Ask the Veterinarian

Halloween and Your Pet

Posted

Q:  My dog is always trying to get into my child's candy.  Is there anything I need to worry about?

A:
  Halloween is almost here, and children await the fun of trick-or-treating. But there are many dangers of Halloween that can be a threat to your pet’s health. Central Veterinary Associates urges pet owners to keep their pets safe this Halloween by following these tips:

Keep all candy, especially chocolate, away from your pet. Chocolate contains Theobromine, which is toxic to your pet. Symptoms include vomiting, diarrhea or a rapid heartbeat, possibly death.

Keep lollipops and any candy with sticks out of your pet’s reach. These sticks, if swallowed, can potentially block or cut through an area from the stomach to the intestines.

Dispose of empty candy wrappers. These materials cannot be digested and may cause a blockage or inflammation of the stomach or intestines.

Be careful of sugar-free candy, as it can be toxic to your pet if it contains the ingredient xyllitol.

• The continuous ringing of the doorbell can upset a pet and the constant opening of the door is an opportunity for a pet to run into the street. Keep your pet in a relaxed and quiet area of your home away from the door.

Halloween is supposed to be fun, but that fun can turn tragic if a pet accidentally ingests a piece of candy or runs past an open door when greeted by trick-or-treaters.

If in the event your pet becomes sickened, take them to the veterinarian immediately.

Central Veterinary Associates has clinic locations throughout Nassau and Queens Counties, including Valley Stream, Great Neck, Bayside, Forest Hills, Far Rockaway and Mineola.  These clinics are backed by our 24/7/365 state of the art Valley Stream Animal Hospital which serves as an emergency and surgical facility, providing advanced diagostic and treatment services, pain management, dentistry and boarding services for our clients.  

Our staff includes 18 veterinarians plus a board certified general practitioner and certified veterinary acupuncturist, a board certified surgeon, radiologist, and internist who are available for consultation.

In addition to our expertise with dogs and cats, our practice includes an exotics department with a special interest in birds, rabbits, ferrets, guinea pigs, hamsters, gerbils, rats, chinchillas and all reptiles and snakes.

You can reach us at 1-888-4CVA-PET. We are open at our Valley Stream location 24/7 including Halloween. For more information go to http://www.centralvets.com.