Have you recently adopted a puppy? Congratulations on your new pet! Halloween can be a dangerous time for our canine companions. Baby dogs, of course, are super frisky and mischievous. You’ll need to keep a close eye on little Fido! Here, a Carmel Valley, CA vet discusses spending Halloween with your puppy.
Candies
Candies are one of the biggest concerns. For one thing, many of those sweet treats are toxic to our four-legged friends. They may contain things that are toxic to your canine buddy, such as chocolate, nuts, raisins, and xylitol. Some of those tidbits will contain all of these things! Hard candies also present a choking hazard, as do the wrappers.
Costumes
Fido has worn some adorable outfits in the past. He’s been a bee, an avocado, a dinosaur, a spider, and several superheros. You can certainly get some adorable photos of your furry buddy all dressed up. However, there are some caveats here. Don’t put little Fido in anything that is tight or constricting. Items that are hot or itchy are also unsafe, as are things with a lot of small parts. Finally, if your pooch seems uncomfortable in his outfit, don’t force him to wear it.
Decorations
Keep your furry pal in mind as you are hanging decorations. Puppies are very curious about the world. Unfortunately, they like to investigate things by, well, eating them. This can be very dangerous! Anything small or sharp should be kept well out of paws’ reach. This also applies to many plastic items, or anything that could easily rip into pieces if chewed. Candles, garlands, and anything with batteries are also unsafe.
Guests
Socialization is very important for puppies. However, a steady stream of costumed youngsters may be a bit much for your furry friend. If you get a lot of trick or treaters, you may want to keep your fuzzy buddy in a quiet back room until the rush has passed. If you’re having a gathering, have people pet and play with the little guy, and offer yummy treats. Just take care not to overwhelm him.
Photos
Don’t forget to take some cute seasonal pictures of your canine pal! You can use filters and apps to put a fun seasonal spin on your new pet’s pics.
Happy Halloween!
Please don’t hesitate to contact us, your veterinary specialist in Carmel Valley, CA, for any of your pet’s veterinary care needs.