🩺 Candy Up High for the Dog, Costume Contacts Left on the Shelf and a Medicare Help Line Running Behind: Your Healthy Valley Report

Or: Keep the Chocolate Away From Rover, Skip the Vampire Eyes, Don’t Wait Till December to Call About Medicare and Know Which Door to Knock On in Dunlap

By Thomas Seest, Dunlap.Today · Thursday, October 29, 2026

Good Thursday, neighbors. It’s another sunny one, headed for the mid-70s, with patchy fog tonight and early tomorrow. So pour a second cup, pull the rocker into the sun and let’s tidy up a few things before Halloween comes calling on Saturday.

Here’s what’s on the porch today. With trick-or-treat bags coming home this weekend, pet poison experts say chocolate and sugar-free candy made with xylitol are the big worries for dogs, so keep the candy up high. The FDA has a plain warning for anybody eyeing “cat eye” or colored costume contact lenses: no prescription, no lenses. Tennessee’s free Medicare counselors say they’re swamped this year, with callbacks taking 7 to 10 business days, so call early. Medicare’s “Extra Help” program can also lower 2027 drug costs for folks on tighter budgets. And we’ve put together a quick map of where to go for care in Dunlap, including one Friday detail worth remembering.

⏱️ What this means for you in 30 seconds

• Halloween candy: put it up high or in a closed container. Chocolate and sugar-free candy with xylitol are dangerous for dogs.
• Pet ate something? Call your vet, ASPCA Poison Control at 888-426-4435 or Pet Poison Helpline at 855-764-7661 (both 24/7; a fee may apply).
• Costume contacts: skip them unless an eye doctor prescribed them. Red, painful eyes? Take lenses out and see an eye doctor.
• Medicare questions? TN SHIP (1-877-801-0044) is running 7 to 10 business days behind. Call this week, not in December. The deadline is Monday, Dec. 7.
• Remember: the lung CT bus is at Dunlap Walmart tomorrow (Friday), 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. (423-495-5864), and Erlanger’s Dunlap primary care office closes at 11 a.m. on Fridays.

🐾 Treats for the Kids, Not the Dog: Keep Halloween Candy Up High

This is national pet-safety advice, not a local alert. Halloween falls on Saturday this year, and candy tends to sit around in bowls and bags for days afterward. ASPCA Poison Control says chocolate in all forms, especially dark or baking chocolate, can be very dangerous for cats and dogs, and sugar-free candies with the sweetener xylitol can cause serious problems in pets. Pet Poison Helpline says chocolate has been its most common call for more than a decade, with dogs making up about 95% of those calls, and calls go up the week of Halloween.

Xylitol is the sneaky one. Pet Poison Helpline says it can turn up in sugar-free gum and mints, “keto” or diabetic-friendly candy, and some protein bars, and on labels it may be called “birch sugar,” “birch extract” or “wood sugar.” In dogs it can cause a sudden drop in blood sugar. They also list raisins (including chocolate-covered ones), wrappers and lollipop sticks, and glow sticks (mostly a cat problem) as Halloween hazards. The FDA adds that pets can get their heads stuck in thin snack and chip bags, so toss empty bags in a covered trash can.

What it means for you: Think of the candy bowl like the feed room on a farm. You don’t leave that door open just because the goats are being polite today. Put candy on a high shelf or in a lidded tin, ask the grandkids to keep their stash off the floor and out of the dog’s reach, and keep the dog in a quiet room while trick-or-treaters come to the door. If your pet gets into something, don’t make it throw up unless a vet tells you to. Keep the wrapper, guess how much is missing, and call your vet, ASPCA Poison Control (888-426-4435) or Pet Poison Helpline (855-764-7661). Both answer around the clock, and both say a consultation fee may apply.

👉 Read more (ASPCA: Halloween safety tips) · Pet Poison Helpline: Halloween candy danger chart · FDA: Potentially dangerous items for your pet

👁️ Cat Eyes Belong on Cats: The FDA’s Word on Costume Contact Lenses

Colored and “special effect” contact lenses show up every October: cat eyes, vampire eyes, glowing eyes. The FDA’s message is clear: all contact lenses must be prescribed by a doctor, including decorative ones. Lenses sold without a prescription are illegal, and the FDA says never to buy them from a street vendor, beauty supply store, flea market, novelty store, Halloween store or unknown online seller.

The FDA lists the risks of lenses that don’t fit or aren’t cared for: a scratch on the surface of the eye, allergic reactions, infection, decreased vision and, in serious cases, blindness. Warning signs of an infection include redness, eye pain that doesn’t go away and blurry or decreased vision. The FDA also says never share contact lenses, and if you’ve never worn contacts before, Halloween shouldn’t be the first time.

What it means for you: You wouldn’t borrow somebody else’s work boots for a long day in the field, because if they don’t fit, you pay for it later. Eyes are the same, only more precious. Face paint, a hat or a pair of costume glasses gets the look without the risk. If someone in the house already tried lenses and now has red, sore or weepy eyes, the FDA says to take the lenses out and see an optometrist or ophthalmologist right away.

