Halloween brings plenty of changes into our pets’ environment: bowls of candy, decorations, pet costumes, candles and a steady stream of trick-or-treaters at the door. Add in some distinctly fall hazards, and October is a good time to think about what could result in more than just a seasonal scare.
Many Halloween mishaps can be prevented or managed with advice from your family veterinarian. But some exposures and injuries can become serious emergencies.
At Boundary Bay Veterinary Specialty Hospital (BBVSH) in Surrey, our Emergency and Critical Care department is open 24/7/365. As a VECCS Level 1 facility and VetCOT Level II Trauma Centre, we are equipped and staffed to care for life-threatening emergencies and trauma. Board-certified criticalists care for critically ill and injured patients, with specialists on staff and on call when an emergency requires more complex medical or surgical care.
Knowing what to keep away from your pet — and when to seek veterinary help — can help keep Halloween fun and fall adventures safe.
Halloween Candy: Know What Your Pet Got Into
A dog stealing a Halloween treat doesn’t automatically mean a medical emergency. What was eaten, how much, the ingredients involved, and the size and health of the pet all matter.
Some Halloween treats, however, require particular caution.
Chocolate contains theobromine and caffeine. Dogs are most commonly affected by chocolate poisoning, and darker chocolate and cocoa products generally contain higher concentrations. Signs can include vomiting, restlessness and a rapid heart rate, progressing in more serious cases to tremors, abnormal heart rhythms or seizures.
Xylitol, a sweetener found in some sugar-free gums, candies, baked goods and other products, is particularly dangerous for dogs. It can cause hypoglycaemia — dangerously low blood sugar — and more significant exposures can result in liver injury.
Related: Read more about xylitol toxicity in dogs and what to do if you suspect an exposure
Grapes and raisins can cause acute kidney injury in dogs. Because individual responses vary, an exposure should be taken seriously rather than waiting to see whether symptoms develop.
If your pet gets into Halloween candy, keep the package or ingredient list, determine what and approximately how much was eaten if you can, and contact your veterinarian or an emergency veterinary hospital for advice.
When Your Pet Swallows More Than the Treat
Candy wrappers, foil, sticks, pieces of pet costumes, fake cobwebs, string, decorations and small toys can all be swallowed. Some objects pass through the gastrointestinal tract; others can become lodged in the stomach or intestines and cause a gastrointestinal obstruction — a blockage that prevents food and fluid from moving normally through the digestive tract.
Repeated vomiting, loss of appetite, abdominal discomfort and lethargy can be signs of an obstruction. If you know or strongly suspect your pet swallowed a non-food object, contact a veterinarian rather than waiting for symptoms to develop.
Depending on what was swallowed and where it is located, treatment may involve diagnostic imaging, endoscopy or surgery. At BBVSH, our Emergency and Critical Care, Diagnostic Imaging and Surgery teams can work together when a swallowed object becomes a more complex emergency.
Related: Learn more about foreign bodies and gastrointestinal blockages in pets
Don’t induce vomiting or give a home remedy unless a veterinarian specifically instructs you to do so. Whether vomiting is appropriate depends on what was swallowed, when it happened and the condition of the patient.
Pet Costumes and Halloween Decorations
If your dog or cat is joining in the costume fun, make sure their outfit doesn’t restrict breathing, vision or normal movement. Avoid pieces that could be chewed off and swallowed, and remove the costume if your pet appears uncomfortable or distressed.
Keep candles and jack-o’-lanterns where they can’t be knocked over, secure electrical cords, and keep small or string-like decorations out of reach.
For pets that find Halloween activity stressful, a themed collar or bandana may be all the Halloween spirit they need.
Doorbells, Costumes and Visitors: Helping Pets Cope With Halloween Night
Repeated doorbells, unfamiliar people in costumes and masks, and excited children can make Halloween challenging even for pets that are normally comfortable with visitors.
A quiet, secure space away from the front entrance with water, bedding and familiar toys can help while also reducing the chance of an escape. Make sure identification tags are current and, if your pet is microchipped, confirm that your contact information is up to date.
If you know Halloween is likely to be difficult for your pet, talk with your family veterinarian ahead of time. For pets with more complex or persistent behavioural concerns, BBVSH’s Behaviour Medicine service works with families to understand the medical and behavioural factors contributing to fear, anxiety and other behaviour concerns and develop an individualized plan.
Beyond Halloween: Other Fall Hazards in BC
Halloween isn’t the only fall risk to keep in mind. As the weather changes, dogs may encounter hazards both outdoors and closer to home.
Salmon poisoning disease can be a concern for dogs that have access to raw or undercooked fish or fish remains around BC’s rivers, streams and coastal areas. Because the disease can become very serious without treatment, contact a veterinarian promptly if your dog becomes ill after eating or potentially having access to raw fish.
