 Halloween is just around the corner, kicking off the holiday season. It’s time to start planning your costumes and taking some precautions to keep your pets safe. Whether you’re passing out candy or hosting a Halloween bash, these tips can help keep everybody happy and healthy. #1: Keep Candy Out of Paws’ Reach Whether you’re stocking up for trick-or-treaters or just treating yourself, Halloween is a candy holiday! Most pet owners know that chocolate is a no-no. But other candies can also cause vomiting, diarrhea, and even poisoning. For example, artificial sweeteners in sugar-free candies are dangerous for pets. Even small amounts of xylitol—also labelled as birch sugar—can be toxic. You can check out this in-depth guide to pet-safe Halloween treats from AHAA for more specific dos and don’ts. If there are kids in the house, talk to them about keeping pets safe by safely storing candy and throwing wrappers away. One of the best ways to avoid an emergency trip to the vet next weekend is to keep the candy stash well out of paws’ reach! #2: Low Stress Trick-or-Treating Ghouls and goblins, princesses and robots, there’s no telling who will stop by the front door on Halloween night! Even the calmest and most social pets can struggle with trick-or-treating. Luckily, a few extra precautions can keep your furry friends safe. First, make sure pets are microchipped or wearing up-to-date ID tags on Halloween. Every time you open the door to greet a group of trick-or-treaters, it gives your pet a chance to bolt. To keep things simple, consider using a baby gate to keep them away from the front door. Pets who are anxious about frequent visitors might prefer to be in a separate, quiet room. Some will even benefit from a sedative or anti-anxiety medication to reduce stress. Talk to your vet about options if your pet might like a little help relaxing on Halloween Eve! #3: Pet Costume Fit Check Nobody wants to wear tight, pinchy, or restrictive clothes—including your pets! The best pet costumes fit comfortably and don’t restrict their ability to move. Things like masks, hats, and other things that fit around the face might be ok for a quick photo opp, but most pets won’t appreciate wearing them all night. We also recommend removing any chewable parts or objects that could pose a choking hazard. If your pet still looks uncomfortable, take it off! They’re just as cute in their birthday suits anyway 😉 #4: Decorate with Care We love a decorative gourd as much as the next person, but remember to decorate with care this Halloween! Keep electrical cords and wires covered or out of pets’ reach. Open flames, including candles in jack-o-lanterns, should be outdoors and away from pets or out of their reach. Other decorations, like fake cobwebs and rotting pumpkins, are dangerous if they get eaten. Finally, while fog machines are great for adding some spooky ambience, they aren’t always pet-friendly. Some foggers are chemical-based and toxic to pets. Be sure to decorate with care and keep pets’ safety top of mind. Have A Spook-tacular Halloween By taking a few precautions, you can make sure your Halloween is full of treats and no tricks. If your pet gets into trouble, Mountainside Veterinary Hospital is here to help. Happy Halloween, from all of us!  As pet owners ourselves, we know that giving medications to pets can be frustrating for you and your furry friends alike! When it comes to pills, even the best-behaved dogs and sweetest cats can become masters of evasion. Luckily, just like basic obedience, potty training, and advanced tricks, pets can be trained to take their medications. With the right approach, you can turn medication time from a struggle into a simple part of your daily routine. #1: Build A Positive Association Instead of washing their pills down with water like a human would, pets can get their favorite treat afterward instead. And the best time to start training your pets is before they actually need medications! The concept here is simple: your pet gets a favorite treat for swallowing something you offer them. You don’t have to start this training with pills. In fact, it may be better to start with a low-value treat that you’re sure they’ll eat. The goal is to teach your pet that eating whatever you offer them leads to a “jackpot” treat. To do this, offer a low-value treat (ex., kibble) and follow it with a high-value treat (ex., chicken, cheese, hot dog). Repeat this process a few times every day, changing the low-value treat to less and less exciting things over time. For example, the progression might look like:
If your pet is less food-motivated or picky about what they eat, this process may take a little more trial and error to find things they’ll reliably eat every time. While this process takes time, patience, and a little bit of creativity, it can give you the best results in the long run! #2: Use Gelatin Capsules and/or Pill Pockets Sometimes, your pet needs medications immediately, and there’s no time for practice. In these situations, empty gelatin capsules can be a game-changer for picky eaters. Most pets will refuse pills because of either the smell or the taste. Not only can gelatin capsules mask the taste and smell, but they can also be used to combine multiple pills in one easy capsule. Please note: Be sure to check with your veterinarian about your pet’s specific medications! Not all pills can or should be given together. Gelatin capsules come in a variety of sizes and can be bought in most drug stores or online. Some brands even offer flavored capsules to further mask the scent and taste of medications. Pill pockets or pill wraps can also be used with or without gelatin capsules. They come in a variety of flavors and sizes and are soft enough to be molded around pills or capsules of all types. #3: Hide The Pill Still having trouble getting your pet to take their medications? Sometimes, hiding the pill and a little bit of trickery are your best bet. Two of our favorite techniques are the “multiple meatball” method and the “rapid fire” method. For the multiple meatball method, take your pet’s favorite wet food or other soft snack (ex., cheese, hot dog, chicken) and form three “meatballs.” Put the medication in the middle of one meatball. As quickly as possible, give your dog a plain meatball, then one with the pill inside, and follow it with another plain one. Ideally, your pet will be too focused on their final treat to notice they’ve eaten their pill. This method works best if you’re hand-feeding your pets the meatballs. Alternatively, if your pet will catch treats out of the air, you can try the “rapid fire” method. Toss your dog 2-3 treats, then the pill (preferably wrapped in a pill pocket or other tasty food), then 2-3 more treats as a reward. Bonus Tip: Timing Matters! If possible, medicate your pet before mealtime. A hungry pet is less likely to turn their nose up at a pill that’s well-hidden in their favorite food. Mountainside Veterinary Hospital Is Here To Help Getting your pets to take their pills shouldn’t be a daily struggle—for you or your furry friends. If you’re having a hard time medicating your pet, the team at Mountainside Veterinary Hospital can help. In addition to behavioral tips and tricks, we can discuss different forms of medication (ex., liquid, gel capsule, powders) that may be more tolerable for your pet. |
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November 2025
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Mountainside Veterinary Hospital
www.mountainsidevets.com [email protected] Office: (971) 405 - 1111 Fax: (503) 498 - 5322 |
Hospital Location
15000 SW Barrows Rd. Ste. 101, Beaverton, OR 97007
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Office Hours
Monday - Friday: 8:00a - 6:00p
Saturday: 8:00a - 4:00p Give us a call today to schedule your appointment! (971) 405-1111 
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