👉 Read more (FDA: Decorative contact lenses for Halloween and more) · FDA: Halloween safety tips

📞 Medicare Helpers Are Swamped, So Call Early (and Ask About “Extra Help”)

Here’s a genuine update for Medicare folks. The Tennessee State Health Insurance Assistance Program (TN SHIP), the free, unbiased counselors who help people compare Medicare plans, posted a notice saying that because of “the significant number of changes to Medicare plans for 2027,” they’re getting an unusually high number of requests. In-person enrollment-season appointments are full, and callbacks are taking about 7 to 10 business days. For a drug plan comparison right away, TN SHIP suggests calling 1-800-MEDICARE (1-800-633-4227). Open enrollment ends Monday, Dec. 7.

While you’re thinking about drug costs, Medicare.gov explains “Extra Help,” a program for people with limited income and resources. For 2026, the limits are $23,940 in income and $18,090 in resources for one person, or $32,460 and $36,100 for a married couple. Some people get it automatically: those with full Medicaid, help from a Medicare Savings Program or SSI. Others can apply through Social Security, and SHIP can help for free. For 2027, Medicare.gov lists Extra Help costs as a $0 plan premium and $0 deductible, up to $5.80 for a generic and up to $14.40 for a brand-name drug, and $0 per covered drug once total drug costs reach $2,400.

What it means for you: It’s like calling the feed store before the first cold snap. Everybody calls the same week, so the early birds get served first. If you want TN SHIP’s help, call or email this week (1-877-801-0044, dda.ship@tn.gov), and expect a callback, not an instant answer. Gather your Medicare card and a list of your medicines while you wait. If money for prescriptions is tight, ask about Extra Help. You can reapply any time your income changes.

👉 Read more (TN SHIP notice and contact info) · Medicare.gov: Help with drug costs (Extra Help)

🏥 Three Doors on Rankin Avenue: Where to Go for Care in Dunlap

When you’re not feeling well, the hardest part can be deciding where to go. Here’s a quick map of what’s right here in Dunlap, worth taping inside a kitchen cabinet:

• Erlanger Sequatchie Valley Emergency Department, 16931 Rankin Ave., 423-949-2000: open 24 hours a day, every day for children and adults, with radiology and a 24/7 lab on site.
• Erlanger Primary Care – Sequatchie Valley, same address, 423-949-2801: open Monday through Thursday, 8:30 a.m. to 4 p.m., and Friday, 8:30 to 11 a.m. A weekly Erlanger cardiology clinic also sees patients there.
• Sequatchie County Health Department, 16939 Rankin Ave., behind the Erlanger emergency center, (423) 949-3619: flu shots and other public health services through the Tennessee Department of Health.

No regular doctor? UTC’s free MobileMOC clinic serves adults 18 and older with or without insurance. Its November calendar still says “coming soon” as of today, so call 423-425-1657 to ask about upcoming stops in our counties.

What it means for you: It’s like knowing which barn holds the hay and which holds the tractor before the storm comes. Chest pain, stroke signs, trouble breathing or a bad injury? Call 911 or go to the emergency department. A lingering cough, a prescription question or a checkup? Call your primary care office, and remember that Erlanger’s Dunlap office closes at 11 a.m. on Fridays, so call early if something’s been nagging you before the weekend.

👉 Read more (Erlanger Sequatchie Valley services and hours) · UTC MobileMOC free clinic calendar

📅 This Week’s Sticky Notes (all times Central unless noted)

• Fri., Oct. 30: The CHI Memorial mobile lung CT bus will be at Walmart, 16773 Rankin Ave., Dunlap, from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. (still on the schedule as of today). Call ahead: 423-495-5864. The NWS calls for patchy fog before 9 a.m., so take it slow on the early drive.
• Sat., Oct. 31: Halloween. The NWS forecast for Dunlap calls for mostly cloudy skies, a high near 73, and a chance of showers holding off until after 1 a.m. Sunday. Candy up high, flashlights handy.
• Sun., Nov. 1, 2 a.m.: Clocks fall back an hour. Showers likely Sunday, mainly before 1 p.m. (60% chance). November health months begin, and HealthCare.gov open enrollment opens.
• Recall check: Another quiet week for our kitchens. The FDA’s newest food recalls (posted Oct. 27) were sold in New Jersey, New York, Pennsylvania and Texas, and the latest USDA beef jerky recall covers seven Midwest states, not Tennessee.
• Early November: MobileMOC’s November calendar is still “coming soon.” Call 423-425-1657.
• Fri., Nov. 13: The Dunlap blood drive honoring Bella Cooper, 9 a.m. to 2 p.m., Citizens Tri-County Bank, 15699 Rankin Ave.
• Mon., Dec. 7: Medicare open enrollment ends. TN SHIP: 1-877-801-0044. 1-800-MEDICARE: 1-800-633-4227.

