These Halloween safety tips for pets are easy enough to follow and can be the difference between a night of scary good fun and a night that’s just plain scary. (We’ve even included a graphic at the end that you can print and hang on your fridge so everyone in your household will be in the know!)
1. Watch Out for Candy Capers
When it comes to Halloween pet safety, keeping all that Halloween candy out of reach of dog and cat counter-surfers is absolutely essential. While your pet really shouldn’t be eating any of it, there are some types of Halloween candy that are particularly toxic to pets, including:
Chocolate: Pet parents might love chocolate, but this sweet treat is poisonous to dogs due to the theobromine found in it, which dogs have a harder time digesting.
Raisins and chocolate-covered raisins: Raisins can be extremely toxic to dogs and could lead to kidney failure.
Sugar-free candy: Xylitol is an artificial sweetener found in many foods, including certain sugar-free candies, that’s extremely toxic to dogs and can cause low blood sugar, seizures, liver failure or death. Xylitol doesn’t, however, cause serious problems in cats, according to the American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (ASPCA).
Caramel apples: First, super-sweet caramel is never a good idea to feed pets. Second, the seeds inside of caramel or candy apples can really make your dog ill as they contain a form of cyanide, says Dr. Kiko Bracker, DVM, DACVECC, director of emergency and critical care for MSPCA-Angell Animal Medical Center in Boston, Massachusetts.
Candy corn: “Signs associated with ingestion of large amounts of sucrose and glucose [found in candy corn] are going to be gastrointestinal,” says Dr. Leonel Londoño, DVM, DACVECC, clinical assistant professor of emergency and critical care at the University of Florida College of Veterinary Medicine in Gainesville, Florida. “With severe diarrhea and vomiting, signs of dehydration and abdominal pain may also develop, requiring veterinarian attention.”
Macadamia nuts: These nuts are highly toxic to dogs and eating even a small amount can cause weakness, tremors and lethargy in dogs.
(Read more about what makes these candies so dangerous.)
Remember to keep all Halloween candy—including candy wrappers—away from your pet. Consider storing it in a locked or high cabinet that even the most athletic of pets won’t be able to access.
2. Choose a Comfy Costume
Directions should always be short and to the point.
Your first step should focus on prep. E.g., Preheat to 375°F and line 2 baking sheets with parchment paper.
All middle steps should describe what the reader should do in a certain order. E.g., In a large bowl, cream the butter, sugars and vanilla extract until light and fluffy. Then add your eggs to the mix one at a time.
End with the final baking or cooking time. Describe what the final product should look like and when it should be served. E.g., Bake until the cookies have golden edges. Remove the cookies from the oven and set them in a baking rack for 10 minutes. Voila! Your cookies are ready. Serve them right after or store them in an airtight container for up to 1 week.
Add another picture at the end as a serving suggestion. Invite readers to leave comments below and share their own experience in preparing the recipe. You can even turn on guest commenting in the Editor so people can reply without signing in to your site.
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