Keeping Paws Off Halloween Candy
Halloween is quickly approaching so get ready for the endless flow of knocking, doorbell ringing, and costumes sure to melt your heart. But with all these festivities comes some danger for your furry friend. Halloween candy can easily be toxic for your pup, even though it may be delicious to you. To avoid a sick canine, we’ve compiled a list of the candy you should be the most cautious of.
Chocolate Chocolate Chocolate!
If you’ve heard it a million times, get ready for a million and one. Chocolate is not a dog’s best friend, and most pet owners should already be well aware of this. Even a little piece of this cocoa treat can cause serious concern, so make sure it’s out of sight and out of mind for your pup. If that furry friend of yours ends up getting his paws on the candy bowl, there are vital signs of toxicity to watch out for; including vomiting, diarrhea, increased heart rate, muscle rigidity, and even seizures, cardiac failure, and a possible coma in severe cases. It’s always better to be safer rather than sorry, so if your dog happens to eat any chocolate consult your emergency vet or a pet poison helpline.
Sugar filled treats and candy corn
Sugary treats, especially candy corn and caramels, are also dangerous for your dog if digested. These rich, sweet treats may be a standard item in your house, for not only Halloween but also in the upcoming holiday season. Sharing with your friends and family is perfectly fine, just don’t let Fido get a bite. The biggest problem with these types of candies is they take several days to show any symptoms, which in some cases can be fatal. So keep a close eye on the four-legged friend of yours and don’t let them sneak a piece without you knowing.
Even sugar-free candy
Most likely, this won’t be a favorite item among the abundance of children trick or treating. It’s important to be informed on the dangers of this not so sugary treat anyways. Sugar-free candy uses artificial sweeteners that can, in fact, be toxic for your pup. Signs may include a decrease in blood pressure, coordination loss, and seizures.
Grapes, raisins, and don’t forget Raisinets
Not as commonly known to pet owners is the danger of grapes and raisins for canines, they’re actually incredibly poisonous. Only small amounts can be devasting for your poor pup so any amount of consumption should be treated as poisoning. If Fido ends up getting his snout in a bag of grapes or a box of raisins it could cause kidney failure. You should watch for signs of lethargy, nausea, and abdominal pain and contact a vet or poison helpline immediately/
Don’t forget the candy wrappers
Too often we are so focused on what’s on the inside of the wrapper that we forget about the danger of just the candy wrapper in general. A curious dog may try to eat all those bright shiny wrappers, so it’s important to make sure you are always correctly disposing of them. The plastic and tinfoil can cause a multitude of issues for their digestive track.
Don’t let this Halloween get too scary, and keep that candy in places out of your pup’s reach. And once again it’s always better to play it safe and call a vet or a posion control center if you suspect any sort of candy consumption.