Early in my career, I had two wonderful employees with a wicked sense of humor, Beth and Midge. Despite the stress of veterinary work, we often laughed at work. Of course, dressing up for Halloween was part of the fun, so one year I donned a pretty elaborate spooky costume complete with face paint, greenish skin, and “blood” dripping from the corner of my mouth. did. The client loved it. Until someone came in with a seriously ill pet and finally decided to euthanize it. I felt terrible. I had no excuse to go wash my face. I took off my witch hat, apologized, and did my job. Did I mention I feel terrible?
Halloween. It can be a scary time for both pets and veterinarians. Let’s discuss ways to make the holidays safe and fun for everyone. Let’s start with the obvious “candy”. There are two major dangers with sweets. chocolate, and the artificial sweetener xylitol (also known as “birch sugar”). Chocolate is a dose-dependent toxin. The darker the chocolate, the higher the risk. The smaller the pet, the higher the risk. If your 100-pound mastiff, Milk Dud, eats one Milk Dud, don’t worry. However, if your little rat terrier, Tollhouse, eats a handful of semi-sweet chocolate chips, you should seek veterinary help immediately.
If you prefer to do it yourself, you can search for “chocolate toxicity calculator” on Google to find a site that lets you calculate the risk level of milk duds. Always overestimate and think of the worst-case scenario. It’s better to be safe than sorry. If math isn’t your thing or you have any questions, call one of our pet poison hotlines and speak to a veterinary toxicologist. The ideal treatment is to quickly induce vomiting as soon as possible after ingestion, followed by administration of activated charcoal. There is no antidote to chocolate toxicity, and believe it or not, it can be fatal to dogs. I have seen two dogs die because their owners waited too long to seek care. If you miss the period to barf at the tollbooth, you’ll probably need to get on a boat and get inpatient intensive care at a 24-hour emergency clinic.
The same is true if you consume foods sweetened with xylitol. Most Halloween candy contains good old sugar or, worst of all, high fructose corn syrup. Not good for toll booths, but not toxic. However, if there are thugs handing out sugar-free gum or other sugar-free candy that contains xylitol, while not harmful to humans, if ingested by dogs it can cause persistent, life-threatening hypoglycemia. Again, the dose makes the poison. Again, don’t wait for symptoms to appear. Decontamination by quickly inducing vomiting is much better than treating fatal and prolonged hypoglycemia.
Candy isn’t the only troubling thing about Halloween. People big and small in costumes, children ringing the doorbell repeatedly, laughter and shrieks of fear. All of this can frighten your pet. Make sure your animal is indoors and safely away from your front door. This includes cats who usually hang out outside. Paranormal activity on Halloween puts them at increased risk of running away, getting hit by cars, or simply getting scared and lost. Give them a private, quiet place indoors to hide. If your dog has a history of aggression or anxiety, install a baby gate to prevent trick-or-treaters from accessing the door where you plan to give them candy. A very frightened dog may panic and try to run away from the house. Keep pets in separate areas of the house. Give them their favorite toys, food, and water. Play music to cover the scary sounds. If your pet is particularly anxious or fearful, ask your veterinarian about anti-anxiety medications beforehand.
Are you having a Halloween party? Same advice. Would you say your pet is a party animal? got it. If Vlad the Vizsla is coming to your soirée, we know you want to dress him in an adorable vampire costume, but be careful. Vlad may be scared or uncomfortable wearing the costume. The rubber bands used to attach things may be too tight. Your cloak might get tangled, or your wings might startle you. He may try to eat the mask. Please use common sense. Understand your dog’s temperament and behave accordingly. Also think about decoration. Candles can burn out curious cats and clumsy dogs. Other Halloween decorations can be dangerous. Dogs may think it’s a toy and chew or swallow it. Pets can become entangled in fake spider webs (or ingest the fibers), which can actually cause problems. Keep your party pet-friendly.
What if Vlad looks so cute in his Dracula costume that you want to take him trick-or-treating with your kids?Think carefully. Will he really enjoy this? Will he pose a danger to others on the go? Remember, Halloween is no ordinary night. All sorts of intentionally horrifying sights and sounds occur. Vlad may bolt and try to hide. If you are sure that your little vampire will enjoy such an outing, be sure to use at least a secure leash and collar (do not use a retractable leash!). Add reflective material to your costume so you can be seen even after dark. Just in case you’re wrong and Vlad gets scared and flies away, make sure he has accurate, visible identification.
Finally, remember that Halloween isn’t really over until all the decorations are gone and all the candy is eaten. Every year I treat a dog who climbs on counters, sneaks into bedrooms, and opens cupboards to get to the kids’ hiding places. Do your part to keep your pet safe and your vet happy. Buy Vlad a bag of rawhide chews and keep the candy in a safe place. I do my part by continuing to wear simple, gore-free Halloween costumes that are easy to pull off if something serious or sad happens at work.
