Source: Jacksonville.com

Halloween is a lot of fun for families, particularly for children.  However, it is important to protect your pet from some safety hazards this Oct. 31.  Here are a few things to watch out for this Halloween:

• Keep pets away from all Halloween candy
As most pet owners already know, chocolate is toxic to pets.  Baker’s and dark chocolate are the most toxic.  Watch out for symptoms of ingestion of chocolate such as vomiting, diarrhea, hyperactivity, increased thirst and urination, increased heart rate and even seizures.
A lot of pet owners do not realize that the artificial sweetener, xylitol, an ingredient in a lot of candies, can also be toxic to pets.  Even small amounts of xylitol can cause a sudden drop in your pet’s blood sugar, causing depression, incoordination, and seizures.
Wrappers can make potentially harmless Halloween treats hazardous to your pet.  Candy wrappers, such as cellophane and aluminum foil, can cause gastrointestinal upset.  Ingestion of multiple wrappers may even cause intestinal blockage, which can be fatal.  The most common symptoms of intestinal blockage are vomiting, lack of appetite, lethargy, diarrhea or lack of fecal production.
Halloween treats are strictly for people.  Do not feel sorry for your pet and feel like you need to share your Halloween treats with them.  Your pet will be happiest and healthiest if left on a normal diet or given a small amount of pet-friendly treats.

• Keep decorations out of reach  
Make sure to keep Halloween decorations out of your pet’s reach, especially out of reach of curious kittens and puppies.  While Halloween pumpkins and decorative corn are not toxic to your pet, they can cause gastrointestinal upset.  Large pieces also could cause an intestinal blockage.  Electrical wires and cords could cut your pet’s mouth if your dog or cat chews on them, or they could deliver a potentially fatal electrical shock.

• Take care with pet costumes
If you plan to dress your pet in a Halloween costume, there are a few things that you need to consider.  Make sure that the costume does not limit your pet’s movement, sight, hearing or ability to breathe easily.  Ensure there are no potential choking hazards on the costume, and do not leave your pet unsupervised in the costume.  Most pets do not enjoy wearing costumes, so if putting your pet in one causes him or her stress, you may want to consider a Halloween bandana or collar.

• Give your pet a safe retreat
Extra visitors, including trick-or-treaters, can be stressful for your pet.  Provide your pet with a quiet, safe place away from the front door during Halloween.  
Also keep an eye out for open doors so your pet doesn’t escape.  Always make sure your pet is wearing a collar and ID tags in case your pet does get out of the house.  If you haven’t already done so, this is a good time to think about microchipping your pet.  Microchips are small chips that are imbedded under a pet’s skin to help identify your pet if it goes missing and is taken to a veterinary clinic, humane society or animal control.

Halloween can be a fun holiday for the entire family, including the pets, if you take a few safety precautions.  These simple tips will help make your Halloween happy and healthy for all involved.