Happy Halloween! What is scary to your pet? How about many strange people dressed up in scary costumes ringing the doorbell, knocking and yelling “Trick or Treat!”. All of the fun of Halloween can be stressful to your pet. It is fun to dress them up in silly costumes to join in, just be aware that the noise and strangers may frighten your pet and cause them to bolt out the door and run away from home. If your pet is greeting people at the door with you, have them on a leash so that in the event they become frightened, you will still have control. No one wants to be out searching for their pet on Halloween night.
With all the candy and chocolate lying around during Halloween, chances are even the most well-behaved pet will be tempted to sample the treats or devour the entire stash! Chocolate toxicity is a true emergency and can be fatal if left untreated.
Signs of chocolate toxicity include:
- vomiting
- diarrhea
- tremors
- hyperactivity
- extreme lethargy
- increased heart rate
- seizures
Chocolate toxicity in cats is very rare as they are generally not attracted to the smell or taste of it. If you suspect your cat has ingested chocolate see your veterinarian immediately. More commonly seen in dogs, the effects it will have depend on the type of chocolate ingested and the amount. The following is a chart of toxic doses for each type of chocolate according to the weight of the dog.
| Weight (lbs) | Milk | Semi-sweet/dark | Baking/unsweetened | Cocoa |
| 0-5 lbs | 90-150g | 30-60g | 10g | 30-90g |
|
5-10 lbs |
285-390g | 75-135g | 30g | 24-93g |
| 10-20 lbs | 570-780g | 150-270g | 60g | 48-186g |
| 20-30 lbs | 690-900g | 225-390g | 90g | 69-276g |
| 30-40 lbs | 900-1200g | 300-540g | 120g | 96-372g |
| 40-50 lbs | 1140-1890g | 372-528g | 150g | 114-459g |
| 50+ lbs | 1380-1830g | 450-630g | 180g | 138-552g |
If you are unsure how much your pet ate, look for the grams on the package and estimate the amount ingested. INDUCING VOMITING for dogs is recommended, however if your dog is already vomiting, contact a veterinarian immediately for assistance.
White chocolate is not toxic to pets.
The best way to avoid a chocolate toxicity is to prevent your pet from consuming any amount of chocolate. Have treat bowls up off the floor. Keep your pet in a separate room until the Halloween festivites are over.
