After a night of trick-or-treating, kids often return home with an array of Halloween sweets to enjoy. But if you have pets, be careful not to leave candy laying around the house. Otherwise, you might need to make an emergency trip to an animal clinic. Although the sweet morsels are safe for human consumption, they can cause serious health problems in animals. Below are a few items to keep out of your pets’ reach.  

What Sweet Treats Can Harm Your Pet’s Health?

1. Chocolate

Chocolate is made from cacao seeds, which contain a volatile compound called theobromine. Although humans can metabolize theobromine easily, the process is much slower in animals, resulting in dangerous side effects. Symptoms of poisoning could include anything from vomiting and excessive panting, to muscle seizures and death. If your pet happens to ingest chocolate, take them an animal clinic immediately.

2. Hard Candy

Although people know to suck on hard candy, animals don’t. If they swallow a sugary lozenge whole, the candy could get lodged in their windpipe and cause suffocation. The animal could also chip a tooth when trying to chew the treat.  

3. Sugar-Free Gum

Besides being another choking hazard, sugar-free gum can cause damage to your pet’s organs. It contains a sugar alcohol called Xylitol – a substance that is toxic in animals. The compound releases insulin and can cause hypoglycemia – or low blood sugar – in animals. Symptoms of low blood sugar include lethargy or loss of coordination. If left untreated, consumption of Xylitol could cause liver failure.

If your pet does get a hold of one of the above candies, reach out to the veterinarians at Animal Medical Center for assistance. The animal clinic is known throughout Baldwin County, AL, for providing ultrasounds, surgical services, internal medicine, pet supplies, and additional solutions to improve the quality of life of area residents’ animals. The staff will also recommend healthy treats that won’t make your pet sick. To schedule an appointment at the Foley-based animal clinic, call (251) 955-5900. Visit them online to fill out patient registration forms and take a virtual tour of their facility on Facebook.