Toxic Halloween Treats for Dogs
While Halloween is a festive season full of décor and treats, you need to be careful as some of these treats can be harmful to your pet. If you have a dog, you have to store your treats in a safe place to avoid disaster. Listed below are some of the most toxic Halloween treats for dogs;
High-Fat Candies
You need to keep high fat candies away from your dog as they are known to cause pancreatitis. If you dog eats candy, you need to check for diarrhea, vomiting, decreased appetite and abdominal pain. When taken in large amounts, high fat candy also causes stomach pain in dogs. While this problem can resolve over time, bloating can cause tremendous suffering for your dog. The condition may develop to a life-threatening gastric disorder if left untreated.
Chocolate
Chocolate is dangerous for dogs as well. Studies show that dark chocolate contain theobromine, an element that closely resembles caffeine. White chocolate has little theobromine and it’s highly unlikely your dog may suffer from poisoning after eating it. Some of the common signs of chocolate toxicity often range from stomach disturbances, like vomiting and nausea, to seizures, trembling, hyperthermia, elevated heart rate and can result to death in severe cases. If your dog consumes dark chocolate, you need to contact your veterinarian immediately.
Lollipops and hard candies
While dogs enjoy the taste of lollipops and suckers, they do pose a chocking threat. When swallowed whole, they can block the windpipe. Additionally, the candy can easily break down into smaller, harmful pieces. The lollipop stick can easily get stuck down the dog’s throat causing problem. It is therefore important to keep lollipops and hard candies away from dogs.
Wrapped Candies
Your dog obviously cannot remove the plastic wrapper before eating candy, and may end up swallowing the whole thing. If the dog ingests more than one candy at one go, the wrappers can easily block the stomach lining. This condition can cause vomiting and may worsen if left untreated.
Sugar-Free Candy
Candy usually contain an artificial sweetener known as Xylitol. While this sweetener is completely safe for human consumption, it can cause liver problems in dogs and can lower blood sugar to a life-threatening level. Symptoms to look out for include seizures, vomiting, lethargy, and collapsing.
Conclusion
It’s advisable to ensure you keep candy or other treats stored in sealed containers where pets cannot reach them. If you suspect your dog has eaten candy or any of the treats mentioned above, you need to consult a veterinarian as soon as possible.
References: Pet coach, Anza animal clinic, iheartdogs
