Halloween with Dachshund
Halloween is a wonderful time of year for children. However, it can be stressful for a dog, particularly the always alert hunter, the Dachshund. Small dogs can be overwhelmed by a lot of noise, a lot of movement, and especially strangers. Dachshunds, as a general rule, are high-strung dogs, so taking extra care to keep them calm, perhaps even apart from the activities, will help the situation.
If you have an aggressive Dachshund, it should never, never be around children. We love our dogs and we trust them, almost implicitly sometimes, but an aggressive dog, they absolutely can not be trusted. Very small children have no boundaries sometimes, supervised and unsupervised. It’s as much their nature as it is for a dog to be protective. In a stressful situation, a bite is more likely than not. Please, put your dog in a safe and comfortable area, away from children.
If you have a nervous dog or hyper dog, the same rules apply. Making them comfortable and kept away from the action for one night is a good idea. Take advantage of the holiday, and (if it’s your thing,) dress them up in a costume and take some darling pictures before the guests arrive. It’s not for everyone, but the adorableness of Dachshunds gets even more adorable in a pirate costume!
If you are having a Halloween party during which you will be serving alcohol, make sure to keep drinks in areas where they can’t be reached by your dog. Alcohol consumption can be fatal. If you are one of those rare people whom think it is not harmful to let your dog lap-up some booze, you are completely incorrect. Dogs can become drunk, and if they do, it may require vomiting being induced as alcohol is a poisonous material for canines. NEVER induce vomiting without consulting a veterinarian first. It may in fact be a case in which the vet needs to pump your dog’s stomach.
The real deal for Halloween is candy. The candy is what all the children, the parents, and the dogs are awaiting. Candy is a no-go zone for dogs. The sugar is bad for their teeth, and their bodies are not built to manage high doses of sugar. In some cases, it can also become a situation in which the dog needs immediate medical attention. This is very much so for chocolate. Chocolate can damage a dog’s internal organs, put them into a coma, and even kill them within a short period of time. The Dachshund is more vulnerable because of its weight and size.
It is very hard to monitor every piece of candy that pours into your home at this time year. Please, keep the buckets and bags and bowls high enough so your dog can’t reach the treats. If your dog does ingest chocolate, contact your local emergency vet hospital immediately. Follow their instructions very carefully. As Dachshund lovers, and dog lovers in general, we do our best, and sometimes we have to work a little bit harder at our best. Halloween is one of those times we need to exercise the extra caution.
