs, safety and poison
If
a pet accidentally ingests a potentially harmful product, the ASPCA
advises pet parents to immediately consult with a veterinarian or
call the ASPCA’s Animal Poison Control Center at 888-426-4435.
------
The Ruff Report is a column that appears on MySetterSam.com,
a blog written by Joseph A. Reppucci, a retired editor from The Patriot
Ledger in Quincy, Massachusetts. Mr. Reppucci worked as a reporter and editor on major daily
newspapers in the Boston area for more than 30 years. He is the author
of the book, The Hunt of Her Life,
a heartwarming story about his once-in-a-lifetime rescue dog. Find it on Amazon.com.
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