Happy Halloween from Westlake Animal Hospital

Halloween is so much fun!  But you would be surprised at the number of dogs and cats we see during this season who have ingested something that has made them ill.  So we decided to send out some reminders to those wonderful people who have opened their homes to pets!

1. Don’t feed your pets Halloween candy, especially if it contains chocolate or xylitol (the sugar substitute found in sugar-free candies and gum);
2. Make certain your pets are properly identified (micro-chip, collar and ID tag) in case s/he escapes through the open door while you’re distracted with trick-or-treaters;
3. Keep lit candles and jack-o-lanterns out of the reach of pets;
4. If you plan to put a costume on your pets, make sure the costumes fit properly and are comfortable, does not have pieces that can be chewed off, and doesn’t interfere with yours pets’ sight, hearing, breathing, opening its mouth or moving. Take time to get your pets accustomed to the costumes prior to the big night and never leaved your pets unsupervised while s/he is wearing a costume;
5. Keep glow sticks and jewelry away from your pets. Although the liquid in these products isn’t likely toxic, it tastes really bad and makes pets salivate excessively and act strangely;
6. If your pets are wary or have a tendency to bite, put him/her in another room during trick-or-treating hours and provide him/her with a safe hiding place.
7. Keep your pet inside!

We are here to answer your questions -- call us at 440.835.3800 or e-mail us westlakeah@aol.com.