今年萬聖節會幫你的寵物打扮一下？獸醫警告三思而後行

隨著恐怖季節的臨近，服裝非常受歡迎。雖然把你的寵物變成一隻漂亮的小狗可能看起來很有趣，但 PDSA（為有需要的寵物而設的獸醫慈善機構）

As spooky season approaches, many pet owners might be considering dressing up their furry friends for Halloween. However, PDSA, the vet charity for pets in need, is advising owners to think twice about the impact dressing up will have on their pet's health and happiness.

隨著恐怖季節的臨近，許多寵物主人可能會考慮為他們毛茸茸的朋友打扮一下迎接萬聖節。然而，PDSA（為有需要的寵物提供服務的獸醫慈善機構）建議主人三思，服裝對寵物健康和幸福的影響。

While dressing up as goblins and ghouls for Halloween might be fun for humans, pets don't share our enthusiasm. Costumes can cause significant discomfort and stress for our furry friends - what may seem like a completely innocent bit of seasonal fun can be detrimental to their health.

雖然在萬聖節裝扮成妖精和食屍鬼對人類來說可能很有趣，但寵物卻不像我們那麼熱情。服裝會給我們毛茸茸的朋友帶來嚴重的不適和壓力——看似完全無辜的季節性樂趣可能會對他們的健康有害。

Some costumes can be more of a trick than a treat by preventing your pet from walking, grooming, or even going to the bathroom comfortably. Pet clothing is often made from thick materials which may also cause your pet to overheat, as they can't regulate their body temperature as effectively when covered in layers of fabric. Worse yet, there’s a risk of choking on small parts, or injury if the outfit gets tangled or caught on something.

有些服裝可能更像是一種惡作劇，而不是一種享受，因為它會阻止你的寵物走路、梳理毛髮，甚至無法舒適地去洗手間。寵物衣服通常由厚材料製成，這也可能導致您的寵物過熱，因為它們在覆蓋多層織物時無法有效調節體溫。更糟的是，如果衣服纏結或被東西纏住，就有可能被小零件窒息或受傷。

Imagine being wrapped up like a mummy when you didn’t ask for it! Dressing up doesn't come naturally to pets, especially for cats, who can feel particularly distressed when forced into an outfit. Our pets will let us know through how they are feeling with their body language and behaviour. It’s important to consider what they’re trying to tell you and the situation to ensure that your furry friend is happy.

想像一下，當你沒有要求的時候，就像木乃伊一樣被包裹起來！打扮對寵物來說並不自然，尤其是對貓來說，當它們被迫穿上衣服時會感到特別痛苦。我們的寵物會透過他們的肢體語言和行為讓我們知道他們的感受。重要的是要考慮他們想告訴你什麼以及當時的情況，以確保你毛茸茸的朋友高興。

If your cat is trying to hide, slinking low to the ground, making unusual vocalizations or even showing signs of aggression, it may be their way of saying that they are uncomfortable.

如果你的貓試圖躲藏、偷偷地趴在地上、發出不尋常的聲音，甚至表現出攻擊性的跡象，這可能是它們表達不舒服的方式。

Meanwhile, dogs might exhibit stress through behaviours like lip licking, yawning when they are not tired, or panting when they aren’t warm or exercising. They may become stiff or tense with ears pinned back and a tail tucked between their legs. They may try and look away, or even get away from what you are doing. Ignoring these signs could leave your canine friend resorting to aggression in a last attempt to communicate that they are not comfortable.

同時，狗狗可能會透過舔嘴​​唇、不累時打哈欠、不暖或不運動時氣喘吁籲等行為來表現出壓力。它們可能會變得僵硬或緊張，耳朵向後壓，尾巴夾在兩腿之間。他們可能會嘗試把目光移開，甚至離開你正在做的事情。忽視這些跡象可能會讓你的狗狗朋友在最後一次試圖表達它們不舒服的時候訴諸攻擊行為。

Dogs rely heavily on body language to communicate with each other, and a costume can obscure these signals as it hides them from showing their natural behaviours, leading to confusion or even aggressive encounters. If your dog is feeling stressed, it may change how they behave around other pets, potentially leading to misunderstandings or conflicts.

狗在很大程度上依賴肢體語言來相互交流，而服裝可能會掩蓋這些信號，因為它會隱藏它們，使其無法表現出自然行為，從而導致混亂甚至攻擊性的遭遇。如果您的狗感到壓力，可能會改變它們在其他寵物面前的行為方式，這可能導致誤解或衝突。

While fancy dress may be fun for us, it's important to remember that our pets aren’t toys or a Halloween party prop. Dressing them in a way that makes fun of them or puts them in an uncomfortable position is just not a considerate thing to do. Our pets are adorable just as they are, and there are other ways to get them involved this Halloween, such as a snuggling up on the sofa for a spooky movie night together.

雖然化裝舞會對我們來說可能很有趣，但重要的是要記住我們的寵物不是玩具或萬聖節派對道具。以取笑他們或讓他們處於不舒服的境地的方式穿著並不是一件體貼的事情。我們的寵物本來就很可愛，還有其他方法可以讓它們參與這個萬聖節，例如依偎在沙發上一起度過一個恐怖的電影之夜。

However, there are times when pet clothing can be beneficial. Though not all pooches need one, a cosy winter coat can help keep a dog warm in cold weather, especially those with thin fur or certain medical conditions. Occasionally, special boots can be used to protect your pup’s paws, especially if they are prone to cuts and scrapes on their pads or are recovering from a paw injury.

然而，有時寵物衣服也是有好處的。雖然並非所有的狗狗都需要一件，但一件舒適的冬季外套可以幫助狗狗在寒冷的天氣中保持溫暖，尤其是那些皮毛薄或患有某些疾病的狗狗。有時，可以使用特殊的靴子來保護幼犬的爪子，特別是當它們的腳墊容易被割傷和擦傷或正在從爪子受傷中恢復時。

If your pet is happy to wear one, a well-fitted surgical vest can protect healing wounds from excessive licking post-operation. Therapy tops can sometimes be used in addition to other aides to reduce anxiety and stress, while hi-vis jackets can help ensure pets remain visible and safe on dark winter walks.

如果您的寵物願意穿著合身的手術背心，可以保護正在癒合的傷口，避免手術後過度舔舐。治療上衣有時可以與其他助手一起使用，以減輕焦慮和壓力，而高可見度夾克可以幫助確保寵物在黑暗的冬季散步時保持可見和安全。

While dressing up pets may be tempting, it's crucial to prioritise their comfort, safety, and dignity. If the clothing isn’t serving a necessary purpose, it's best to let your pet enjoy their natural look, free from the constraints of a costume. After all, they’re already your little pumpkin just the way they are!

雖然為寵物打扮可能很誘人，但優先考慮它們的舒適、安全和尊嚴至關重要。如果服裝沒有達到必要的目的，最好讓您的寵物享受自然的外觀，不受服裝的限制。畢竟，它們已經是你的小南瓜了！