Halloween is right around the corner and do we have some scary claims to share with you! Before you start shaking in your boots, we want to let you know that all these stories have happy endings. But, it is still best to beware this All Hallows Eve so that your pet doesn’t end up in a similar sticky situation!

1. One Halloween night, a 4-year-old Labradoodle ate 20 small bags of M&Ms—wrappers and all! His pet parents rushed him to the veterinarian, where he luckily vomited the chocolate and wrapper remnants later that night without adverse effects.
 
2. Just last October we received a claim for a dog who ingested a clump of fall leaves. The leaves created a blockage, and the dog needed surgery to remove them. The total veterinary bill for this incident was nearly $2,800. That’s a lot of bones!

3. Last year, we received claims for pets who swallowed items like tennis balls, socks, bones, string, corn cobs, pacifiers, pillows, pieces of plastic, rocks, coins, a welcome mat, dog toys, gardening gloves and a hairbrush! We wonder if they are dressing as the Hungry Hungry Hippos this Oct. 31.
 
This Halloween, or any time of year, it’s good to be prepared for the unexpected with pet insurance. ASPCA Pet Health Insurance can help you afford the quality veterinary care your pet needs. After all, you have enough to worry about when your pet is hurt or sick than how you're going to pay the bills.

If your pet ingests a harmful substance, you can call the ASPCA Animal Poison Control Center (APCC) at 1-888-426-4435. Calls can include a $65 consultation fee, 90% of which is covered by ASPCA Pet Health Insurance plans.
 
The APCC reported that they see a 39% increase in calls involving chocolate exposures in the week surrounding Halloween, compared to the rest of the year.

They also typically see a threefold increase in calls about glow sticks and glow jewelry in the week surrounding Halloween. Luckily, these items are considered to be a low risk for toxicity!

Help make sure Halloween isn’t a scary time for your pet by keeping these tips in mind.

• Candy – Treats are everywhere this time of year, and many can be toxic to pets. Keep bowls of candy out of reach.
• Costumes – Don’t dress your pet up if he or she dislikes it. If your pet doesn’t mind, be sure the costume is comfortable and safe.
• Candles – Avoid using candles as decorations or in jack-o-lanterns. Pets can knock them over, get burned, or start a fire.
• Collar – Be careful your pet doesn’t get out when you open the door, but if he or she does, a collar with ID tag and/or microchip can be very helpful.

Read more Halloween safety tips at the ASPCA’s website.

Keeping your pets safe on Halloween doesn’t have to be tricky.

Our friends at the ASPCA^® offer these 5 tips to help pet parents keep their pets safe while celebrating this October. If your pet does ingest something poisonous, the ASPCA^® Animal Poison Control Center (APCC) can help at 1-888-426-4435. A $65 consultation fee may apply, 80% of which is covered by ASPCA Pet Health Insurance.

Tip #1: No Sweets for Your Sweetie.
Several popular Halloween treats are toxic to pets, such as candies containing the artificial sweetener xylitol and chocolate, especially baker’s and dark chocolate. Symptoms of chocolate ingestion may include vomiting, diarrhea, hyperactivity, increased thirst and urination, heart rhythm abnormalities, and even seizures.

Tip #2: Watch out for those wrappers.
Cats love to play with candy wrappers, but ingesting aluminum foil or cellophane can cause intestinal blockage and vomiting.

Tip #3: Careful with costumes!
If you dress up your pet for Halloween, make sure the costume does not limit your pet’s ability to move, hear, see, breathe or drink. A smart alternative is a simple, festive Halloween bandana.

Tip #4: Decorations can be dangerous.
Re-think putting candles in Jack-O-Lanterns. Pets can easily knock them over and start a fire. Also, prevent your pets from having access to wires and cords from holiday decorations. If chewed, a wire can damage your pet’s mouth or deliver a potentially lethal electrical shock.

Tip #5: Trick-or-treating is for kids, not pets.
During trick-or-treating hours, it is best to keep pets in a room away from your front door or else they may escape during the flurry of activity. Make sure your pet is wearing a collar with tags and/or is microchipped.