Keep Your Pets Safe During Halloween

HUMMELSTOWN, Pa., Oct. 22, 2012 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- The following is being released by the Pennsylvania Veterinary Medical Association (PVMA):

Halloween is a time for everyone to have fun, feel like a kid, and eat a little extra candy, but Halloween celebrations can pose risks for the family dog. Here are some tips for keeping your pooch safe during Halloween.

If you plan to hand out candy from your home on Trick or Treat night, remember that all the extra doorbell ringing may have an adverse effect. Some dogs find the constant commotion frightening and may bolt while you open the front door. Make sure your dog is wearing a collar with contact information for you or your veterinarian. Also, if your dog is microchipped, make sure your registration information is up-to-date. The microchip won't do any good if you can't be reached.

Be sure to keep the candy you plan to hand out out of the reach of your dog while waiting for or talking to trick or treaters. Chocolate is poisonous to dogs, and depending on the size of the dog and the strength of the chocolate, it can cause death. According to the Pet Poison Helpline, in 2010, chocolate consumption among dogs increased more than 200%! If your dog has gotten into the chocolate candy, call your veterinarian or the Pet Poison Helpline immediately. The chemical toxicity results in vomiting, diarrhea, hyperactivity, inflammation of the pancreas, an abnormal heart rhythm, seizures, and sometimes, even death. Remember, it's the dose that makes the poison. In smaller dogs, even the wrappers from candy can result in a secondary obstruction in the stomach or intestines.

Chocolate isn't the only Halloween danger. High sugar, high fat candies can cause pancreatitis while raisins—sometimes appearing in the candy or handed out instead of candy—are also extremely poisonous to dogs and can cause kidney failure. If your dog has eaten any amount of raisins, grapes, or currants, you should treat it as a potentially toxic situation and immediately call your veterinarian or the Pet Poison Helpline. 

After trick or treat is over, be sure to store your candy in a spot where your dog can't reach it. Some dogs are more determined than others and may find away to get to it even if it is high up on the counter. Keeping it in the refrigerator or in an upper cabinet may be a better solution.

If you have any suspicions about what your dog has ingested, be sure to consult your veterinarian immediately or contact The Pet Poison Helpline at 1.800.213.6680 or www.petpoisonhelpline.com.

The Pennsylvania Veterinary Medical Association (PVMA) is the only statewide professional organization of over 2,400 veterinarians from across the Commonwealth. The association, which was established in 1883, strives to advance animal welfare and human health while ensuring the vitality of the veterinary profession. PVMA's website is available at www.pavma.org.

SOURCE Pennsylvania Veterinary Medical Association (PVMA)