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Protect Your Pet from Halloween Dangers
Halloween brings people and families together to celebrate the spooky holiday with parties and Trick or Treat activities, which bring a lot of candy and human treats into the home. But there is one family member who should not take part in enjoying the candy haul of little ghosts and goblins. Petland Veterinarian Dr. Sarah Hettinger, and pet-safety experts urge pet owners to take proactive steps to keep their four-legged kids safe – especially around candy, wrappers and decorations.
“Chocolate is toxic to dogs, and many Halloween candies contain chocolate, raisins, or the sugarsubstitute Xylitol, all of which can be hazardous or even deadly for pets,” said Dr. Hettinger. “While most
of the chocolates we find in our local supermarket or department store are milk chocolate, it can still
cause stomach issues for your pet, including vomiting and diarrhea. It’s best to keep the Halloween
candy up and out of reach.”
Tips to Keep Pets Safe This Halloween
- Store candy out of reach. Keep an eye on your pets when your children are going through
their candy, and store candy in upper cabinets or closed containers to protect curious pets. - Avoid sharing human treats. Even a small amount of dark chocolate or xylitol-sweetened
candy can harm a small dog or cat. - Prepare a quiet safe space for your pet. With extra foot traffic, ringing doorbells and
costumes, many pets can become stressed. Provide a calm room for them away from the frontdoor chaos. - Act fast if ingestion is suspected. Contact your vet immediately if you suspect your pet has
eaten something that may harm them, or if they show signs of sudden illness. Have packaging
handy to identify potential toxins. Early intervention improves outcomes. - Stock up on pet-friendly treats to allow your four-legged family member to be part of the
celebration.
In the past year, more than 1,100 calls to the Pet Poison Helpline involved pets eating chocolatecontaining items. Ninety-eight percent of those involved dogs. Candy wrappers, foil and small
decorative items can also be eaten by curious pets, resulting in choking, digestion hazards or bowel
obstructions that may require emergency surgery. Calls to the Pet Poison Helpline generally rise 12
percent during the week of Halloween, making it their busiest time of year.
To learn more about Halloween pet health and safety from Dr. Hettinger, visit Ask the Vet on YouTube.
In the event of a pet emergency, call or visit your veterinarian or an emergency veterinary clinic
immediately.
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Media contact: Maria Smith, Communications Director, maria.smith@petlandinc.com, 740-775-2464.
Petland, Inc. is a specialty pet retail franchise operation with nearly 250 global locations. For nearly 60 years, Petland pet counselors have been dedicated to matching the right pet with the right customer and meeting the needs of both. To its customers who already have pets, Petland is dedicated to enhancing their knowledge and enjoyment of the human-animal bond. Petland was founded in 1967 and is headquartered in south central Ohio. For more information about Petland, visit www.petland.com.