SOUTH BEND — Halloween is such a fun time of year for families, but it can be dangerous for your pets.

WSBT’s Katlin Connin spoke to a veterinarian about how to keep your pets out of the hospital.

Katlin gives her dog Tommy some people food from time to time, but she says there are some foods her dog can’t digest the same way humans do.

A lot of the foods that are dangerous for her dog are popular at Halloween.

It’s a pretty simple question with a lot of answers– What’s the weirdest thing your pet has eaten?

“A lot of socks.”

“She’s ate a full rope toy.”

“Probably about a two-month-old chicken bone he found at the park.”

And with Halloween just around the corner, there are plenty of other interesting things your pet might want to put in their mouth.

Dr. Lori Ross says one of the most dangerous might be your favorite — chocolate.

“They cannot process the caffeine and the theobromine like we can. It can cause vomiting, diarrhea and even high heart rate and seizure activity,” said Dr. Ross.

And your pet may not stop with just an Almond Joy.

“They ingest everything, wrappers, popsicle sticks, the lollipop sticks, everything, and if it’s enough, it can actually cause an obstruction.”

Be careful of your decorations, too. Dogs might try snacking on your gourds or corn cobs.

“Cats like strings,” said Dr. Ross. “Anything that’s like kind of a garland or we have some lighting, they will chew on those and continue to ingest those until they will cause an obstruction.”

When your pets get sick it certainly hurts your heart. But it can also hurt your wallet.

“The cost of surgery can run thousands of dollars.”

Which is why if your pet eats anything you’re not sure about, Ross says you shouldn’t hesitate to seek help.

“If you have any questions or concerns, call your veterinary clinic,” Ross recommends. “They can walk you through those steps.”

Dr. Ross says Halloween also sees a lot of dogs reported missing. She says with lots of trick or treaters knocking and the door opening and closing, your pup could slip out.

Make sure they’ve got proper identification on their collar and that you have a recent picture.

Source: WSBT