Halloween Pet Safety Tips by Dr. Keith Joyner

It's about time for the annual visitation by all those little neighborhood ghosts and goblins, not to mention the ninja turtles and princesses.

It's always such fun.

But if we are pet owner's, we have the responsibility of keeping our pets safe and the visiting children and their families safe too.

Remember, some children are frightened by even small dogs and cats. And worse yet, some are so comfortable with them that they may rapidly approach your pet and startle it into a reactive self-defense snap or scratch!

Not to mention, the door opening so many times gives the pet a chance to run out of your house, and with people around, there are lots of distractions and excitement. Many pets become lost under such circumstances. Holidays like this always result in a surge of lost pets.

So, what should you do?

1. Put your dog on a leash before answering the door. That way you can control it and prevent it from going out the door. Some dogs, if they are too rambunctious, will need to be put in a crate for the evening.

2. Unless your cat is very social with strangers, you may want to lock it in a bedroom or utility room to keep it safe and calm. Social cats need to be on a leash so they don't run out the door.

3. Don't let your pet get close to other people's children. Unexpected things can happen very quickly. Safety first, always!

4. Dogs LOVE candy. Given the opportunity, they'll steal what they can. Chocolate can be toxic to dogs if enough is eaten, and can cause fatalities. Just sugar in candy can cause a toxic reaction if enough is consumed. So guard your supply and your children's collections.

Halloween is a great time for kids and pets, but let's keep both safe!

-Dr. Keith Joyner 

Holiday Safety Tips

‘Tis the season for friends, family and holiday feasts—but also for possible distress for our animal companions. Pets won’t be so thankful if they munch on undercooked turkey or a pet-unfriendly floral arrangement, or if they stumble upon an unattended alcoholic drink.

Check out the following tips from ASPCA experts for a fulfilling holiday feast that your pets can enjoy, too.

Talkin’ Turkey

If you decide to feed your pet a little nibble of turkey, make sure it’s boneless and well-cooked. Don't offer her raw or undercooked turkey, which may contain salmonella bacteria.

Sage Advice

Sage can make your Thanksgiving stuffing taste delish, but it and many other herbs contain essential oils and resins that can cause gastrointestinal upset and central nervous system depression to pets if eaten in large quantities. Cats are especially sensitive to the effects of certain essential oils.

No Bread Dough

Don't spoil your pet’s holiday by giving him raw bread dough. According to ASPCA experts, when raw bread dough is ingested, an animal's body heat causes the dough to rise in his stomach. As it expands, the pet may experience vomiting, severe abdominal pain and bloating, which could become a life-threatening emergency, requiring surgery.

Don't Let Them Eat Cake

If you’re baking up Thanksgiving cakes, be sure your pets keep their noses out of the batter, especially if it includes raw eggs—they could contain salmonella bacteria that may lead to food poisoning.

Too Much of a Good Thing

A few small boneless pieces of cooked turkey, a taste of mashed potato or even a lick of pumpkin pie shouldn’t pose a problem. However, don't allow your pets to overindulge, as they could wind up with a case of stomach upset, diarrhea or even worse—an inflammatory condition of the pancreas known as pancreatitis. In fact, it’s best keep pets on their regular diets during the holidays.

A Feast Fit for a Kong

While the humans are chowing down, give your cat and dog their own little feast. Offer them Nylabones or made-for-pet chew bones. Or stuff their usual dinner—perhaps with a few added tidbits of turkey, vegetables (try sweet potato or green beans) and dribbles of gravy—inside a Kong toy. They’ll be happily occupied for awhile, working hard to extract their dinner from the toy.


Adapted from a post published by the ASPCA.