Scaredy Cats & Curious Canines: Your Guide to a Safe Halloween

No tricks, no treats:
To ensure a healthy, vet-free night, keep a close eye on your candy bowl and a closer eye on your fluffy friends. Chocolate - especially dark or baking chocolate - cane be very dangerous for dogs and cats. Xylitol - a common artificial sweetener found in most sugar-free candies and gums - can also be harmful for your pets.



Night on the Town:
If you're thinking about taking your pet out trick-or-treating- keep this in mind: a pet that is out with trick-or-treaters may become spooked by the costumes, noises, and smells; which could cause him or her to run off and get lost. If you are planning to take your dog along, make sure you keep them on a short leash and always make sure your pet has proper identification. If your pet were to escape and become lost, a collar with tags and/or a microchip can increase the chances of he or she being returned to you.

Cat-chievous Madness:
During this night of mischief and pranks, cats often becoming unwilling participants. If your cat is an indoor-outdoor cat, keep him or her safe by creating a safe haven indoors and giving your cat something to distract him or her from all the outdoor festivities and noises. Try confining your cat to an area in your home, and entertain with some tranquil music and fun toys. Spray a little Feliway on your cat's bedding, or plug in a Feliway diffuser to create an even more soothing environment.


How to celebrate Halloween with your pet?
Include you pet in the festivities by giving him or her goodies that are made especially for their species, like dog biscuits or cat treats. Another great way to celebrate is to dress your pet -there's nothing more adorable than a 'hot' dog or a witch cat! Crank up your creativity by home-making Halloween-themed treats and fun costumes - and remember if you do dress your pet, make sure the costume fits properly and is comfortable.

My Pet Ate Chocolate...What Now?

Most pet parents are aware that chocolate is toxic, but did you know that it's the amount and type of chocolate that determine the toxicity? While one small chocolate chip from one cookie is not a problem for your pet, certain types of chocolate are very toxic - this includes everything from a pure chocolate bar to chocolate-flavored sweets.

Why is chocolate toxic to my pet?

Chocolate is a mixture of cocoa beans and cocoa butter. In its various forms, chocolate contains theobromine and caffeine, which are both classified as methylxanthines. While humans have the ability to metabolize methylxanthines quickly, our pets ability to metabolize methylxanthines can be 20 times slower - which can result in a toxic overdose.

The amount of methylxanthines present in chocolate varies with the type of chocolate. One key fact to remember is the darker and/or more bitter the chocolate, the more toxic it could be. 

What types of chocolate are toxic?

The simple answer is all types of chocolate can be toxic to a pet. However, certain types of chocolate carry a higher toxicity

than others. 

Baker's chocolate, semi-sweet chocolate, cocoa powder, and gourmet dark chocolates are more dangerous than milk chocolate. White chocolate has very little theobromine and is least likely to cause chocolate poisoning in pets.

Signs of Chocolate Poisoning

When small amounts of chocolate are ingested, common symptoms may include mild vomiting and diarrhea in pets. However, when larger amounts of chocolate are ingested, common symptoms may include:

• hyperactivity
• restlessness
• lethargy
• increased thirst
• increased urination
• tachycardia (elevated heart rate)
• tremors
• seizures
• collapse

What should I do if I suspect my dog ate chocolate?

If you know your pet has ingested chocolate, or if your pet is showing any of the listed symptoms of chocolate poisoning, contact a veterinarian, or the Pet Poison Helpline at 1-800-213-6680 right away!

Halloween Costume Contest 2014

Are you ready for another wickedly fun Halloween Costume Contest? We sure are!

Scary, Silly, Cute, or Spooky - we want to see your pet rocking his or her Halloween costume! 

How to Enter:

Squirt
Winner of the 2013 Halloween Costume Contest!

Submit a photo of your pet dressed up in their Halloween costume to mtodd@rauanimalhospital.com to be entered into the Halloween Pet Costume Contest, and we will post your photo to our Facebook page. Contest participants, friends, family, and the general public will be invited to vote for their favorite pet photo.

Be sure to share your pet's photo on your Facebook page after we post it to encourage your friends and family to boost your pet's votes. 

We will select a winner on Friday, October 31st and award a "spooktacular" gift basket!

Contest Rules:

1. Email photos of your pet in costume to mtodd@rauanimalhospital.com

2. Please put your pet's name followed by "Costume Contest" in the subject line of the email (Ex: Fluffy - Costume Contest)

3. You may submit only (1) photo per pet; and photos must be new to the contest (cannot resubmit from a previous contest)

4. Along with the photo, please include a brief description of your pet's costume. If you are a client, please include how long you've been with the hospital and which doctor you typically schedule with. (Ex. Fluffy's costume is a butterfly; and she has been a client of Dr. Bishop since 2002).

5. Eligible photos will be posted to our Facebook page

6. Encourage your friends and family to "like" your favorite pet costume photo

7. Photo submissions and voting will run until October 30, 2014 (11:59pm EST) and winners will be announced on Halloween!

8. Extra points for creativity!

Need some ideas for your pet's halloween costume? 

Head over to our Pinterest board for inspiration!

Top Benefits to Walking Your Dog

Fall is a great time to get your pup moving again; and walking your dog is not only beneficial for your furry friends, it's good for you too! This week is National 'Walk Your Dog' Week, so dust off those sneakers and hit the local trails or parks! Here are our top health benefits to walking your dog:

Keep your pet healthy and at a controlled weight
This one is a no-brainer - an overweight pet is not a healthy pet. Regular exercise, in conjunction to a balanced diet, provides many health benefits that will keep your pet agile and in tip top shape. 

Helps with digestive system
Regular walks can also be extremely beneficial to your pet's digestive tract, and can sometimes act as a natural aid in alleviating constipation.

Say good-bye to destructive and hyperactive behavior
Regular walks, as well as additional forms of exercise, has also proven to be very beneficial in reducing or eliminating destructive behavior in dogs such as: digging and chewing. Think of it like this - pets are like children. If you are not giving them something constructive to do, you may not like what they choose to do.1 Walking on a consistent basis can also help with hyperactivity. Knocking over furniture or jumping on people can be a sign of pent up energy, and regular walks can help curb these attention-seeking behaviors


1. http://www.petmd.com/dog/slideshows/general_health/top-ten-health-benefits-walking-your-pet-provides#