#United States #Pet Health #Colorado #Pet Poison Helpline #Halloween Safety

A Poisonous Halloween for Pets

Halloween is often regarded as a festive time for children and adults, filled with costumes, candy, and celebrations. However, this Halloween also poses particular dangers for our beloved pets. The story of the Ruark family from Colorado serves as a cautionary tale on the unexpected perils pets can face during this festive season.

Last year, Michelle Ruark and her family were excited for a trunk-or-treat event. They had prepared by buying a massive 90-ounce bag of chocolate mini candy bars from Costco, which they believed would be safe from their Labrador Retriever, Paige. They thought they had done all the right things by hiding the candy behind closed shower doors. But their clever and persistent pup had other ideas—she knocked the shower doors off their hinges and devoured the entire bag, wrappers included.

Their immediate reaction, a mix of disbelief and panic, led them to contact the Pet Poison Helpline, a 24/7 resource for pet owners facing toxic emergencies. Dr. Renee Schmid, a senior veterinary toxicologist at the Helpline, explained that chocolate is a serious toxin for dogs due to substances like theobromine and caffeine, which can lead to severe health issues if ingested in large amounts. She calculated the amount of chocolate Paige consumed and assessed her weight to determine the toxicity level.

Fortunately, when Paige reached the Southern Rockies Animal Emergency clinic, the medical team was prepared. They induced vomiting, recovering a significant amount of the candy along with its wrappers. Because of the proactive response from the Pet Poison Helpline, they could implement a treatment plan that alleviated immediate danger and ultimately allowed Paige to recover.