万圣节将至，ASPCA列出宠物五大威胁：木糖醇与巧克力居首，服装与门铃也要防
万圣节（10月31日）将至，美国爱护动物协会（ASPCA）发布宠物安全提示，列出这个节日对猫狗的五大威胁，提醒主人提前防范。ASPCA动物毒物控制中心高级毒理学家Camille DeClementi博士说：「我们许多喜爱的万圣节传统，都可能对伴侣动物构成潜在威胁。」
第一是糖果。多种热门万圣节糖果对宠物有毒，尤其是含人工甜味剂木糖醇的糖果，对狗可致中毒：即使少量木糖醇，也会令狗的血糖骤降，引发协调障碍、抽搐和抑郁。DeClementi说，巧克力——特别是烘焙用巧克力和黑巧克力——对动物同样可能有毒，大量摄入的症状包括呕吐、腹泻、多动、口渴与排尿增加、心律异常，甚至抽搐。第二是服装：给宠物穿服装，须确保不限制其活动、听觉、视线以及呼吸、吠叫、进食、饮水与排泄，并检查窒息隐患；一条简单的节日头巾是更稳妥的替代。第三是糖纸：猫喜欢玩糖纸，但吞食铝箔或玻璃纸可造成肠道梗阻并引发呕吐。
第四是讨糖活动本身。ASPCA建议，讨糖时段最好把宠物安置在远离前门热闹的房间。ASPCA领养中心高级副总裁Gail Buchwald说：「万圣节访客不断来到门口，活动频繁，宠物很容易在无人注意时溜出去。」她提醒，确保宠物佩戴带身份信息的项圈牌并植入芯片，可大大增加其走失后被送回的几率。第五是装饰：南瓜灯里的蜡烛容易被宠物碰翻引发火灾，好奇的幼猫尤其容易被烛火烫伤；装饰电线被啃咬可损伤宠物口腔，或造成可能致命的电击；南瓜本身毒性较低，但宠物啃食后可能肠胃不适。
ASPCA表示，如宠物误食任何可能有害的物品，应咨询兽医，或致电其动物毒物控制中心热线(888) 426-4435（该热线收费）。
Ahead of Halloween, ASPCA Lists Five Threats to Pets: Xylitol and Chocolate Top the List
With Halloween falling on October 31, the ASPCA (The American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals) has released its list of the top five threats the holiday poses to pets. "Many of our favorite Halloween traditions could pose a potential threat to our companion animals," says Dr. Camille DeClementi, senior toxicologist at the ASPCA's Animal Poison Control Center.
First, sweets. Several popular Halloween treats are toxic to pets, especially candies containing the artificial sweetener xylitol, which can be poisonous to dogs: even small amounts can cause a sudden drop in a dog's blood sugar, leading to lack of coordination, seizures and depression. "Chocolate, especially baker's and dark chocolate, can also be potentially poisonous to animals, especially dogs," DeClementi advises; symptoms of significant chocolate ingestion may include vomiting, diarrhea, hyperactivity, increased thirst and urination, heart rhythm abnormalities, and even seizures. Second, costumes: a pet's costume must not limit its movement, hearing, sight or ability to breathe, bark, eat, drink or eliminate, and should be checked for choking hazards — a simple festive bandanna is a smarter alternative. Third, wrappers: cats love to play with candy wrappers, but ingesting aluminum foil or cellophane can cause intestinal blockage and vomiting.
Fourth, trick-or-treating itself. The ASPCA advises keeping pets in a room away from the excitement at the front door during trick-or-treating hours. "Halloween brings a flurry of activity with visitors constantly arriving at the door, and pets can easily slip out unnoticed," says Gail Buchwald, senior vice president of the ASPCA Adoption Center; a collar with ID tags and a microchip greatly increase the chances of a lost pet being returned. Fifth, decorations: candles in jack-o'-lanterns can be knocked over by pets and start a fire, and curious kittens are particularly at risk of burns; wires and cords from decorations, if chewed, can damage a pet's mouth or deliver a potentially lethal electrical shock. Pumpkins themselves are relatively non-toxic but can cause stomach upset if nibbled.
Owners whose dog or cat ingests a potentially harmful product can consult a veterinarian or call the ASPCA's Animal Poison Control Center at (888) 426-4435; a fee applies.
来源：GSM·美国（原文链接）
图片来源：家养法国斗牛犬，Nenad Stojkovic摄，CC BY 2.0（Wikimedia Commons）；A pet French Bulldog at home, photo by Nenad Stojkovic, CC BY 2.0 (Wikimedia Commons)
