Halloween is almost upon us and I am sure that though a lot of our pooches will get dressed up for the fun evening, there are a few things you should keep in mind to make sure your dog is safe this Hallow’s Eve.

• Make sure to keep your dog secure – put a leash on him or her just in case and make sure they are wearing their collars with clear identification just in case they slip out the front door.
• If at all possible, try to expose your dog to various Halloween costumes beforehand so they know that it’s not something bad, but something fun!
• One of the most important things is to make sure you keep ALL candy (especially chocolate and gum) away from your dog. The last thing you need is an emergency trip to the vet on Halloween.
• Keep candles (and pumpkins with candles) up high out of reach of your dog. Accidentally knocking them over could cause a fire and curiosity could cause your dog to get burned.

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Like many folks, you may have also recently received an email about a dachshund named Chloe who got very ill after eating a few sticks of chewing gum. The gum contained Xylitol, a natural sweetener used in sugar-free gum and candy, which caused the dog to become very sick. While the story of this particular dog can’t be validated, the claim that that Xylitol can be toxic to dogs is definitely true. The story itself was likely created to add a human (or canine) element and drive home the message to dog owners.

It’s been known for a few years that Xylitol can be harmful to dogs. An October 2006 American Veterinary Medical Association Press Release confirms that Xylitol can be highly dangerous to dogs and people need to be aware of the the dangers of this sweetener to their canine friends.

Xylitol is a sugar substitute used in candy and chewing gum. It’s an all-natural sweetener derived from beets, birch tree bark, corncobs and other natural sources. It looks and tastes like sugar but with 40% fewer calories so it’s used in many sugar-free and diabetic products. You will likely see Xylitol on the ingredient list in many of your favourite sugar-free snacks such as Jello sugar-free puddings and sugar-free gums and mints including Trident, Orbit, Stride, Icebreakers and Altoids.

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