Pet Tips

Halloween Pet Safety Tips:

The arrival of Halloween means parties, trick-or-treaters, and lots of
delicious candies. However, some of the same goodies and decorations we
humans are so fond of can be potentially hazardous to our pets. P.A.W.
would like to call your attention to some common-sense cautions that'll
keep your furry friends safe and stress-free this time of year.
There'll be no scaredy cats-or dogs-this October 31!

TOP 10 HALLOWEEN SAFETY TIPS FOR PET PARENTS

1. No tricks, no treats: That bowlful of candy is for
trick-or-treaters, not for Scruffy and Fluffy. Chocolate in all forms can be very
dangerous for dogs and cats, and tin foil and cellophane candy wrappers can
be hazardous if swallowed. If you suspect your pet has ingested a
potentially dangerous substance, please call your veterinarian or the ASPCA
Animal Poison Control Center at (888) 426-4435.

2. Popular Halloween plants such as pumpkins and decorative corn are
considered to be relatively nontoxic, yet they can produce
gastrointestinal upset should pets ingest them. Intestinal blockage could even occur
if large pieces are ingested.

3. Keep wires and cords from electric lights and other decorations out
of reach of your pets. If chewed, your pet could experience damage to
his mouth from shards of glass or plastic, or receive a possibly
life-threatening electrical shock.

4. A carved pumpkin certainly is festive, but do exercise extreme
caution if you choose to add a candle. Pets can easily knock a lit pumpkin
over and cause a fire. Curious kittens especially run the risk of
getting burned or singed by candle flames.

5. Dress-up can be a big mess-up for some pets. Please don't put your
dog or cat in a costume UNLESS you know he or she loves it (yup, a few
pets are real hams!). For pets who prefer their "birthday suits,"
however, wearing a costume can cause undue stress.

6. If you do dress up your pet, make sure the costume isn't annoying or
unsafe. It should not constrict the animal's movement or hearing, or
impede his ability to breathe or bark. Keep a look out for small,
dangling, or easily chewed-off pieces on the costume that your pet could choke
on.

7. Take a closer look at your pet's costume and make sure it does not
obstruct her vision in any way. Even the sweetest animals can get snappy
when they can't see.

8. All but the most social dogs and cats should be kept in a separate
room during peak trick-or-treat visiting hours. Too many strangers can
be scary and stressful for pets.

9. When opening the door for trick-or-treaters, take care that your cat
or dog doesn't dart outside.

10. IDs, please! Always make sure your dog or cat has proper
identification. If for any reason your pet escapes and become lost, a collar and
tags and/or a microchip increase the chances that he or she will be
returned to you.

Please remember keep your pets safe, if you suspect that your pet has
ingested a potentially dangerous substance-around Halloween or any time
of year-please call your veterinarian or the ASPCA Animal Poison
Control Center at (888) 426-4435.

Thank you

Brenda Beck, President
Pets & Animals in Distress
www.petsandanimals.org/index2.asp

1511 east Commercial Blvd
PMB #129
Fort Lauderdale, Florida 33334
United States