Halloween Safety Tips

Ghost Writer- Kindle

 

Hey everyone!

I am Kindle, a short-haired calico kitty and I just had my first birthday in August. My Mom, Laura, is a technician at Crossroads. I also have a furry brother named Hobbes and a human brother named Sean, who both like to get into mischief! Just wait until you hear the stories about Hobbes! My Mom LOVES Halloween and currently is working on the staff “murder mystery” game, and since she is so busy, she asked me if I could share some Halloween safety tips for the upcoming holiday.

Candy can be a big problem, especially at Halloween! Look below at naughty Hobbes getting into the Halloween bucket! It’s best to leave candy sealed and out of your pets’ reach. Ingesting candy can cause vomiting and diarrhea in pets, and chocolate and food containing xylitol (an artificial sweetener found mainly in gum) can even be toxic. If your pets get into any candy, you should call a veterinarian as soon as you can. If your regular veterinary hospital is not open, you can call a veterinary emergency center (we have some great hospitals listed on our website under the “Contact Us” page). The veterinarian will likely want to know details about the candy and dose, so the more information you know the better! Veterinarians have reliable resources to determine if the candy and dosage ingested is harmful, and they will be able to tell you the appropriate steps to take. Also, make sure you dispose of all candy wrappers, and that we can’t fetch them out of the trash! Pets sure can be trouble makers 🙂

Halloween costumes can also create some issues because lots of items on costumes can be attractive to pets. I know I personally love to chase strings! If you have costumes with strings or beads, your pet might be able to remove them and even try to eat them. And, unfortunately, sometimes these things do not always pass through and medical intervention may be required. Even though it is fun to dress up, some pets can be scared of costumes, causing them stress and anxiety, so monitor how your pet reacts and avoid dressing up in front of them if they seem wary. On the other hand, some pets may enjoy wearing a costume! Just make sure it’s roomy, and is reflective if they will be out Trick-or-Treating with you. Keep an eye out for loose candy on the ground while traveling from house to house – we already know the problems candy can cause!

Just like candy, make sure your Halloween decorations are out of the reach of your pets. They might think the decorations are toys and try to eat them as well! We sure like to eat things we shouldn’t, huh? Or if they are like my brother Hobbes, they might break things by pushing them off of high places.

Alright, so you’ve purchased the candy, have your costume prepped and ready to go, and the house looks creepy-crawly. Now, it’s the big night! It might be best to put timid or nervous pets in a secure space prior to all of the commotion. Maybe turn on Animal Planet or play soothing music in the background 🙂 Otherwise, they may get spooked by all of the ghosts and goblins coming to the door and may try to run out in fear. If you know your pet will not relax and has a difficult time on Halloween, you may want to call your veterinarian to discuss alternative options.

If you will be celebrating this year, I hope you have a great time and just keep your furry friends in mind this holiday. My Mom says Crossroads gets quite a few phone calls around Halloween and we just want everyone to be safe, but still have fun! As always, please call us at (603)437-1010 if you have any questions or concerns!

Happy Haunting,

Kindle, and Hobbes, I guess 🙂