With Halloween just days away, pet health care advice has been given out to dog owners ahead of the weekend's festivities. According to pet health care charity North Shore Animal League America, it is more important than ever at this time of year to ensure pets can be identified.

The organisation pointed out that this is because doors will be opening and closing all night as trick or treaters come calling and dogs can escape. It also warned that many of the tasty snacks handed out on Halloween are poisonous to dogs, so it is important that they are kept away from food on the night.

"Scary parties, constant doorbell-ringing or too many strangers in your home can be stressful to your four-legged friends and even make them physically ill," added the pet health care specialist.

Kim Boatman of the Daily Cat recently pointed out that pet owners need to make sure their cat does not try to eat pumpkins on Halloween because the vegetables can carry bacteria.

Animal Friends are a specialist pet insurance company providing dog insurance and cat insurance to British pet owners since 1999 and we now offer horse insurance too.