Halloween changes the usual routine for our pets. Candy appears around the house, decorations and pet costumes come out, and the front door may open dozens of times for trick-or-treaters. Here in Northwest Washington, October also means plenty of dogs are still joining their families on trails, near the water and on fall fishing trips.
Most of these activities are safe with a little planning. But some Halloween and fall hazards can result in a veterinary emergency.
At Boundary Bay Veterinary Specialty Hospital (BBVSH) in Bellingham, our emergency veterinarians evaluate and treat a wide range of medical and surgical emergencies. Together with Animal Emergency Care (AEC), we provide 24-hour emergency coverage, with BBVSH specialists available when a patient needs advanced diagnostics, surgery or other specialty care.
Knowing what poses a risk — and what to do when something goes wrong — can help keep Halloween and fall adventures safe for your pet.
Halloween Candy: What Did Your Pet Eat?
Finding an empty candy wrapper beside your dog doesn’t tell you everything you need to know. The type of food, ingredients, amount consumed, your pet’s size and their overall health can all affect the risk.
Chocolate contains theobromine and caffeine. Dogs are most commonly affected by chocolate poisoning, and darker chocolate and cocoa products generally contain higher concentrations. Signs can include vomiting, restlessness and a rapid heart rate, with more serious exposures potentially causing tremors, abnormal heart rhythms or seizures.
Xylitol, a sweetener found in some sugar-free gums, candies, baked goods and other products, is particularly dangerous for dogs. It can cause hypoglycemia — dangerously low blood sugar — and more significant exposures can result in liver injury.
Additional Reading: Learn more about xylitol toxicity in dogs
Grapes and raisins can cause acute kidney injury in dogs. Because individual responses vary, contact a veterinarian about a known exposure rather than waiting for symptoms to develop.
If your pet gets into Halloween candy, keep the package or ingredient list, determine what and approximately how much was eaten if possible, and contact your veterinarian or an emergency veterinary hospital for guidance.
When Pets Swallow Halloween Decorations and Other Objects
Candy wrappers, foil, sticks, string, pieces of pet costumes, fake cobwebs, decorations and small toys can become foreign bodies — objects that are swallowed but aren’t meant to be eaten.
Some pass through the gastrointestinal tract, while others can become lodged in the stomach or intestines and cause an obstruction. Signs can include repeated vomiting, loss of appetite, abdominal discomfort and lethargy.
If you know or strongly suspect your pet swallowed an object, contact a veterinarian rather than waiting for symptoms. Depending on what was swallowed and where it is located, treatment may involve diagnostic imaging, endoscopy or surgery. At BBVSH Bellingham, our Emergency, Diagnostic Imaging and Surgery teams are onsite and work together as needed when a foreign-body case requires more complex care.
Additional Reading: Read our Bellingham blog about foreign bodies and gastrointestinal blockages in pets
Don’t induce vomiting or give a home remedy unless a veterinarian specifically instructs you to do so. The safest response depends on what was swallowed, when it happened and your pet’s condition.
Dressing Up Your Pet? Keep the Costume Simple
If your dog or cat is joining the Halloween fun, make sure their costume doesn’t interfere with breathing, vision or normal movement. Avoid pieces that could be chewed off and swallowed, and remove the costume if your pet appears uncomfortable or distressed.
Keep candles and jack-o’-lanterns where pets can’t knock them over, secure electrical cords, and keep small or string-like decorations out of reach.
For a pet that doesn’t enjoy dressing up, a Halloween bandana or themed collar may be a better option.
Trick-or-Treaters at the Door: Plan Ahead for Your Pet
Doorbells, unfamiliar visitors, masks and excited children can make Halloween night very different from an ordinary evening.
A quiet, secure room away from the front entrance with water, bedding and familiar toys may help while also reducing the chance of an escape. Check that identification tags are current and, if your pet is microchipped, make sure the associated contact information is up to date.
If your dog or cat has a history of significant fear or anxiety around visitors or unusual noises, talk with your primary care veterinarian before Halloween about how to make the evening easier for them.
A Northwest Washington Fall Hazard: Salmon Poisoning Disease
Dogs exploring rivers, streams and shorelines or accompanying their families on fall fishing trips in the Pacific Northwest may encounter raw fish or fish remains. Eating certain infected raw or undercooked fish can put dogs at risk of salmon poisoning disease.
Despite the name, this isn’t a conventional poisoning. It is an infectious disease associated with a parasitic fluke carrying a disease-causing organism. Because it can become serious without treatment, contact a veterinarian promptly if your dog becomes ill after eating or potentially having access to raw fish.
Additional Reading: Learn more about salmon poisoning disease and what dog own