While he is the first to admit a video of a pet dressed in a costume can result in fits of laughter, Camvet owner Gavin Rippon says there can be some potential hazardous side effects to the craze.
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“We really need to think and impose the same precautions as we would for children,” he said.
Gavin said while it might be fun to dress them in a costume for a short period of time, pets should be supervised and not left at home alone.
“It’s possible for animals to do themselves an injury if they get their limbs stuck, or if the clothing gets caught on an object it might lead to choking,” he said.
“Small pieces of an item of clothing can be chewed, swallowed and potentially get stuck in the intestine.”
The RSPCA recommends that in Australia we follow some simple guidelines when it comes to costumes that cover the body.
“The body costumes, which are made of synthetic fibres such as polyester, can cause your pet to warm up very quickly and become uncomfortable,” the organisation posted on its website.
“In the worst of cases, your pet could become overheated and will start to show signs of heat stroke such as vomiting, distress, and collapse.
“Therefore, it’s important that pets are not made to wear costumes when the weather is hot, for longer periods of time or if your pet appears uncomfortable.”
Gavin said people tend to apply a human thought process when it comes to keeping their pets warm during winter.
“They think if they’re cold then their pet must be too,” he said.
Some people buy coats or vests for their pets to wear but Gavin said for a lot of breeds this isn’t necessary.
“What people might not realise is that majority of species have natural insulation, by having fur on the outside of their body.
“Animals can overheat.
“They don’t feel the cold in the same way that humans would.”
Gavin said people need to supervise their animals, especially if they are near an open fire or a heater.
“Synthetic fibres do pose a fire hazard,” he said.
Gavin said novelty items can be fun but as animals can’t speak it can be difficult to detect any signs of distress.
“There are obvious signs such as when a dog is jumping around a lot and shaking its head to try and get the items off.”
“Another sign might be if an animal, which is normally quite active just stands completely still.”
Gavin said it’s all fun and games until someone gets hurt.
While Gavin hasn’t treated any animals with novelty costume related injuries, he said it could happen.