Creature feature

Here’s a bit of seasonal advice and news for our furry family members.

HALLOWEEN TIPS

With Halloween just a few days away, it’s time to pull out the American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals’ bag of safety tricks. The society’s top admonition involves keeping the candy bowl away from the pets. Any kind of candy isn’t recommended for pets, but chocolate in all forms can be dangerous for cats and dogs. Also, while sugar isn’t good for a pet’s health, candies containing the artificial sweetener xylitol are actually unsafe. Xylitol — found in candy, gum and toothpaste — can cause stomach distress, seizures and liver failure in dogs and cats.

The ASPCA also offers advice about dressing pets in costumes, noting that not all pets want to wear them. If wearing a costume stresses your pet, don’t force it on him. Let him “wear” fur or a festive bandana instead.

If a pet doesn’t mind dressing up, make sure the costume doesn’t make it difficult for the animal to move, breathe or see. Also check the outfit for buttons or anything that might be a choking hazard.

Another potential fright-night issue for pets arises with the coming and going of trick-or-treaters throughout the evening. The arrival of so many strangers can be scary and anxiety-producing. The ASPCA suggests keeping nervous pets confined to a room away from the front door to make sure they don’t dart out the door when it’s opened for sweet-seekers. Also make sure dogs and cats are wearing identification tags on their collars or have been microchipped.

PUMPKIN TIDINGS

A cute-as-can-be video making the rounds on Facebook features a porcupine chirping delightedly while munching on a raw pumpkin that appears to be part of an outdoor display. But while uncooked pumpkin may be fine for porcupines and other wild animals, pet owners should keep it away from dogs and cats, according to petmd.com.

A raw pumpkin that has been sitting around a while could be a breeding ground for mold and bacteria, especially if it has been carved. Pumpkin is considered nontoxic, but could cause a tummy ache when eaten uncooked.

Natural pumpkin from a can, however, is safe for pets and may even be beneficial. If a dog, for example, is having digestive trouble, a bit of cooked, pureed pumpkin can be mixed into the dog’s regular food to help settle his stomach. The amount of pumpkin depends on the size of the animal — a couple of teaspoons would be enough for a Yorkshire terrier while half a cup would suit a Labrador retriever. To be certain about appropriate servings, consult a veterinarian.

Plain canned pumpkin — not to be confused with sugary pumpkin pie mix — also can be used to help satisfy a dieting dog’s appetite without adding excess calories.

FUNGI WATCH

When the leaves begin falling, wild mushrooms start sprouting. Not that leaves cause mushroom eruptions, but fall is their season. You’ve probably noticed more of them in your yard recently.

Wild mushrooms aren’t good for pets, says the ASPCA’s Animal Poison Control Center. The center advises people to keep their pets away from areas where mushrooms are growing because some varieties are poisonous.

If your dog has a tendency to snack on plants and things he finds on the ground, don’t let him go out into the yard unsupervised during “mushroom season.” You also might want to pluck and discard the mushrooms when you spot them. Contact a veterinarian immediately if you see your dog eating a wild mushroom.

RODENTICIDES

Most people are aware that rodenticides used to kill rats and mice also are fatal to pets. If you have to use rodenticides, vetstreet.com says, keep them out of the reach of pets. Save the labels and packaging for the products so that if a pet accidentally eats any of the poison, your veterinarian will have all the information he needs to treat the pet.