Creepy Critters
These nocturnal mammals use echolocation to navigate and are often mistaken for blind
What are bats?
Both vets and vampires deal with this red fluid essential for life — but only one studies it to save lives, not take them.
What is blood?
This Halloween favorite might be a treat for humans, but it’s toxic to dogs and cats due to theobromine.
What is chocolate? 🍫
This nocturnal mammal with glowing eyes is often linked to haunted houses and legends, and it uses echolocation to hunt insects.
What is an owl? 🦉
Children go door-to-door in costumes saying this phrase to get candy.
What is “Trick or Treat”?
This black bird is often associated with bad omens but is actually one of the most intelligent animals, capable of tool use and problem-solving.
What is a crow (or raven)?
They both use sharp instruments to make a puncture — one uses a syringe, the other uses fangs.
What is drawing blood?
A witch might toss this aromatic bulb into her potion, but for pets, it can cause hemolytic anemia.
What is garlic (or onion)? 🧄
This undead creature from folklore rises from the grave and is often “cured” only by destroying the brain.
What is a zombie?
These carved vegetables, often lit from within by a candle, were originally turnips in Europe before pumpkins became popular.
What are jack-o’-lanterns? 🎃
This “creepy” reptile is often said to dislocate its jaw to swallow prey, but it actually uses a highly flexible quadrate bone and unfused mandibular symphysis to expand its gape.
What is a snake?
Both vets and vampires rely on this molecule — it binds oxygen in red blood cells and gives blood its crimson color.
What is hemoglobin?
These small fruits can cause kidney failure in dogs — no matter how magical they seem.
What are grapes (or raisins)? 🍇
In some myths, this slithering creature is considered a familiar to witches and is associated with potions and poisons.
What is a snake?
On this night, it is said that the boundary between the living and the dead is thinnest, allowing spirits to roam.
What is Halloween / All Hallows’ Eve?
This misunderstood bird was once thought to suck blood from livestock, but it’s really after the insects that feed on them.
What is a vampire bat?
Both vets and vampires need to be careful about this bloodborne pathogen — it can be transmitted through bites or transfusions and affects nearly every mammal species.
What is rabies?
This common household pain reliever can be deadly to cats and dogs, as they lack the enzyme to safely metabolize it.
What is acetaminophen (Tylenol)? 🐈
This creepy-looking amphibian hops silently at night, has warty skin, and has long been associated with witches’ brews.
What is a toad? 🐸
Wearing these on Halloween has roots in an ancient practice meant to disguise oneself from evil spirits.
What are costumes/masks?
This hardy insect can live for days without its head due to its open circulatory system and ability to breathe through spiracles.
What is a cockroach?
Unlike vampires, vets can use this diagnostic test to evaluate red and white blood cells, platelets, and plasma in living patients.
What is a complete blood count (CBC)?
This common “winter holiday” plant contains insoluble calcium oxalate crystals that can irritate the mouth, throat, and stomach if ingested by cats or dogs.
What is poinsettia? 🌿
Famous in literature and movies, this creature drinks blood and can only be stopped by a stake through the heart or sunlight.
What is a vampire? 🩸
This traditional Halloween game, with origins in Celtic harvest festivals, involves trying to catch a floating fruit with the teeth.
What is bobbing for apples? 🍎