这个万圣节给你的宠物打扮一下？兽医警告三思而后行

随着恐怖季节的临近，服装非常受欢迎。虽然把你的宠物变成一只漂亮的小狗可能看起来很有趣，但 PDSA（为有需要的宠物而设的兽医慈善机构）

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.

随着恐怖季节的临近，许多宠物主人可能会考虑为他们毛茸茸的朋友打扮一下迎接万圣节。然而，PDSA（为有需要的宠物提供服务的兽医慈善机构）建议主人三思，着装对宠物健康和幸福的影响。

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.

虽然在万圣节装扮成妖精和食尸鬼对人类来说可能很有趣，但宠物却不像我们那么热情。服装会给我们毛茸茸的朋友带来严重的不适和压力——看似完全无辜的季节性乐趣可能会对他们的健康有害。

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.

有些服装可能更像是一种恶作剧，而不是一种享受，因为它会阻止你的宠物走路、梳理毛发，甚至无法舒适地去洗手间。宠物衣服通常由厚材料制成，这也可能导致您的宠物过热，因为它们在覆盖多层织物时无法有效调节体温。更糟糕的是，如果衣服缠结或被东西缠住，就有可能被小零件窒息或受伤。

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.

想象一下，当你没有要求的时候，就像木乃伊一样被包裹起来！打扮对于宠物来说并不自然，尤其是对于猫来说，当它们被迫穿上衣服时会感到特别痛苦。我们的宠物会通过他们的肢体语言和行为让我们知道他们的感受。重要的是要考虑他们想告诉你什么以及具体情况，以确保你毛茸茸的朋友快乐。

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.

如果你的猫试图躲藏、偷偷地趴在地上、发出不寻常的声音，甚至表现出攻击性的迹象，这可能是它们表达不舒服的方式。

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.

与此同时，狗可能会通过舔嘴唇、不累时打哈欠、不暖或不运动时气喘吁吁等行为来表现出压力。它们可能会变得僵硬或紧张，耳朵向后压，尾巴夹在两腿之间。他们可能会尝试把目光移开，甚至离开你正在做的事情。忽视这些迹象可能会让你的狗狗朋友在最后一次试图表达它们不舒服的时候诉诸攻击行为。

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.

狗在很大程度上依赖肢体语言来相互交流，而服装可能会掩盖这些信号，因为它会隐藏它们，使其无法表现出自然行为，从而导致混乱甚至攻击性的遭遇。如果您的狗感到压力，可能会改变它们在其他宠物面前的行为方式，从而可能导致误解或冲突。

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.

虽然化装舞会对我们来说可能很有趣，但重要的是要记住我们的宠物不是玩具或万圣节派对道具。以取笑他们或让他们处于不舒服的境地的方式着装并不是一件体贴的事情。我们的宠物本来就很可爱，还有其他方法可以让它们参与这个万圣节，例如依偎在沙发上一起度过一个恐怖的电影之夜。

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，有时宠物衣服也是有好处的。虽然并非所有的狗狗都需要一件，但一件舒适的冬季外套可以帮助狗狗在寒冷的天气中保持温暖，尤其是那些皮毛薄或患有某些疾病的狗狗。有时，可以使用特殊的靴子来保护幼犬的爪子，特别是当它们的脚垫容易被割伤和擦伤或正在从爪子受伤中恢复时。

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.

如果您的宠物愿意穿一件合身的手术背心，可以保护正在愈合的伤口，避免术后过度舔舐。治疗上衣有时可以与其他助手一起使用，以减轻焦虑和压力，而高可见度夹克可以帮助确保宠物在黑暗的冬季散步时保持可见和安全。

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!

虽然给宠物打扮可能很诱人，但优先考虑它们的舒适、安全和尊严至关重要。如果服装没有达到必要的目的，最好让您的宠物享受自然的外观，不受服装的限制。毕竟，它们已经是你的小南瓜了！