Pumpkins ARE Safe For Your Pooch And Puss This Halloween

Pumpkin carvings and parties are in high gear in Southwest Florida this week as we count down to Halloween night. Inquisitive dogs and cats can't help but poke their noses into trick or treat bags, seasonal party foods, and of course those giant orange gourds. It's important to know what is OK for them to ingest and what could be a problem. Toxicology calls to veterinarians increase dramatically around this time of year.  Thankfully, pumpkins ARE safe for your pooch and puss this Halloween.

As long as it is cooked. Scooped straight from the gourd, pumpkin could be hard for your feline to digest. Watch the seeds as they can be a choking hazard. In addition, you might want to keep the lid on those pumpkin spiced latte cups. According to the experts at Trusted House Sitters both coffee and milk are not advisable for cats.

Same advice generally holds true for dogs. Canned, pureed and cooked pumpkin have healthful vitamins and minerals along with soluble fiber. Just be sure to limit quantities and don't add spices. No cinnamon or sugar either. Apples are also OK for dogs and cats. They contain lots of vitamins and fiber. When pureed, they are said to be particularly good for older pets.

However, gum is not good for your dog. Neither is chocolate. Dark chocolate is worse than milk and white chocolate. The same holds true for cats. Keep the chocolate for yourself and keep those candy bowls out of reach of the four legged animals.

Cats, dogs and pumpkins are OK together. They play nice, just stay away from the spice. Including pumpkin spice. Remember to be cautious of that candy not only this week but the entire holiday season. If you fear your pet has ingested something they should not have, call your vet immediately.

The number of Halloween events in Southwest Florida are too many to count. It's a fun time of the year and the kickoff to the rest of the holiday party season. If you are attending an event or throwing one, there are so many options when it comes to themes, décor and food. Almost too many. I am going to help narrow down the food part for your Halloween soirees whether they are for the adults, the kids, or both. If you are stuck, maybe you'll find some inspiration in these videos. Here five ways to boost your Halloween food game for TikTok Tuesday.

I love this crazy, creepy holiday and so does just about everyone else on social media. My TikTok feed has been full of Halloween related videos from costumes to décor and everything in between. If you have not decorated or carved your Halloween pumpkins yet, here are some great videos from last week that might help out.

All of those videos are great. However, the ones that have really been catching my eye are those dealing with food, fun appetizers, desserts and even entrees. They not only use seasonal ingredients but they also have added twists that will make your friends, family and kids say, "Cooool." I did not include the traditional "Mummy Dog" here. That is where you wrap a hot dog in strips of pastry dough to look like a mummy. I figured everyone already knows about this one.

You don't have to have a TikTok account to view the videos. Just scroll down and hit play from this post. All videos are office and kid friendly. There are some really easy ideas as well as some that take a little more effort. I've even thrown in a bonus video for parents at the end.

So this isn't acutally a pizza bite made with sweet pumpkin puree. It's a savory bite made into the shape of a pumpkin. It really is smart and creative. Not to mention it looks delicious. And you can customize the ingredients, using all of your favorites.
https://www.tiktok.com/@chefgenevieve/video/7278092989732506926?_r=1&_t=8gVLkKu07fa

There is something about eyeballs for Halloween that people love. And there is something about deviled eggs at a party. If you have any Easter Egg dye left over, pull it out for these. I've seen this done with blue food coloring for the eyes and a slice of olive in the middle for the iris. It's a little more authentic than this green. However, this gives you the idea.

These cheesy eyeballs are so versatile. You can make them and put them on a plate for a snack, add them to a cheese and charcuterie board, or do what this guy did. He made a bouquet of skewerd goodies for a Halloween gathering. It takes a little effort but the outcome looks worth it.
https://www.tiktok.com/@nikkalcaraz/video/7023058111254564102?_r=1&_t=8gVOIPlnluN

Speaking of cheese and charcuterie boards, this is how you make one for Halloween. All you need are a couple of pieces from a skeleton and a long wooden board to take it over the top. This is so easy, so cute, and so delicious. You can really get creative with this as a base. Good for any Halloween party.
https://www.tiktok.com/@foodplattermum/video/7281539798639185154?_r=1&_t=8gVNvzmMKMN

I know there are plenty of sweets to go around for Halloween. However, I have to include one dessert. Especially one that has a bit of savory and is so cool looking on your table.

Quesadias are quick, easy and kid friendly. If you struggle with getting the little ones to eat before a Halloween event, perhaps this will help.