When did Halloween become such a big holiday? It's second only to Christmas, it seems, for decorating and celebrating, with special stores full of frightful fare and merchandise hitting all other retailers before summer is over.
It's all in fun, of course, and whenever pet lovers have fun, our pets are usually included.
But holidays are often anything but fun for many pets. While we humans love the change in routine with the parties, the guests and the decorations, our furred and feathered family members too often find the disruptions disturbing -- and sometimes dangerous.
Like all holidays, Halloween is not without its hazards. The two biggest problems are injuries and poisoning -- and animal emergency clinics traditionally see plenty of both. When you're planning to include your pet in holiday plans, keep pet protection in the mix.
With the increase in activity around the neighborhood, cats and dogs get nervous, and some will take off if they can. That means an increase in the number of animals hit by cars. Other time, animals may be a cause of injury: All those costumed young visitors can trigger territorial instincts or fear responses in some dogs, who may then become a bite risk.
The best solution for nervous pets is to confine them for the evening in a crate or a quiet room far from the front door or any holiday festivities.
Many animal-welfare groups warn that black cats are at special risk around Halloween, claiming that cultists pick up the animals for ritual torture. Such concerns have led many shelters to halt the adoption of black cats in the days before Halloween.
In truth, such cruelties are so poorly documented that they surely happen rarely, if at all. Your black cat is more likely to be killed by a car than a cultist, since it's difficult to see a black cat in the dark. But the threat of either is more than reason enough to keep him inside.
If you keep your pets confined safely inside the house, you will eliminate one source of risk. Keeping them away from the goodies will take care of the other risk.
Candy is a problem more for dogs than for cats because cats are generally picky about what they eat. Not so for many dogs, who'll wolf down candy (wrappers and all) if given the opportunity, giving many a serious case of what veterinarians call "garbage gut." While chocolate really isn't the deadly threat many believe, a small dog who gets a large amount of dark chocolate does need veterinary intervention. A bigger threat to all pets, though, is from candy and gum sweetened with Xylitol. It's deadly stuff for pets, so keep it out of their reach.
And finally, what about costumes for pets? If it makes you happy, go for it. Your dog doesn't care if he has a biker jacket, sunglasses, an ear-hugging visor or even a colorful bandanna. He'll put up with most anything you put on him, as long as it means spending more time with you.
If putting a costume on your dog means you'll fuss over him and maybe take him somewhere interesting, like the costume contests that are everywhere these days, then sure, it's a no-lose proposition. Dress up your dog and have some fun.
Do make sure that any costume you choose or make meets commonsense standards: It's comfortable and nonrestrictive, inedible, and it doesn't involve anything that could be hazardous, such as dye or paint. There has never been a wider selection of silly stuff for pets at retailers, so you can pick up a costume or two easily.
I've dressed up my pets before, and I have to say that my favorite costume of all time -- a first-place prize-winner at more than one contest -- was also the cheapest and easiest. I purchased a package of round white dots from an office supply store, and put them all over my black retriever. His "Reverse Dalmatian" get-up got laughs everywhere we went.
Q&A
All pet birds need
variety underfoot
Q: We just got a cockatiel, and I am reading a copy of your "Birds For Dummies" we checked out of the library. In it, you and Dr. Speer say the perches that come with the cage we bought are not sufficient, but the folks at the pet store say they are. Care to explain? -- via e-mail
A: Aside from the fact that even the manager or owner of a pet store isn't the expert that board-certified avian veterinarian Dr. Brian L. Speer is, there's the matter of common sense.
First, I wonder if the pet-store person didn't have it, since if she did, she could have sold you more equipment. But that's her problem, I guess.
Second, use some common sense yourself: If you were a bird who flies freely in the wild, would you be happy spending most of your life in a cage with just a food bowl, a water dispenser and a couple of pine dowels for company?
Of course not.
A perch is more than something to stand on for your bird. Chosen properly, it's also an important tool for helping to keep your bird physically and emotionally sound. When choosing perches, think variety, and select an array of textures.
Choices you'll find at the bird store -- I generally prefer specialty bird shops over chain stores for supplies -- include rope, natural wood and concrete, and each should find a place in your bird's cage.
The good news is that some of the best perches around won't cost you anything more than the time it takes to trim them from your trees. Limbs from most fruit and nut trees make fine perches, as do those from ash, elm, dogwood and magnolia.
Cut the branches to fit the cage, scrub with soap and water, rinse well, and let them dry in the sun before putting them in the cage. A final check is for insect pods -- just break them off and dispose of them in an outside trash can.
While many people don't think of a cockatiel as a parrot, these birds are indeed parrots, with all the brains and personality their larger relatives are famous for. These brainy birds need to use those minds to be happy and healthy, and a variety of perches (and toys!) will help. -- Gina Spadafori
Do you have a pet question? Send it to petconnection@gmail.com.
THE BUZZ
Safe food rules
for pet food, too
-- Dry pet food has been repeatedly linked to salmonella outbreaks in people. The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention analyzed outbreaks from 2006 and 2008 and linked both to contaminated kibble. Especially at risk are young children who play with the food and then put their hands or the food in their mouths. Pet food needs to be handled with as much concern for safety as with all food: Wash hands after handling, keep food preparation areas properly cleaned and wash pet food bowls in soap and water and store between uses.
-- Secondhand smoke is a hazard to pets as well as people. Shorter-nosed breeds are at greater risk for lung cancer, while longer-nosed breeds like collies and German shepherds are more likely to get nasal cancer. Dr. John Reif, a professor at the Colorado State University College of Veterinary Medicine and Biomedical Sciences, released the results in a podcast for the American Veterinary Medical Association. Previous studies had noted that cats exposed to second-hand smoke had double the risk of cancer compared to other cats.
-- The Veterinary Pet Insurance company's analysis of its claims shows that accidental ingestion of pet or human medications was the top poison hazard for pets, with an average cost of $791 per claim. These incidents accounted for close to a quarter of all claims to the company for poisoning. The ASPCA's Animal Poison Control Center also puts human and pet medications at the top of its poison risks list. -- Dr. Marty Becker and Mikkel Becker
ABOUT PET CONNECTION
Pet Connection is produced by a team of pet-care experts headed by "Good Morning America" and "The Dr. Oz Show" veterinarian Dr. Marty Becker and award-winning journalist Gina Spadafori. The two are also the authors of many best-selling pet-care books. Dr. Becker can also be found at Facebook.com/DrMartyBecker or on Twitter at DrMartyBecker.