Related: Read our guide to salmon poisoning disease in dogs
Rodenticides (rat and mouse poisons) are another potential fall hazard as rodents begin looking for shelter and these products may be used around homes, garages and outbuildings. Different rodenticides can cause different types of poisoning, so if you know or suspect your pet has eaten one, keep the packaging if possible and contact a veterinarian or emergency veterinary hospital promptly.
Related: Read our guide to rat poisoning in pets, including signs, treatment and prevention
When Should You Seek Emergency Veterinary Care?
If your pet has eaten or been exposed to something potentially harmful, identify what it was, approximately how much and when it happened. Keep packaging or ingredient information if available, and contact your family veterinarian or an emergency veterinary hospital for guidance.
Don’t wait for symptoms before seeking advice about a known potentially toxic exposure.
Seek emergency veterinary care promptly for signs such as repeated vomiting, significant weakness or collapse, difficulty breathing, tremors, seizures, severe lethargy or other sudden changes.
Some patients may require intravenous fluids or medications, continuous monitoring, advanced diagnostic imaging, surgery or intensive care. That’s where the resources of a specialty and emergency hospital can become important.
Boundary Bay Veterinary Specialty Hospital in Surrey is open 24/7/365 for veterinary emergencies. As a VECCS Level 1 facility and VetCOT Level II Trauma Centre, we are capable of caring for even the most critical, life-threatening emergencies and trauma, with specialists on staff and on call when a patient requires specialty care. Emergency walk-ins are welcome; no referral is required.
Keep candy and decorations out of reach, choose pet costumes carefully, secure the front door, and watch what your dog may find during fall outings. And if something does go wrong, knowing what your pet was exposed to and seeking veterinary advice quickly can make those first moments count.
Halloween and Fall Pet Safety FAQs
What Halloween candy is dangerous for dogs?
Chocolate, products containing xylitol, and treats containing grapes or raisins can all be dangerous for dogs. The risk depends on what was eaten, how much was consumed, and the size and health of the dog. If your dog gets into Halloween candy, keep the packaging or ingredient list and contact your veterinarian or an emergency veterinary hospital for advice.
My dog ate Halloween chocolate. Should I go to an emergency vet?
Chocolate can cause poisoning in dogs, but the risk varies depending on the type and amount of chocolate eaten and the size of the dog. Dark chocolate and cocoa products generally contain higher concentrations of theobromine and caffeine than milk chocolate. Contact your veterinarian or an emergency veterinary hospital promptly so they can assess the exposure rather than waiting for symptoms to appear.
What should I do if my dog eats xylitol?
Contact a veterinarian or emergency veterinary hospital promptly. Xylitol can cause hypoglycaemia — dangerously low blood sugar — in dogs, and more significant exposures can result in liver injury. Keep the product packaging or ingredient list so the veterinary team can determine what your dog may have consumed. Do not induce vomiting unless specifically instructed to do so by a veterinarian.
What happens if my pet swallows a candy wrapper or Halloween decoration?
Candy wrappers, string, fake cobwebs, pieces of pet costumes and small decorations can become foreign bodies in the gastrointestinal tract. If an object becomes lodged in the stomach or intestines, it can cause an obstruction. Signs may include repeated vomiting, loss of appetite, abdominal discomfort and lethargy. More complex cases may require diagnostic imaging, endoscopy or surgery.
Are Halloween costumes safe for dogs and cats?
Pet costumes should not restrict breathing, vision or normal movement, and they should not have small pieces that can easily be chewed off and swallowed. Some pets also find costumes stressful. If your dog or cat appears uncomfortable, distressed or repeatedly tries to remove the costume, it is better to take it off.
How can I help an anxious or fearful pet on Halloween?
Create a quiet, secure area away from the front door, doorbells and trick-or-treaters, and provide familiar bedding, water and toys. If your pet has a history of significant fear or anxiety around visitors, noises or changes in routine, talk with your family veterinarian before Halloween. Pets with more complex or persistent behavioural concerns may benefit from assessment by a veterinary Behaviour Medicine service.
Is salmon poisoning disease a fall risk for dogs in British Columbia?
It can be a concern for dogs with access to certain raw or undercooked fish in BC and the Pacific Northwest. Salmon poisoning disease can occur when dogs eat fish carrying an infected parasitic fluke. Dogs that become ill after eating or potentially having access to raw fish should be assessed promptly by a veterinarian.
When should I take my pet to an emergency vet after eating something they shouldn’t?
Seek veterinary advice promptly after a known potentially toxic exposure rather than waiting for symptoms to develop. Emergency veterinary care is particularly important if your pet develops repeated vomiting, significant weakness or collapse, difficulty breathing, tremors, seizures, severe lethargy or other sudden changes. BBVSH Surrey’s Emergency and Critical Care department is open 24/7/365 for veterinary emergencies, and emergency walk-ins do not require a referral.
