The Candy Bowl Investigation: Beau's Halloween-Week Guide to Keeping Treats Away From Centennial Dogs |
Halloween is Saturday, and Pet Poison Helpline says chocolate calls top the list that week. Beau covers the candy-bowl hazards for dogs and what to do if one gets into the stash. |
Hello, friends. Beau here, Chief Canine Correspondent, reporting from Halloween week with my nose on high alert.
Halloween lands on Saturday, Oct. 31. That means candy bowls by front doors, pillowcases full of loot on living room floors, and a certain species of furry investigator pretending not to notice any of it. Let's be honest: in the Case of the Missing Fun-Size Bar, dogs are usually the prime suspect. We have the motive, the nose and, as a species, a long record of counter-surfing.
So this week's Labrador-led investigation flips the script. Let's keep the evidence out of reach in the first place.
Why this week matters
Pet Poison Helpline says calls increase the week of Halloween, with chocolate ingestions topping the list. That is not a leaderboard I want Centennial dogs on.
The usual suspects
Dark and baking chocolate. The Helpline rates these as high danger because of theobromine and caffeine. Translation: the fancier the chocolate, the bigger the trouble for us. Tip: sort the haul the night it comes home and put the chocolate somewhere with a lid.
Sugar-free candy and gum with xylitol. Also high danger, per the Helpline, because xylitol can cause low blood sugar and liver failure in dogs. "Sugar-free" sounds healthy. It is not healthy for me. Tip: read labels before anything lands within nose range.
Raisins, including chocolate-covered ones. High danger, with a risk of kidney failure. Raisins are sneaky, too: the Helpline notes they turn up in trail mix, snack packs and oatmeal-raisin cookies. The "healthy" snack bag is not off the hook.
Other ingredients worth scanning for. The Helpline also suggests checking labels for macadamia nuts, espresso beans and THC edibles, and storing treats sealed and out of reach. Paws can't open what they can't find. Mostly.
A word about glow sticks
Glow-stick liquid usually isn't life-threatening, according to the Helpline, but a curious chomp can bring a bitter taste, drooling or foaming, and agitation. Most of those calls involve cats, which I find deeply unsurprising. Still, toss used glow sticks into a closed trash can before the backyard security department starts an inquiry of its own.
The "oops" plan
If something goes missing and a dog looks suspiciously pleased with himself:
Note what was eaten and roughly how much.
Keep the wrapper so you can read the ingredients to whoever answers the phone.
Call your veterinarian or Pet Poison Helpline, available 24/7 at (855) 764-7661.
Save that number in your phone today, before the doorbell starts ringing. Future you will be glad you did. Your dog will forgive you for the lid on the candy bowl. Eventually.
For other local pet questions, the City of Centennial keeps its animal regulations online.
Beau rule: If it lives in the candy bowl, it goes up high, gets sealed, and stays off the dog menu.
Beau
Chief Canine Correspondent
Babs & Beau | Paws & Purpose |
32 Comments
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Thanks for mentioning the local animal rules, didn't realize that info was online. Will have a look for future reference.
My kids keep candy in their rooms. Guess I have to check in, make sure nothing ends up on the floor for our Lab to find.
Chuck EwingI know the struggle! Our Lab can sniff out a single chocolate wrapper tucked behind a pillow. I end up patrolling bedrooms after trick-or-treating every year.
Love the playful tone but this is real advice. I wish more folks took pet poisoning seriously this week.
The 'lid on the candy bowl' is becoming our new Halloween rule. Too many close calls in years past.
That 'lid on the candy bowl' rule is exactly what Beau would recommend, here's to a safer (and less tempting) Halloween for pets and people alike!
Had a close call last year with chocolate. Luckily we noticed fast. Keep the candy way out of reach, everyone!
We're glad your close call ended safely! Quick action and safe storage really do make all the difference during candy-heavy holidays.
Beau for mayor! He's right though, the dogs always act innocent even if they've just raided the treat bags.
Ahmed MalikHaha, I'd vote for Beau! My spaniel had the most guilty face last year after stealing half a Snickers. Dogs are sneaky when candy is involved.
Interesting about THC edibles, those are popping up everywhere now. We don't keep them but our neighbors might, will remind them too.
You’re absolutely right, THC edibles are becoming more common, and spreading the word to neighbors is a thoughtful way to keep all the neighborhood pets safe this Halloween.
I always thought sugar-free was a better choice for everyone but had no idea xylitol could do that much harm. Labels are getting checked more often now.
Smart to suggest keeping wrappers if something gets eaten. Wouldn't have thought of that in a panic.
Now I'm wondering if other pets like ferrets or rabbits get into candy, too. Or is it just dogs and cats mostly?
Great question! While dogs and cats are the main culprits, other curious pets like ferrets can also get into trouble with candy, so keeping it out of reach for all animals is the safest bet.
The reminder about checking labels before handing snacks to the kids is a good one. Funny how so much dangerous stuff looks harmless.
Are cats really worse about glow sticks? Had no clue. Ours loves to chase them around at night. Going to toss them out right after using.
Great question, yes, glow stick calls to poison helplines involve cats more often, probably because cats love to chase and bite at glowing things, so discarding them right away is a good call.
Pat LigginsSame here! I had no idea, either. Cats really will chew anything if it rolls or glows. Good call tossing them out, Pat.
Love this! Saving the pet poison number now just in case. Cute to have advice straight from Beau, too.
Did not know about macadamia nuts and espresso beans being an issue. We usually have both around for snacks. Will store them away for sure.
Thanks for catching that! Macadamia nuts and espresso beans can be surprisingly dangerous for dogs, so storing them away during tempting holidays is an excellent move.
Appreciate the tip on keeping the candy sealed up. My kids always leave loot bags everywhere after trick-or-treating.
Thank you for reading! Keeping candy sealed and stored high is a simple step that truly helps prevent accidents, especially with curious kids and canines around.
Haha our beagle is definitely a counter-surfer. Candy bowl is moving to the top shelf this year.
The top shelf sounds like a beagle-proof plan! Counter-surfers everywhere will have to find a new hobby this Halloween.
Good reminder about raisins. My dog got into an oatmeal cookie once and we panicked not realizing raisins were serious. Vet trip was scary!
Kelly TranThat sounds really stressful, Kelly. Glad your pup was okay! I had no idea about raisins until a neighbor warned me, too.
We keep chocolate up high, but forgot about the xylitol in those little gum packs. Need to double check all the 'sugar-free' stuff in the kitchen.
I never thought about glow sticks before! The grandkids love them on Halloween. Will be extra careful to keep them out of dog range now.
Janet S.Same for us, Janet. I never realized glow sticks could be an issue. I’ll start putting them straight in the outside bin from now on.