If your dog has eaten Halloween candy, contact a local veterinarian immediately. The ASPCA Poison Control line and the Pet Poison Helpline are available 24/7.
There are plenty of ways to include your dog in your Halloween plans, from dressing up in cute costumes to exploring the neighborhood during trick-or-treating. Still, there’s one fright-day pastime your fur baby doesn’t need to take part in—eating candy.
Halloween candy can be dangerous for dogs, so it’s important to monitor their access to chocolate and sweet treats this season. Explore the risks, learn what to do if ingestion occurs and consider ways to prevent your dog from eating Halloween treats.
Why is Halloween Candy Dangerous for Dogs?
Various Halloween candies may pose risks to dogs. For example:
- Chocolate smells delicious to dogs, but their bodies can’t process it. Ingesting chocolate may cause vomiting, diarrhea, urination, excessive thirst and other problems. Severe chocolate toxicity in dogs may even lead to heart failure, organ damage and death.
- Hard candies contain high amounts of sugar and other chemicals harmful to dogs’ digestion. They can stick together in your dog’s stomach or windpipe, risking choking or obstructions. They can also damage dogs’ teeth.
- Raisins (or any dried grape candy) contain toxins that may cause kidney failure and other problems in dogs.
- Gum, sugar-free treats and many other candies contain xylitol, which is highly toxic for dogs. Xylitol exposure can cause your dog’s blood sugar to drop dangerously, leading to issues like vomiting, seizures and death.
Besides candy itself, food packaging is also dangerous for our furry friends. Many dogs are attracted to the leftover scraps and residual smells left on things like candy wrappers or lollipop sticks. They may try to munch on these items, and some will even swallow them whole. Swallowing a foreign object will naturally increase your dog’s choking risk, but it may also lead to things like bowel obstructions, perforations, infections and internal bleeding. Always dispose of packaging outside or in a dog-proof trash can.
Dog-Safe Halloween Treats
With so many associated risks, it’s easy to see why Halloween candy is off the list for your dog. The good news, though, is that there are still many seasonal treats your pet can enjoy. Try things like:
- Pumpkin (de-seeded)
- Apples (cored and peeled)
- Sweet potatoes
- Peanut butter (Xylitol-free)
- Dog-friendly ice cream
How to Prevent Candy Accidents
With Halloween candy in abundance, the chances of your dog ingesting something toxic are high. Throughout the season and beyond, control and monitor your dog’s access to candy, chocolate and other sweets.
- Don’t put bags or bowls of candy on the floor. Store them on high shelves or tables your dog can’t reach.
- Don’t leave goodies unattended. If you set out a bowl of treats on Halloween night, cover them with a dog-proof lid.
- Keep your dog and the food separate. Create a safe space for your dog to hang out and put a barrier between them and the candy.
- Use the distraction method. Make a special dog-friendly goodie bag stocked with a cute toy and fall-flavored dog treats to tap into the fright-day vibe.
Proper Dog Training Can Help, Too
Alongside your safety practices, having a solid training foundation can also help your pup avoid candy-related accidents.
- Obedience training will teach your dog to consistently listen when told to avoid something.
- Behavior modification can help them break long-term bad habits by showing them that certain actions—like eating food off the floor—are off limits.
- Off-leash training teaches your dog to stay focused on you when you’re enjoying social activities, like trick-or-treating.
With the right guidance, your dog can come a long way from indulging in unsafe habits.
What to Do If Your Dog Eats Candy
Even if you’ve done everything to keep your dog away from the Halloween candy, accidents can still happen. If your dog ingests candy or chocolate, even in small amounts, take action.
- Try to determine what and how much your pet ate. Different types of toxic ingestion may require different treatment.
- Contact a pet poison control hotline or your local vet immediately. The ASPCA Poison Control line and the Pet Poison Helpline are available 24/7. Follow all instructions given.
- Withhold all food and water from your dog until a professional advises otherwise.
- Monitor your pet for symptoms like lethargy, vomiting, diarrhea and trembling. Symptoms may not set in right away, but you should still call a professional as soon as you know candy ingestion has occurred.
After your pet ingests Halloween candy, vet visits are often necessary. Depending on the treatment, your pet may need hospitalization. The vet can advise the next steps once they assess the situation.
Avoid a Halloween Pet Emergency
Reliable obedience training and behavior modification can help your dog learn boundaries that may keep them from eating Halloween candy. Sit Means Sit Fort Worth is ready to help.
Our attention-based training methods use positive reinforcement to encourage dogs to drop bad habits and listen to their owners. This obedience can make all the difference when it comes to avoiding sweet temptations during spooky season.
Start your dog’s journey to better behavior today. Call (888) 342-3647 or request your free training evaluation now.
