SEATTLE, Oct. 11, 2018 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- As Halloween approaches, Trupanion (Nasdaq: TRUP), a leader in medical insurance for cats and dogs, scanned its database of nearly 475,000 pets and found that historically there is a noticeable increase in chocolate toxicity claims beginning now, through the end of the year.
Given that spooky fact, Trupanion recommends that pet owners keep any candy or treats (including raisins and grapes) they may have around for Halloween in a safe place that is not accessible by their pet.
“Chocolate contains a naturally occurring stimulant called theobromine, which is similar to caffeine. If enough theobromine is ingested it can be toxic to dogs and cats,” said Dr. Sarah Nold, staff veterinarian at Trupanion.
Signs of chocolate toxicity can include vomiting, diarrhea, elevated heart rate and seizures. Darker chocolate is more dangerous, because it contains higher concentrations of theobromine. Also, chocolate is more dangerous for a smaller dog because they don’t have to ingest as much as a larger dog to cause toxicity.
Pet owners should also keep treats containing the sugar substitute xylitol away from their four legged friends. Xylitol causes a very low blood sugar that can result in weakness, collapse and seizures.
In severe cases, Trupanion has paid claims for toxicity treatment in the $7,000 to $8,000 range. However the average costs of common Halloween toxicity claims range from $500 (chocolate), $650 (raisin) and $725 (xylitol).
“If your dog or cat does have a Halloween candy emergency, immediately take your pet to the closest emergency veterinarian,” cautions Dr. Nold.
Halloween-inspired names
For some, the love of Halloween runs deep. So deep that pet owners will name their pet with a nod to this trick-or-treat season. Some of the top Halloween-inspired pet names haunting the Trupanion database include:
Pumpkin
Ghost
Spooky
Chucky
Hannibal
Frankenstein
Goblin
About Trupanion
Trupanion is a leader in medical insurance for cats and dogs throughout the United States and Canada. For almost two decades, Trupanion has given pet owners peace of mind so they can focus on their pet's recovery, not financial stress. Trupanion is committed to providing pet owners with the highest value in pet medical insurance with unlimited payouts for the life of their pets. Trupanion is listed on NASDAQ under the symbol "TRUP". The company was founded in 2000 and is headquartered in Seattle, WA. Trupanion policies are issued, in the United States, by its wholly-owned insurance entity American Pet Insurance Company and, in Canada, by Omega General Insurance Company. For more information, please visit trupanion.com
Media
Michael Nank
michael.nank@trupanion.com
888-612-1138 ext. 3567