Halloween is fast approaching and nowadays the spook fest is no longer just for humans; man’s best friend and furry felines have joined the festivity as well. Despite the celebrations being indoors this year, many pet owners will not miss out on the opportunity to dress their four-legged companions in colorful, whimsical, and scary costumes. Amidst the spine-tingling merriment, owners must be cautious of the dangers that lurk during the Halloween season.
Committed to educating the Filipino pet community on nutrition and proper pet care, the Pet Food Institute (PFI) shares tips on how pet owners ensure their pet’s safety during the Halloween season.
Poisons of Halloween
Halloween is known as the candy holiday around the world, which means owners should be on the lookout for sugary treats that can be dangerous for dogs and cats. Chocolate can be toxic to pets and, even lethal in rare circumstances. In addition, Halloween candies containing the artificial sweetener xylitol can also be poisonous to pets. Pets may experience increased heart rate, rapid breathing, diarrhea or vomiting.
Monsters of Halloween
Nowadays, it is common to see dogs and cat clad in creative and spooky costumes during Halloween. But a fair warning to pet parents: they should be careful and selective in which costumes to put on their pets because some of these costumes may cause them harm.
Some costumes contain beads or other small plastic pieces that may cause choking and block their pet’s gastrointestinal track which may lead to more serious health problems such as decrease in blood flow in the bowel. It’s also important to avoid costumes that restrict your pet’s movement or restricts their breathing.
Dangers Lurking Around Halloween
During Halloween season, pet owners must be vigilant of all the things that can harm their beloved pets. Many can protect their pets from pet-unfriendly treats and costumes but forget the dangers that lurk around their homes. Halloween decorations are a common hazard for pets. For example, candles can be a greater hazard when pets are around who can more easily knock them over. Fake battery-operated candles had been made available in the market to ensure a fire-free and pet-safe holiday.
Pet Food Institute (PFI) is committed in educating pet owners about proper pet nutrition to keep pets healthy and happy. Through its local initiative, Well-Fed, Well-Nurtured campaign in partnership with the Veterinary Practitioners Association of the Philippines (VPAP), PFI seeks to advocate responsible pet ownership to the ever-growing Filipino pet community.
Liked this post? Follow SwirlingOverCoffee on Facebook, YouTube, and Instagram.
