[October 13, 2015; Philadelphia, PA] – Dr. Kenneth Drobatz, Chief of the Emergency Service at Penn Vet’s Ryan Hospital, offers the following tips to keep pets healthy and out of the emergency room this Halloween:
- Keep Halloween candy out of your pet’s reach. Chocolate and other treats can be potentially harmful to animals. Tinfoil and cellophane candy wrappers can also be hazardous if swallowed.
- Don’t put costumes on your pets unless you know they enjoy it. If they do, make sure the costume doesn’t restrict your pet’s movement, vision, hearing, or ability to breathe or bark. Adults should supervise pets in costume at all times.
- Keep pets away from lit pumpkins. Curious pets could be burned or start a fire if they knock the pumpkin over.
- Keep pets inside on Halloween to avoid pranksters who may harm them. This is especially important for cats, which should be kept inside for several days before and after Halloween. Black cats, in particular, may be at risk.
- Children in costumes may frighten your dog or cat. Pets should be kept in a separate room during peak trick-or-treating hours.
- If your pet is very social and you choose not to put him/her in a separate room, be sure your pet doesn’t dart out when you open the door. Just in case, make sure your pets are wearing current identification.
In Case of Emergency
Penn Vet’s Emergency Service is open 24 hours a day, seven days a week, 365 days a year. Pet owners can call 215-746-8911 or visit Ryan Hospital at 3900 Spruce Street.
The region’s only certified Veterinary Trauma Center and Level I Facility, Ryan Hospital provides cutting-edge technologies and advanced treatments from the area’s most experienced emergency care team.
About Penn Vet
Penn Vet is a global leader in veterinary education, research, and clinical care. Founded in 1884, Penn Vet is the only veterinary school developed in association with a medical school. The school is a proud member of the One Health Initiative, linking human, animal, and environmental health.
Penn Vet serves a diverse population of animals at its two campuses, which include extensive diagnostic and research laboratories. Ryan Hospital in Philadelphia provides care for dogs, cats, and other domestic/companion animals, handling more than 30,000 patient visits a year. New Bolton Center, Penn Vet’s large-animal hospital on nearly 700 acres in rural Kennett Square, PA, cares for horses and livestock/farm animals. The hospital handles more than 4,000 patient visits a year, while the Field Service treats nearly 37,000 patients at local farms. In addition, New Bolton Center’s campus includes a swine center, working dairy, and poultry unit that provide valuable research for the agriculture industry.