Coming Soon to a Vet Clinic Near You
Forget the Nightmare on Elm Street – you could experience your own horror movie if your pet manages to gobble up Halloween treats. At this time of year, many of us shop early and often for a sweet-themed holiday, bringing tempting treats very close to our pets.
The danger is that traditional Halloween treats could make your pet very sick and send both of you to the vet’s emergency room!
Halloween remains one of Town N Country’s busiest nights of the year. To avoid being part of the emergency room crowd and keep your own ghoulish night plans, be aware of the following dangers:
Dark shadowy chocolate. Enjoy your own chocolate, but guard it closely. The darker it is, the more lethal it is for furry friends like dogs, cats and even ferrets. Symptoms of chocolate poisoning are vomiting, diarrhea, increased heart rate and even seizures and death. By the way, this is the most common indulgence of Town N Country’s emergency room clientele.
Planet of the Grapes. You never heard it from your pet, but grapes are toxic and raisins (being more concentrated) are even more so. Watch out for symptoms like vomiting, decreased appetite, lethargy, abdominal pain and kidney failure.
Chattanooga chew-chew. “Pardon me, Doctor, is this the cat who chewed the sugarless chewing gum?” It doesn’t take much to make an emergency! Gum pieces vary, but roughly 8 sticks for a large dog and 1 stick for a small dog could swiftly set off severe hypoglycemia and liver failure. The culprit ingredient is Xylitol – and it can also initiate symptoms like lethargy, seizure, collapse and vomiting.
The Shining. All that glittery candy comes in interesting, appetite-inciting bright colors and wrappings that once ingested in a pet’s body can cause all sorts of gastro-intestinal blockages and problems.
A bit of vigilance on your part should keep your spooky holiday safe and happy, but if your pet exhibits any of these symptoms, call us. Early intervention can make a huge difference in treatment options, your pet’s comfort level, and a happy ending to your Halloween production.
