Of Tricks and Treats
10/10/08

Our Halloween antics and our pets aren’t always a good mix. You may want to make appropriate pet arrangements before the ghosts and goblins descend upon your home.

First and foremost, Halloween candy is a definite no-no for our pets. Chocolate is toxic to dogs and cats and can even be fatal. Unsweetened, baker’s chocolate is 8 – 10 times more potent than milk chocolate and semisweet or dark chocolate is approximately 3 times more potent. Roughly, a 50 lb dog consuming as little as 9 ounces of milk chocolate or 1 oz of bakers chocolate can show some symptoms. A little 10 pounder can show symptoms with as little as 2 ounces of milk chocolate. The average milk chocolate bar is approximately 1 & ½ ounces so don’t worry if the dog just scrounges a few M&M’s. Low dose symptoms can include nervousness, excitability, trembling, and stomach upset. High doses (the official “toxic dose” is 5 to 10 times the dose mentioned above) can result in excessive thirst, heart stimulation, muscle spasms, seizures and even death. There is no specific antidote and treatment is aimed at minimizing absorption of the toxin, controlling nervous symptoms, encouraging elimination of the toxin, and treatment of cardiac effects. It can take up to 4 days of treatment for the toxin to be completely eliminated.

Dogs will find the candy and will readily consume large amounts of chocolate. If you suspect your pet has consumed chocolate, the amount and type of chocolate will help determine how best to treat. Commonly, we find the dog has eaten milk chocolate of some unknown quantity and has no symptoms other than a smug look about the face. In this case we induce vomiting and observe for symptoms for several days. Be sure the kids know to always put their candy where the pets can’t get it (in an upper cabinet or the like).

Halloween can also be problematic for pets not used to large numbers of people coming to your door, or to costumes, parties, etc. Be sure that when planning your Halloween festivities you don’t forget your pets, and I’m not talking just about their costumes.