Safety tips for healthy pets

Don’t feed bones to pets, especially poultry bones. They can splinter, causing pain and even death.

Many holiday plants are toxic if pets chew or eat them. Examples include holly, mistletoe and poinsettias. It’s wise to keep all such plants out of a pet’s reach.

Watch the decorations. Be sure cords and candles are out of reach. Remember poinsettias, holly, mistletoe and many other holiday plants can be toxic to dogs or cats.

Wrap it up...with care. Beautifully wrapped gifts can have bells, ribbons, small toys and other items that add festive decor but can be choking hazards for your pet.

Don't overindulge. Good advice for humans and especially for pets. Overfeeding can upset their digestive system and compromise their health. Also, rich holiday foods such as buttery foods, nuts, candy and chocolate can all be toxic. Keep your pets on a regular schedule with their regular food.

No paws on the bubbly! Pets and alcohol don't mix; it can make them very sick.

Minimize the surprise. Rather than giving a pet as a gift, instead let the recipient choose a pet that suits them and their lifestyle at the right time. Wrap up a gift card and an item the new pet can use. Pets deserve forever homes; adoptions made with care are more likely to be permanent. 

Place identification on pets. Micro-chipping is a good idea for those pets that seem to always escape from their collars. SEAACA offers low-cost micro-chipping for pets. Your pet’s information will be registered in a national database so no matter where you travel, your pet can be identified.

Halloween costumes are not as fun for pets as they are for you. Be considerate of your pet if dressing them for Halloween. Make sure outfits are designed specifically for pets. Do not constrict breathing airways, vision, smell, or other critical functions. Pets rely on their senses to evaluate their world. If a costume cuts off their ability to detect what's around them they can cause a pet to be very frightened. Be sure your pet is in the mood to wear a costume. If your pet seems uncomfortable, take it off as soon as you get your perfect photo.

Keep your pet indoors, but not at the front door. All but the most social dogs and cats should be kept in a separate room away from the front door during peak trick-or-treating hours or during a party, for your pet's comfort and the safety of visitors. Too many strangers can be scary and stressful for pets.

Additionally, sedatives can be prescribed by your veterinarian for highly excitable pets. Keeping pets in also keeps them safe from getting lost or falling victim to being the object of a “trick” played by rowdy revelers. If you'll be away from home on Halloween, leave your pet inside with a radio or television playing in the background. This can serve as a distraction and offer a sense of comfort for your pet. Don't take your pet to a local carnival or even a neighborhood gathering.

Candy and other sweets can pose serious health risks to your pets. Keep treats safely out of reach. They are easily ingested and can make pets quite sick. Candy wrappers can cause an upset stomach and unsweetened, dark, bittersweet and baking chocolate can be toxic to pets, especially dogs that are more prone to eat it.

Keep decorations secure and away from pets. Spider webs, pumpkins and candles create great ambiance for your celebration, but they may be tempting for your pet to play with or eat. Leaky glow sticks can also make pets ill and added wiring for decorations can be chewed to shocking excess. Never leave candles, such as those in jack-o-lanterns, unattended, especially around puppies and kittens. They’re both a fire hazard in the home and burn hazard to curious pups and kitties.

Parents should supervise children. They are not likely to understand the adverse effects that candy and excitement have on pets and may accidentally let the family pet out or share treats with them.

If a pet goes missing, visit SEAACA the very next day. If you don’t see your pet there, keep looking. They may have strayed quite far trying to escape the night’s hubbub.

Keep them hydrated. Have plenty of fresh water on hand at home and on a walk or at the park.

Shade. When outdoors, be sure there's a shady place for pets to rest.

Protect paws from hot pavement. Check the sidewalk; if it's too hot for your hand, it's too hot for your pet's paws. Walk pets on the grass or at a cooler time of day.

Never leave a pet unattended in your car, even when a window is partially open. The temperature inside can quickly escalate, causing heat stroke or even death in just minutes.

On a 78-degree day, the temperature inside a parked car can soar to between 100 and 120 degrees in just minutes, and on a 90-degree day, the interior temperature can reach as high as 160 degrees in less than 10 minutes. That can be a deathtrap.

If you see an animal locked in a hot car, call 9-1-1 immediately! Police will contact SEAACA or another appropriate animal rescue agency. 

Watch the CityTV video

Beware of fireworks. Pets are easily frightened by the explosions. DO NOT take your pet to a firework show or even a neighborhood gathering. Keep your pet indoors (not leashed in a yard) during the holiday in a comfortable, escape-proof room with bed, food and water. Leave a radio or television playing in the background. This can serve as a distraction and offer a sense of comfort for your pet.

Call your vet. Sedatives can be prescribed by your veterinarian for those highly excitable pets likely to suffer extreme anxiety from the fireworks.

Never leave animals tethered or chained outside. In their fright and distress, they can injure themselves. Cats should be indoors.

Protect pets from the heat. Never leave them in an unattended parked car. Keep them in the shade with plenty of water. Remember, if the asphalt is too hot for your bare feet, it's too hot for your pet's paws.

Place identification on pets. Micro-chipping is a good idea for those pets that seem to always escape from their collars. SEAACA offers low-cost micro-chipping for your pet. Your pet’s information will be registered in a national database so no matter where you travel, your pet can be identified.

No picnic table and grill scraps--and watch the alcohol. Human food such as bones, onions, avocado, grapes and raisins should be off limits at all times to your dog. Some human food may be toxic or dangerous if ingested and cause stomach upset. Be sure alcoholic drinks are out of reach; if ingested, your pet could become very intoxicated and weak.

Parents should supervise children. They are not likely to understand the adverse effects that fireworks have on pets and may accidentally let the family pet out.

If a pet turns up missing, check the SEAACA website the very next day. Due to COVID-19 restrictions, the facility is closed except by appointment. Check the listings of lost pets on www.SEAACA.org. If you see yours, call to make an appointment. If you don’t see your pet there, keep looking. They may have strayed quite far trying to escape the fireworks.