Happy Howl-O-Ween
Five Spooky Halloween Emergencies for your Pup
Whether you are visiting Grant Park for a spook-tacular night at the zoo or staying closer to home for Spooky Springs at the Abernathy Greenway Playable Art Park this Halloween, your pet deserves all the fun and none of the frights. Our team at Animal Emergency Center of Sandy Springs wants to remind all of you ghouls and ghosts of the frights to avoid with your pup this Halloween.
Chocolate Toxicity:
Trick-or-treaters from Inman Park to Glennwood Estates are sure to return home with loads of chocolate this Halloween. The predicted top Halloween candy of 2025 is Reese’s cups, and while peanut butter is a great treat for our fangtastic fur-iends, chocolate ingestion can be quite the scare.
Chocolate toxicity in dogs is caused by theobromine and caffeine and can range from mild gastrointestinal upset to severe neurologic effects and death. The toxic effects of chocolate can vary depending on the type of chocolate ingested, the amount of chocolate, and the weight of your dog. More severe clinical signs are often seen with dark chocolate products or in patients who have ingested a large amount of chocolate.
Signs to monitor for at home that could indicate chocolate toxicity include restlessness, excessive panting, vomiting, diarrhea, irregular heartbeat or seizures. If you are worried that your goofy goldendoodle or any other franken-pup in your home has stolen your hard-earned chocolate treats, please contact your veterinarian right away.
Candy and Candy Wrapper Ingestion:
After trick or treating this year, be sure to put your candy bags and other treats in a hard to reach, secure area. Ingestion of Halloween candies such as chocolates, nerds, gummies, and other sweet treats can lead to severe gastrointestinal upset in your pup. Breeds such as yorkies and schnauzers are prone to pancreatitis and candy ingestion could lead to a flair up. Hemorrhagic gastroenteritis, often secondary to dietary indiscretion, can occur in any breed and can be a terror for carpets, furniture, and flooring in your home. Additionally, wrappers and treat bags can cause gastrointestinal blockage or be a choking hazard in pets.
Candies such as mints and sugar-free gums might contain Xylitol which is very toxic to pets. Xylitol ingestion in dogs can be life threatening, even in small amounts. Xylitol toxicity can result in dangerously low blood sugar and liver damage in pets. If you are worried your pet has ingested a product containing xylitol, please seek veterinary care right away.
Costume Malfunctions:
While your boo-tiful pup deserves to be the star of the show and experience the life of a showgirl this spooky season, be sure that his or her Halloween costume fits appropriately. Halloween costumes which restrict breathing, sight, or mobility can be pawsitively spooky for your pet. Monitor your pet at all times when they are wearing Howl-o-ween costumes to avoid injury and prevent ingestion of fabric, beading, and other materials.
Shocking Scares and Decoration Disasters:
If you are competing for best Halloween decorations with well-known neighborhoods such as Chimney Springs or homes on Mead Road in Decatur, be sure to keep your pet’s safety in mind when decorating with wires, candles, and glow sticks. These décor items pose a serious risk for curious pets. While glow-sticks might look like a wag-tastic treat to witch-ful thinking dogs and cats, they can cause burns to the mouth and gastrointestinal upset. Glow sticks usually do not cause life-threatening toxicity but can cause discomfort and unpleasant clinical signs in your pet.
Anxious and Lost Pets:
Frequent knocking, spooky costumes, and shrieking screams can be frightening to even the bravest pets. Predicted top Halloween costumes of 2025 include Remi, Mira, and Zoey from KPop Demon Hunters, Wednesday Addams, and of course the dynamic duo Travis and Taylor. When these characters show up at your door, be sure that your pet is in a safe and secure area. Frequent loud noises and doors opening to greet trick-or-treaters creates a risk for scared pets to escape and get lost at night.
To prepare for this fight-filled night, ensure that your pet’s microchip is updated and speak with your veterinarian about medications to help reduce fear and anxiety in your pets.