Is Your Dog Ready for Halloween?

Can you believe that it is Halloween tomorrow? It is hard to imagine that it is almost November 2016 already, how the year has flown by!  We want you to have fun with your Australian Labradoodle while keeping your dog healthy, happy, and safe! Here are a few tips to keep in mind this fall season!

Fall Dog Tips

Corncobs, Pumpkins and Other Gourds can fragment if ingested by dogs and block airways or digestive tracts. Keep any decorations containing these foods out of reach of your pets. Always keep your dog on a leash while on walks to prevent them from getting into your neighbor’s Halloween displays.

Pet Costumes should be veterinarian-approved. They should only use Velcro or similar fastenings―no drawstrings or elastic parts. Costumes should not have small parts or dangling parts that are easily chewed by the pet as they present a choking hazard. Make certain your pet can breathe easily and move about freely when in its costume. NEVER leave your pet unattended in a costume. 

Chocolate can be deadly to dogs and also to cats. Cats will often avoid chocolate, but many dogs seem to love it. The darker the chocolate, the deadlier it is. Dark chocolate and baking chocolate are highly toxic to pets. Baking chocolate, used in making chocolate cakes, cupcakes and cookies, is especially problematic. If your cat or dog ingests chocolate, contact  your veterinarian immediately.

People in Costumes and Crowds can often scare even the calmest of dogs. Pets should be kept  inside during trick-or-treating hours to prevent them from getting spooked. It’s also a good idea to keep them on a leash or away from the door when trick-or-treaters come by. It’s not unusual for cats and dogs to run out an open door when they are frightened.  If you do venture out with your dog on Halloween, always keep them on a leash under the control of a responsible adult.

Strings may dangle from costumes and attract the attention of cats. Too often, strings can become lodged in a cat’s throat or intestines and require costly surgery to remove. Be sure to keep costumes and dangling decorations out of the reach of cats.

Tags and microchips can quickly reunite lost pets with their family.  All pets should have up-to-date tags with their name, their address and their owner’s phone number. They should also be microchipped by their veterinarian and the microchip information should be kept up-to-date. If your pet isn’t microchipped, your veterinarian can easily insert a microchip. It is a quick and fairly inexpensive process and a great gift for your pet.

Candles can also attract the attention of curious pets who don’t realize how hot the flame and candle wax are. If you have pets in your house, it’s best to use artificial candles for decoration. 

Happy, Healthy, Safe Australian Labradoodles

is our goal!

Thank you North Central Veterinary Clinic for these important reminders on keeping our animals safe this Fall season!

Cheryl Sabens

Ashford Manor Labradoodles

Australian Labradoodles Breeder of the non-shedding dog

765-714-1436