NICK GOSNELL
Hutch Post
HUTCHINSON, Kan. — Erica Miller, DVM with Apple Lane Animal Hospital reminds pet owners to keep Halloween safe for your pets by thinking ahead.
"I know most people will think about the candy, the candy bowls, right?" Miller said. "Keeping the candy bowls up and then the candy after trick-or-treating with your kids. My kids like to get home and kind of like dump their candy out and compare with each other. We always tell them, hey, we either need to do this at the table, or if you're in your room on the floor, the door's shut, they know the dogs can't get the candy, it'll make them sick."
It isn't just about chocolate any more.
"Normally with milk chocolate, we'll see just kind of a little bit of upset stomach, maybe some vomiting or diarrhea," Miller said. "The dark chocolate we're more concerned about. I know we talked about a lot of the sugar-free candies. The xylitol, that we can see bigger issues in our pets with those."
Xylitol is extremely toxic to dogs. Even small amounts of xylitol can cause hypoglycemia (low blood sugar), seizures, liver failure, or even death. Also, know your pets tolerance for dressing up before trying to put them in a costume.
"Some people will dress their pets up, and some dogs love it, right? They love being the center of attention. They love being dressed up. There are some dogs that...we have three dogs, and one of our dogs, you put a Christmas sweater on her, you put a costume on her, and she's frozen like a statue, has no idea what to do with herself, but some dogs just, they love it. As far as costumes and things like that, also knowing your pet, and do they really wanna be a part of what you're trying to make them be a part of?"
Also, check the weather to be sure that you are not going to make your pet too hot or cold if you do dress them up.