Don’t spook your pets this Halloween

With Halloween celebrations set to kick off this week, pets are in danger of making unplanned trip to the vet says Lort Smith Animal Hospital.

‘’The risks to pets are quite high if plans aren’t made in advance of Halloween activities,’’ said vet, Dr Kassandra Makeham.‘’We have no intention of being the fun police but there are several things that are critical to remember.’’

Dr Makeham said apart from the obvious dangers that chocolate and sweets present to dogs, there are other factors to look out for.

These include:

  • While costumes may be an essential part of Halloween for humans, they may not be safe for pets.

“If you do dress up your pet, make sure that the costume doesn’t limit physical movement or their ability to see, breathe and bark or meow,’’ said Dr Makeham.

‘’It’s simple, pets should not be treated as fashion accessories. Some costumes can prevent pets from regulating their body temperature and breathing freely – particularly French bulldogs and pugs.’’

  • While trick or treating activities may be fun and a great entertainment for families, and especially young children, it can be overwhelmingly overwhelming for our pets.

‘’While it may be exciting to have an excuse to dress up and celebrate Halloween, the excitement may be too much for pets to handle. Frequent trick-or-treat visits from strangers may leave your pet feeling distressed, scared and wanting to escape,’’ said Dr Makeham.

‘’So it’s a good idea to keep pets away from the door and always ensure that their microchip is up to date just in case they do manage to get out.’’

  • Jack-O-Lanterns can be hazardous if lit with an open flame as animals may be in danger of burns.

“Curious kittens are especially at risk of getting burned by a single candle flame,” said Dr Makeham.

Lort Smith is recommending pet owners ensure a safe space inside away for pets from the spooky activities.

‘’We implore people to put their pet’s safety first.’’

 

MEDIA INTERVIEWS & CONTACT

Suzana Talevski, Head of Media and Digital Content, Lort Smith Animal Hospital
Mobile: 0403 047 945