Coming into Halloween season opens up the doors to some 'spooky' dangers that can be harmful to your pets. So please keep an eye out for these and contact the practice if you are at all concerned.
Chocolate
The darker and more bitter the chocolate, the more poisonous it is. The chemicals in chocolate that are dangerous to pets, methylxanthines, are similar to caffeine and more heavily concentrated in the darker varieties. In fact, a 50-pound dog can be sickened by ingesting only one ounce of Baker’s chocolate!
To avoid issues, keep Halloween candy well out of the reach of pets at all times.
If you think your pet may have ingested chocolate, symptoms to watch for include vomiting, diarrhea, lethargy, agitation, increased thirst, an elevated heart rate, and in severe cases, seizures.
Xylitol
Xylitol is a natural, sugar-free sweetener commonly found in sweets, chewing gum, chocolates etc.
The xylitol content of products varies widely, with some products containing minimal amounts and others containing very high amounts. If enough xylitol is ingested it can cause life-threatening low blood sugar (even within 10-15 minutes of ingestion) and acute liver failure. If you think your pet may have ingested anything containing xylitol contact the practice immediately.
Grapes and Raisins
Some people prefer to distribute healthy snacks instead of candy on Halloween, such as mini-boxes of raisins. These are extremely poisonous to dogs! Very small amounts of raisins (and grapes) can cause kidney failure in dogs and, potentially, cats. When it comes to your pets, raisins deserve the same pet-proofing treatment as chocolate – stored in secure containers far from their reach. Unfortunately, some dogs develop idiosyncratic reactions at any dose – in other words, they can ingest any amount and potentially be poisoned. Therefore, any ingestion of raisins or grapes should be treated as a “poisoning” case. Symptoms include vomiting, nausea, decreased appetite, lethargy, abdominal pain.
These are only a few dangers that are out there - if you are at all concerned by something your pet has ingested please contact the practice so we can assist you where needed.
(WhatsApp) 07361589771
(Phone) 01737210011
(email) info@bansteadvillagevets.co.uk
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