Keep Your Pet Safe from Halloween Candy

Halloween is an exciting night for children and adults, but as you dress-up as your favorite scary monster, celebrity or cartoon character, prepare to go trick-or-treating and hand out candy, remember to keep your pets safe by keeping your candy out of reach. Many types of candy that are perfectly fine for humans to eat are toxic to both cats and dogs.

Candy That Is Harmful to Pets

Most candy that is perfectly fine for children and adults to enjoy can be toxic to pets.

• Chocolate – Chocolate contains theobromine and caffeine, and the more concentrated the chocolate, the more harmful it is to the pet.

• Raisins – Raisins can cause kidney failure if ingested by dogs and cats.
• Sugary Candies – While sugar-based candies are not as toxic as chocolate or raisins, they can still give your pet an upset stomach and diarrhea, and if they are ingested in large quantities, your pet could get pancreatitis.
• Xylitol – Xylitol is a sugar substitute often found in sugar-free candy. In dogs and cats, this ingredient can cause a sudden drop in blood sugar that can be extremely dangerous for your pet’s health.

Additional Candy Hazards

Pet parents should also keep candy away from pets that contain wrappers. Candy wrappers can get stuck in the intestines, causing a bowel blockage. Glow sticks should also be kept away from dogs and cats. While cats are more prone to playing with the sticks than dogs, both can get mouth irritations if they chew on the sticks and get the fluid inside their mouths.

Signs of Accidental Pet Poisoning

If you think your pet accidentally ate some Halloween candy, you should watch for certain symptoms, including vomiting, diarrhea, lethargy, lack of appetite and changes in mood or behavior. In severe cases, your pet may have seizures.

Treating Accidental Pet Poisonings at our Animal Hospital in Etobicoke

If you think your pet has accidentally eaten harmful candy, it is important that you call our vet in Etobicoke right away for instructions and to alert us that you are on your way. If you can find the candy wrappers, bring them with you when you come into our office. If your pet vomited, it’s also a good idea to collect a sample. Our vet may need to look at it and/or test it to determine exactly what your pet ate in order to provide the right treatment. When you arrive at our office, our veterinarian will examine your pet, look at the candy wrappers and/or vomit and provide you with treatment options to help limit the effects of the toxic candy.

Visit Our Animal Hospital for More Info on How to Prevent Pet Poisonings

To learn more about how to keep your pet safe this Halloween or to schedule another veterinary service, contact us at 416-245-8805.What steps are you taking to prevent accidental pet poisonings on Halloween?