Santa Clarita veterinarian Dr. Jaimie Ronchetto from Cinema Veterinary Centre discussed Halloween tips and suggestions for pet owners on KHTS AM-1220 last week.

“So Halloween is all fun for the kids, but pets may see it a little bit differently,” said Ronchetto. “I like to just remind people that the decorations can be kind of scary for dogs.”

Ronchetto told listeners that pets are very observant and they notice changes, therefore pet owners should be aware that things might be scary to them.

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She urged listeners to keep their cats inside, especially a few days before Halloween and on Halloween night because there are people who may want to harm them.

When it comes to Halloween candy, Ronchetto explained to listeners why it is so important to keep your dogs away from getting into candy.

“In general, even if they don’t get into anything toxic, all of the sugar can cause major tummy upset and sometimes pancreatitis and things like that,” said Ronchetto. “Chocolate and sugar-free candy that uses Xylitol can be very toxic for dogs.”

If your pets are reactive to the doorbell and try to escape when the door opens, she suggested trying to keep pets in a separate room, with a closed door. Turning on music or the TV could also be a good distraction for them.

Next, if you decide to dress up your dog, make sure the outfit is appropriate for their size and it’s not too tight and constricting.

Dogs do have fur, so it is going to be hotter with other layers on, especially if it’s going to be warm weather, Ronchetto said, noting it’s important to be aware of their comfortability.

Ronchetto told listeners that pets feed off of our energy, if we get anxious then they can get anxious. The doorbell ringing and all the activity can make it easy to become anxious, so pet owners should do their best to remain calm themselves.

Lastly, flameless candles should be used in the jack o’lanterns, as Ronchetto noted that cats tend to knock things over, creating a potential fire hazard with real candles.

Dr. Jaimie Ronchetto, DVM, is a Santa Clarita veterinarian who opened her own veterinary hospital in Valencia after spending several years in private practice as an associate veterinarian at other SCV hospitals. Ronchetto and the staff at Cinema Veterinary Centre strive to give every dog, cat and pocket pet outstanding quality care in the areas of medicine and surgery. A Hart High School graduate, Ronchetto earned her BS degree from UC Davis and graduated with Honors from Ross University School of Veterinary Medicine.

Cinema Veterinary Centre

23460 Cinema Drive

Valencia, CA 91355

(661) 253-9300

Cinema Veterinary Centre – Valencia

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=w1jm0q5fYu8

Santa Clarita Veterinarian / Veterinarian in Santa Clarita / Cinema Vet / Cinema Veterinary Centre / Dr. Jaimie Ronchetto