Halloween Safety

Halloween is approaching and with the decorations and trick-or-treating, pet parents need to be on the lookout to keep their pets safe.

The following tips can help keep your pets free from harm:

• Do not let your pet eat chocolate or candy. Treats containing the artificial sweetener xylitol, are poisonous to dogs and cats.
• Properly dispose of candy wrappers, as the tin foil, plastic components and cellophane can pose a choking hazard for pets.
• Keep decorations out of the reach of pets. Electric lights, wires and cords could damage your pet's mouth or give your pet a life-threatening electrical shock.
• If you decide to dress your pet in a costume, make sure your pet is comfortable and safe. Costumes should not limit movement, breathing or hearing, and should not contain anything that could easily be chewed off or caught on other objects.
• Too many trick-or-treaters can be stressful for pets. Keep your pet away from the door, or hold your pet back when you answer to door.

More Pet Facts

Aging Cats Require an Adjusted Diet

As cats begin to show visible signs of aging, around 7-years-old, you may want to consider changing your feeding routine to something more age appropriate. As cats age they experience metabolic and physical changes that diet can help manage positively. Feeding an older cat should focus on maintaining a healthy body weight and preventing the onset of chronic diseases.

As cats get older they may start to experience deterioration of skin and coat, loss of muscle mass, digestive problems, arthritis, problems with their teeth, and a lowered immune system. They often progressively put on body fat too. An elder cat diet should consume less calories while maintaining the level of protein and other vitamins.

Your veterinarian may recommend increasing your cat's vitamin E intake. Increasing the intake of vitamin E in cats older than seven can increase their antibody levels back to those seen in younger cats. Antioxidants such as vitamin E and beta-carotene help eliminate free radical particles that can damage body tissues and cause signs of aging. Senior diets for cats should contain higher levels of these antioxidant compounds.

In addition to adjusting an older cats diet, you also should be sure to get routine veterinary care to detect and treat chronic diseases. Many conditions are treatable if discovered early.

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