Halloween Pet Safety Reminders from Your Vet in Matthews

Don’t take your pet’s safety for granted this fall and Halloween. All kinds of hazards are lurking around, waiting to cause trouble for your pet–from creepy crawly parasites to toxic candy and dangerous decor. Read on for important fall and Halloween safety tips to keep the season a healthy and happy one for your best friend, and don’t forget to contact our animal hospital directly if you have any questions!

Parasite Prevention

Just because summer is over, doesn’t mean that parasites have burrowed away for the season. Fleas and ticks are resilient pests and will hang around as long as the weather allows. This is why your pet should remain on parasite preventatives all year round–you never know when your pet might become exposed to fleas or ticks! North Carolina has had warm winters in the recent past, which has led to a record tick season from 2016 to 2017. We also had a major tick surge this year!

In addition to fleas and ticks, it’s important to remember the other monsters within–intestinal parasites. These usually include roundworms, tapeworms, hookworms, and more. Your pet’s parasite preventatives should provide the necessary protection against these pests as well.

Halloween Hazards

Keeping your pet safe on Halloween doesn’t mean keeping the decorations in their boxes and skipping out on passing candy to trick or treaters this year. You can still have fun! Just consider these reminders in advance:

• Be mindful about where you’re storing your candy. Keep it shut away in a cabinet or set high on a shelf where your pet can’t reach it.
• Throw candy wrappers in the garbage immediately; shiny wrappers can look like enticing playthings (or potential snacks) to dogs and cats.
• Forego traditional flame candles if possible in favor of artificial ones to prevent a fire hazard. Any open flames should be kept well away from your pet or any parts of the house they frequent.
• Check decorations for any easy-to-swallow bits that could pose a choking hazard to your pet and either place them out of reach or opt for other decorations instead.
• Does your pet love wearing a costume? Great! Just make sure it will not restrict your pet’s movement, breathing, or other important functions in any way. On the other hand, if you notice that your pet is not thrilled about being put into a costume, do right by them and take it off.
• Man the door. Is your pet an escape artist? Make sure they don’t sneak out the front door while you’re indulging trick or treaters.
• Don’t leave your dog or cat outside on Halloween night. Pranksters abound on this night of mischief and unfortunately, sometimes people’s pets become easy targets–especially black cats.