Charlottesville vet warns Halloween candy can poison pets

A Charlottesville-area veterinarian is urging pet owners to keep Halloween candy away from dogs and cats, warning that chocolate and xylitol can cause rapid, life-threatening poisoning. The advice comes as families head into trick-or-treat season and pet exposure risks rise at home.

Why it matters: - Halloween candy can trigger veterinary emergencies, especially when dogs get into chocolate or sugar-free sweets containing xylitol. - Xylitol poisoning can move fast, causing dangerously low blood sugar and, in severe cases, liver failure, seizures, or death. - Halloween also brings added stress for pets from doorbells, costumes, decorations, and frequent opening and closing of doors.

What happened: - Dr. Jesse Bejar, founder of Wag Veterinary in Ivy, Virginia, warned Charlottesville-area families to keep pets away from Halloween candy as the holiday approaches. - Bejar said local pet owners should be especially careful with chocolate and sugar-free candy, gum, and other products that may contain xylitol. - Wag Veterinary urged families in Charlottesville, Crozet, Ivy, and Albemarle County to take simple precautions to prevent accidental pet poisonings.

The details: - Xylitol is a sugar substitute found in sugar-free gum, candy, some chocolate products, baked goods, and some peanut butters. - The FDA says xylitol can trigger a rapid insulin release in dogs, which can cause hypoglycemia within 10 to 60 minutes of ingestion, though some effects can be delayed. - Signs of xylitol poisoning can include vomiting, weakness, trouble walking, loss of coordination, lethargy, trembling, and seizures. - The FDA says xylitol may also appear on labels as birch sugar or wood sugar. - Chocolate contains theobromine and caffeine, which dogs process more slowly than humans. - Dark chocolate and unsweetened baking chocolate pose greater danger because they contain higher levels of those compounds. - Milk chocolate can also poison dogs, especially when a small dog eats a large amount. - Sugar-free chocolate may pose an extra risk if it contains xylitol, exposing dogs to two toxic substances at once. - Families should store Halloween candy in secure cabinets or containers that pets cannot reach. - Parents should tell children not to share Halloween treats with pets. - Candy wrappers can also be dangerous if swallowed because foil and plastic can cause choking or intestinal blockage. - Pet owners should check backpacks, bedrooms, purses, and trash containers for discarded candy and wrappers after trick-or-treating. - Pet-safe treats made for dogs or cats are a better option than human candy for households that want pets included in the celebration. - If a pet eats chocolate, sugar-free candy, or another potentially toxic substance, owners should contact a veterinarian, emergency veterinary hospital, or poison control service right away. - Owners should save the packaging and be ready to share the product, estimated amount eaten, time of ingestion, and the pet’s weight. - Owners should not induce vomiting or use home remedies unless a veterinary professional tells them to do so. - During business hours, Wag Veterinary can be reached at 434-235-5015. - For after-hours emergencies, the practice directs clients to emergency veterinary services or the ASPCA Animal Poison Control Center at 888-426-4435. - Wag Veterinary is located in Ivy, Virginia, between Charlottesville and Crozet, and provides primary care, diagnostics, dentistry, and surgery for dogs and cats. - The clinic also lists more information at the company’s announcement.

Between the lines: - The warning is not just about one candy bar or one treat bowl. Halloween creates multiple exposure points, from trick-or-treat bags to forgotten wrappers in trash and bedrooms. - Xylitol is a particular concern because symptoms can start quickly, but a dog may look normal at first. - The safest response is prevention first, then immediate veterinary contact if any ingestion is suspected.

What's next: - Pet owners are likely to see the biggest risk window during trick-or-treating and the days immediately after Halloween, when leftover candy and wrappers remain in easy reach. - Families with anxious pets can reduce stress by keeping animals in a quiet, secure room during busy holiday hours. - Bejar’s broader message is simple: a few precautions now can help avoid an emergency visit later.

The bottom line: - Keep Halloween candy away from pets, watch for xylitol on ingredient labels, and call a veterinarian immediately if a dog or cat gets into sweets.