So it is Halloween once again, always a fun holiday and a great excuse to dress up your favorite fur kids
So to make sure everyone has a safe, fun and relaxing Halloween here are few tips from RFAC, along with some good links from the ASPCA and PetMD
Pet parents with furry foodies this one is for you
Ok so we all know that chocolate is not good for dogs and cats, as well as raisins and macadamia nuts, especially if they are covered in chocolate.
Milk chocolate not as toxic as dark or bakers chocolate but will cause tummy upset. If you have a 90lb lab who ingests one or two mini snickers probably not a huge emergency but just keep an eye on him or her.
On the other hand, if you have a little chihuahua who does the same that may be a problem, based on weight of the dog to chocolate ratio. Either way give your vet or Pet ER a call just to make sure you know what to look for, or go in just to be safe.
According to the Merck Veterinary Manual, one ounce of milk chocolate per pound of body weight is potentially lethal. But the real danger lies with dark chocolate. Merck warns that deaths have been reported with theobromine doses as low as 115 milligrams per kilogram (2.2 pounds) of body weight.
While uncooked pumpkins and corn are not toxic to dogs if they eat too much of either they will have a tummy ache so here are some good points to help with that
tummy upset
POINTS FOR TUMMY UPSET
LI4 Lu11 is on either side of the dew claw of the front paw. lightly move your finger in a circular motion
LI11 in the outside or lateral crease of the elbow
ST 36 find the front of the knee and slide your finger down into the little groove on the lateral side of each knee
SP6 2 fingers above the medial malleolus or ankle bone this point is on the bone so just follow it up two finger widths on the inside of the back leg.
LIV3 between the 2nd and 3rd metatarsal balances out the liver
Scaredy Cats and Dogs
For the scaredy cats and dogs it is important that they are in a nice quiet calm place. A bedroom or quiet room away from the front door is a great idea also make sure there are no open windows or ways to escape. Lots of pets get really scared with all the commotion so it is best to keep them away from all that.
There are some great calming points that you can start using about a week out from the big night. These should help alleviate the initial panic.
For dogs not cats some essentials oils can help; lavender or peace and calming, Copaiba and frankincense are good choices .. Be sure to introduce gradually over the course of a week let them sniff the oils and see which ones they like . If they have a preference you can diffuse the oil in their room or put a few drops on your hands and try petting them from back of the head to the tail. If diffusing make sure there is another room they can go to in case it becomes too much.. A Thundershirt or rescue remedy is always good to have on hand.
“For cats rescue remedy is great but be cautious with certain essential oils as they can be toxic to cats The ones mentioned above should be ok, but use the same introductory procedure and see if your cat likes them if yes great and if not then rescue remedy or bach flowers would be great “Cats are not as well-equipped to metabolize essential oil components because they lack the liver enzyme glucuronyl transferase http://felinewellness.com/aromatherapy-for-cats/
For the Canine and Feline Fashionistas
So if you have a pet that loves to dress up and greet everyone at the door to show off their amazing costume Halloween is the best holiday ever
Here are a few tips just to be safe
1. Obvious tip I am sure allof you know this but ….As cute as your costume is and I ‘ve seen some amazing ones…be sure it does not constrict your pets movement, hearing or site and most important.. make sure it does not constrict movement or ability to breathe bark or meow
2. Be sure to try on costumes before the big night. This allows your pet to get used the costume and have fun If your pet seems distressed, allergic or shows abnormal behavior, consider letting him go au naturale or donning a festive bandana.
3. Take a closer look at your pet’s costume and make sure it does not have small, dangling or easily chewed-off pieces that he could choke on. Also, ill-fitting outfits can get twisted on external objects or your pet, leading to injury.
So have a safe happy and healthy halloween..
For more info see the links below
http://www.aspca.org/pet-care/halloween-safety-tips
http://www.petmd.com/dog/seasonal/evr_multi_halloween_safety_tips