A Safe Halloween for Your Pets

As the anticipation of a fun-filled Halloween draws near, don't forget to keep an eye on your furry members.  Halloween can be a dangerous time for any pet.  The following are some tips to ensure a safe and happy holiday.

Minimize the amount of time your pet spends outside alone on the days preceding Halloween, the day of, and for a few days after.  This is especially important for black cats.  There are numerous accounts of malicious pranks involving animals that can result in injury or even death.

Do not share your Halloween "loot" with your pets.  Items such as candy wrappers and lollipop sticks can be harmful if ingested, and chocolate can be poisonous.  If your pet does eat something inappropriate call your veterinarian to determine what should be done.  

Keep Jack-O-Lanterns with lit candles at a safe distance from pets.  Curiosity or a wagging tail could easily cause a pumpkin to get knocked over and potentially start a fire.  A lit candle could also singe an animal's fur or cause serious burns.

Many people love to dress-up their pets, but your pet may not feel the same way.  Some animals love the attention, but others are already nervous with the Halloween festivities, and a costume only exacerbates the situation.  Even the nicest animal can become aggressive if his/her breathing, vision and movements are restricted.  If you decide to dress-up your pet, choose an appropriate costume, and avoid using hair gels or paints as they can cause health problems if licked off and swallowed.  

Consider confining your pet to a separate room when trick-or-treaters start arriving.  Strange people in strange costumes can frighten animals and cause them to react in various ways.  Animals may feel the need to protect the house and its occupants and respond by barking or biting, or your pet may try to escape when the door is opened.  Make sure proper identification is on your pet's collar to make for a quick return in case your pet does escape.

There is no doubt about it, Halloween can be a stressful time for your pets.  As much as you would like to include them in your holiday activities, remember that pets don't understand what all the excitement is about.  Look at Halloween from a pet's point of view.  For more information on keeping your pets safe this Halloween, contact your family veterinarian.

Pet of the Month - October 2012 - Hambone Gibson

Hambone Gibson has lived a lot of life in his almost 16 months. He was adopted by Brian and Jody as a young puppy from a friend. When he was just 7 months old, he suffered a broken right front leg from jumping off a chair. Our doctors surgically repaired it in late January. Once the leg had healed, they removed the pin and sent him home. A few weeks later, Hambone was playing as puppies do, and jumped again. His leg broke again. Our doctors sent him to Iowa State Veterinary Medical Hospital in Ames. They fixed the leg again and put Hambone on strict cage rest. The Gibson family is thrilled that Hambone is once again whole and healthy with as much energy as he always had. He loves Gibson’s 4 year old son and is a vital part of their family. He has figured out that a favorite thing is watermelon and will run to the kitchen when anyone is eating it. The Gibson family can’t imagine life without Hambone, and we are all so thankful that he has healed and is able to live life to the full.