BOOOOH...

IT IS THAT TIME OF THE YEAR... So tell us, do you like dressing up as much as we do? At Cooka's we just love Halloween, but as much there is a lot of fun all around, we should always be aware of some dangers for our fur-kids. BOOOOOOOOH! 1. Make sure your doggie likes to dress up and is comfy Do you like to dress up your kids for Halloween? Many 'pawrents' do, but make sure your kids do enjoy it too. There are some doggies that absolutely love getting dolled up (Cooka, Pluto), while others don't like it at all (Sherlock). Kind of like us hoomans. So first of all, respect your dog's wish. If costumes make that tail wag, then get creative on that perfect outfit. But make sure it is something comfortable and easy to wear. 2. Don't let the kids out of your sight Heading for a custom pet-party? We suggest not to leave your kids unattended in their costume. Doggies may get tempted to chew off loose pieces of fabric or take a bite at some dangling objects like bells and pompoms, which could be rather dangerous. So best bet - just avoid costumes with dangly bits! 3. Avoid Masks for Your Pet's Costume What about masks for your kids you might ask? Hmmm … caution is advised here too. First of all, our fur-kids are already cute enough without them, but secondly masks could obstruct your dog's vision and maybe even their ability to breath! Few things will distress an animal (or hooman!) more than a sudden loss of vision or ability to breathe normally. If your doggie can’t see well, there is also at greater risk of traumatic injuries, such as broken bones from stepping into holes or falling off from higher grounds. Simply put - ditch the masks! 4. How About Some HAIR/FUR-Dye? If you're in the mood to play fur-dresser, PLEASE be careful when choosing the dye. Make really sure it's safe for pets — you don’t want dangerous chemicals causing skin irritation or even an allergic reaction. And you surely don’t want a gastrointestinal upset if your kid likes to lick it off either. But even then, ‘pet-safe’ or not, always try to avoid applying such dyes around your pet’s eyes and mouth. 5. Don't let the kids have hooman candies All kinds of chocolates — especially dark chocolate — can be dangerous or lethal(!) for our dogs and cats. Symptoms of chocolate poison may include vomiting, diarrhoea, rapid breathing, increased heart rate, and seizures. Halloween candies containing the artificial sweetener xylitol are also poisonous for dogs. Even small amounts of xylitol can cause a sudden drop in blood sugar and subsequent loss of coordination and seizures. Xylitol ingestion can also cause liver failure in dogs, even if there are no symptoms associated with low blood sugar. 6. No glow sticks please While glow sticks add some spooky misty fun to our Halloween nights, they can also add some unwanted drama if a doggie decides to chew one open. Thankfully the liquid inside glow sticks is not toxic, so it won’t actually cause 'serious' harm, but it does taste awful and dogs are known to drool, paw at their mouth, become agitated, or even vomit. 7. Keep that scary pumpkin out of reach Do you enjoy carving out pumpkins and create scary night lights? We do too, but here is why you better keep those flickering lanterns out of reach from the kids. Halloween pumpkins will slowly rot and produce certain kind of molds, which some can produce mycotoxins that are known to cause serious neurologic problems in dogs and cats. And yes, these pumpkin lights are a fire hazard for fur-discoverers. HAPPY HALLOWEEN EVERYPAWDY and this is our latest favourite recipe for scary paw-approved treats. Cooka calls them: FINGERFOOD