Halloween Tips for Pets


Banfield veterinarians share helpful information about how to keep your family Pet safe

Portland, Ore. – October 10, 2008– The tricks and treats of Halloween can present challenges for your furry family members and it is important to take steps to keep your Pets safe and healthy. “At Banfield we are deeply committed to the safety and well-being of all Pets,” says Nancy Zimmerman, DVM, Diplomate, American Board of Veterinary Practitioners (Canine/Feline). “During this fun holiday, we want to remind Pet owners to consider the needs of their Pet to ensure their safety while enjoying the day’s festivities.”

Keep Halloween safe and fun for people and Pets by following these protective tips

• No Tricks or Treats—chocolate contains theobromine, a bitter alkaloid substance found in cocoa plants that is poisonous to dogs and can be lethal if ingested in toxic quantities. Candy can upset your Pet’s stomach, resulting in diarrhea or vomiting. If swallowed, foil wrappers and candy packaging can be dangerous to your Pet’s digestive tract.

• Costume Faux Paws—before putting your Pet into a Halloween costume, make sure the Pet's costume isn't constricting their movement or hearing, or impeding their ability to breathe or bark. Monitor or remove small, dangling, or easily chewed-off pieces from the costume. Please be mindful if your Pet desires to ditch the costume, as forcing your Pet to wear a costume may cause him/her unnecessary stress.

• During Trick-or-Treat Hours—keep your Pet in a separate room, or a safe hide-a-way. Dogs have a natural instinct to protect their home and may bite your out-of-the-ordinary visitors. When opening the door for trick-or-treaters, take care that Scruffy or Fluffy do not dash outside. Always make sure your Pet has proper identification, which includes a collar with tags and a microchip.

• Let Your Pet Sit This One Out—Pets may find it very frightening to sit in a dark car while scary creatures of every size and shape walk by. Furthermore, your normally friendly Pet can become aggressive and protective and lash out at a friendly “ghost” or “witch”. For the safety of your Pets, leave them at home where they are safe.

• Candles and Jack-O'-Lanterns—keep candles near Pet areas unlit. Pets can easily knock a lit pumpkin over and cause a fire. Not only are candles fire hazards but they may be risky for a curious kitten.

Halloween Folklores and Superstitions

Cats—many years ago it was believed that black cats were filled with evil spirits, and some even thought they were the devil. Essentially, everyone believed from then on that if a black cat crossed your path you were doomed to have bad luck. Unfortunately for many black cats in shelters, this equates to lower adoption rates.

Bats—this creature that comes out primarily at night has gotten a “bad rap,” thanks to their cousin, the vampire bat. In reality, there are more than 900 bat species in the world. The vampire bat is the only one that feeds on mammal blood - about two tablespoons a day. Bats are the only mammals capable of flight. (source: PetPlace.com)
• “Sugar gliders,” which are furry marsupials native to Australia, have special skin membranes that resemble wings. They are not bats, although they appear very similar. Sugar gliders can make good Pets because of their natural tendency to bond with human companions.
• Vampire bats did not originate from Transylvania, rather these creatures live in Central and South America and feed on livestock.

If you are interested in interviewing a Banfield veterinarian, please contact Brett Rolin at (503) 922-5414 or the Banfield News Media Hotline 888-355-0595 (no sales calls please).