As much as we love dressing up and eating all the festive foods at Halloween, the same cannot be said for our four-legged friends. This time of year can pose significant dangers to our beloved pets, from the toxic ingredients in treats to the uncomfortable nature of fancy dress.
A veterinary expert is warning dog owners of taking the festivities too far, after a viral TikTok video emerged of a dog wearing false teeth for Halloween. Dr Anna Foreman, Everypaw Pet Insurance's in-house vet, claims that putting plastic teeth in a pet's mouth is "incredibly dangerous" and dressing up dogs in general can lead to distress.
"False teeth are built for human teeth, and so the indents in them will not fit properly," Anna explained.
"This means that the dentures can not only damage a dog's real teeth, they will also not fit properly - which makes them a choking and foreign body hazard.
"The dog could choke on the teeth which can be fatal, or they could swallow the teeth - the dentures are then very likely to obstruct their stomach opening into the intestines, or the intestines themselves.
"In worst case scenarios, dogs can suffer considerably and die from foreign body obstructions.
"There is no reason to put false teeth in a dog's mouth aside from cosmetic ones - this is simply not ethical."
Anna advises pet parents to look out for signs their dog feels uncomfortable or distressed in a fancy dress costume.
"If a pet is distressed in clothing, they will actively try and remove any items they are wearing with their teeth and/or paws," Anna said.
"They may also roll around trying to free themselves from the clothing, or simply flop on the floor and refuse to move.
"If they are unable to remove the items, or are so terrified they exhibit the 'freeze' rather than fight or flight response, then they may simply sit still with their ears and head down, trying to make themselves as small as possible.
"More worryingly, some animals can become aggressive when put in a costume due to the distress they feel being in clothes.
"They may start by licking their nose or lips, yawning and turning away, but this can turn quickly into growling, snapping and biting."
If you do make the decision to dress your dog up this Halloween, Anna advises uses soft fitting material that isn't too tight.
"A dog should only wear a costume if they are not exhibiting stress-related behaviours. There is no instance where dressing a cat or small pet up is ethical or in their best interest," she added.
Do you have a dog story to share? Email nia.dalton@reachplc.com.
