How about the four-legged ones? While it can be fun to bring the family pet trick-or-treating, don’t forget that safety precautions apply to them as well as your children. Consider these tips for your pet before heading out: Make sure yourpetis visible. Reflective collars will call attention to your pet in the dark. Trick or treat? If your pet’s involved, opt for a trick. Chocolate is harmful for dogs and cats and should not be consumed under any circumstances. Some pets may be uncomfortable seeing elaborate costumes. Makesure your pet does not go to a stranger’s door if you’re worried this may be the case. If your pet is staying home with you to help answer thedoor, and is prone to getting excited around strangers, make sure you keep him or her contained. While safety is of chief importance, you may also want to revisit your flea treatment regimen. Your pet should always be on a monthly flea preventive, but there are times when that’s just not enough. Outdoor dogs and cats are likely to pick up “hitchhiker” fleas from infested areas. “Hitchhiker” fleas are adult fleas that can jump from an infested area to your pet. There’s a medication available that kills these adult fleas, called CAPSTAR™ (nitenpyram) Tablets. This med- ication, from Novartis Animal Health, U.S., Inc., is available in a convenient oral tablet and leaves no pesticide residue on the pet or Pets who go out trick-or-treating could end up coming back with fleas. in the home. In addition, there is no mess, no odor and no drying period to interfere with your enjoyment of yourpet. CapstarR Tablets start working within 30 minutes of administration, killing more than 90 percent of fleas on dogs within four hours and on cats within six hours. The medication has noside effects and is proven safe and effective for both dogs and cats. It can be used with puppies and kittens as young as four weeksof age, weighingat least two pounds, as well as with pregnant and nursing dogs andcats. CAPSTAR is available only from your veterinarian and comes in two dosages, administered according to the pet’s weight. This Halloween, take the precautions necessary to enjoy trickor-treating with your children and your pet. Don’t let your pet get spooked by “hitchhiker” fleas. Instead, make sure you have the fastest flea relief available.