✅ Your Healthy Valley Checklist

• ☐ Pick a high shelf or lidded tin for Halloween candy before Saturday.
• ☐ Check sugar-free gum, mints and “keto” treats for xylitol or birch sugar, and keep them away from the dog.
• ☐ Save 888-426-4435 (ASPCA) or 855-764-7661 (Pet Poison Helpline) in your phone, next to your vet’s number.
• ☐ Skip costume contact lenses unless an eye doctor prescribed them.
• ☐ On Medicare and want free help? Call TN SHIP this week at 1-877-801-0044, and expect a callback.
• ☐ Tight on prescription money? Ask about Medicare’s Extra Help.
• ☐ Tape the Rankin Avenue phone numbers inside a cabinet door: ER 423-949-2000, primary care 423-949-2801, health department 423-949-3619.
• ☐ If you qualify, call 423-495-5864 about tomorrow’s lung CT bus in Dunlap.

Practical rule: if it’s sweet, put it up high; if it goes in your eye, get a prescription; and if a deadline’s coming, make the call before everybody else does.

This article is general information, not medical or veterinary advice. Talk with your doctor, pharmacist, veterinarian or health department about your own situation. In an emergency, call 911.

— Dunlap.Today

📚 Plain-English Health Glossary

• Xylitol: A sugar substitute found in some sugar-free gum, mints, candy and baked goods. It’s safe for people but dangerous for dogs. Labels may call it birch sugar or wood sugar.
• Theobromine: A natural stimulant in chocolate. Pets process it much more slowly than people do, and darker chocolate has more of it.
• Decorative contact lenses: Lenses that change how your eyes look (color, cat eyes and so on). They’re medical devices and still need a prescription.
• Corneal abrasion: A scratch on the clear front surface of the eye.
• TN SHIP: Tennessee’s State Health Insurance Assistance Program, free and unbiased Medicare counseling that doesn’t sell insurance.
• Extra Help: A Medicare program that lowers drug plan premiums, deductibles and copays for people with limited income and resources.
• Medicare Savings Program: A state program that helps pay some Medicare costs, like the Part B premium, for people with limited income.
• Primary care: Your everyday doctor’s office for checkups, ongoing conditions and health questions that aren’t emergencies.

❓ Frequently Asked Questions

My dog ate a fun-size candy bar. Is that an emergency?

It depends on the kind of chocolate, how much and your dog’s size. Pet Poison Helpline says there’s no single “safe” number of fun-size bars, and darker chocolate is more concerning. Signs can take hours to show up, so call your vet or a pet poison line right away, even if your dog seems fine. Don’t make your dog throw up unless a vet tells you to.

Is xylitol dangerous for cats too?

Pet Poison Helpline says cats don’t appear to be affected by xylitol the way dogs are. Chocolate is still toxic to cats, though, and glow sticks, ribbon and lilies in fall bouquets are bigger cat worries.

Can I buy colored contacts online if they don’t change my vision?

Only with a prescription. The FDA says all contact lenses, including decorative ones, must be prescribed, and any seller must ask for and verify your prescription. If a seller doesn’t ask, the FDA says they’re breaking federal law.

TN SHIP hasn’t called me back. What should I do?

TN SHIP says callbacks are taking about 7 to 10 business days. If you need a drug plan comparison right away, it suggests calling 1-800-MEDICARE (1-800-633-4227). Open enrollment runs through Monday, Dec. 7, so there’s still time.

How do I know if I already get Extra Help?

Medicare.gov says people who get full Medicaid, a Medicare Savings Program or SSI qualify for Extra Help automatically. If you’re not sure, call 1-800-MEDICARE (1-800-633-4227) or TN SHIP and ask.

Should I go to the emergency department or call my doctor?

For emergencies like chest pain, stroke signs, trouble breathing or a serious injury, call 911 or go to the emergency department. For a lingering problem, a medicine question or a checkup, call your primary care office first.

🔗 Other Resources

• ASPCA Poison Control: 888-426-4435 (24/7; a fee may apply)
• Pet Poison Helpline: Halloween pet safety: 855-764-7661 (24/7; a fee applies)
• FDA: Potentially dangerous items for your pet
• FDA: Decorative contact lenses for Halloween and more
• FDA: Halloween safety tips for costumes, candy and contacts
• TN SHIP free Medicare counseling: 1-877-801-0044, dda.ship@tn.gov
• Medicare.gov: Help with drug costs (Extra Help): 1-800-633-4227
• Erlanger Sequatchie Valley, Dunlap: ER 423-949-2000, primary care 423-949-2801
• UTC MobileMOC free clinic calendar: 423-425-1657
• CHI Memorial mobile lung screening: 423-495-5864
• National Weather Service forecast for Dunlap
• FDA recalls and safety alerts
• Sequatchie County Health Department: 16939 Rankin Ave., Dunlap, (423) 949-3619

🌻 A Sweet, Safe Weekend for Everybody on the Porch

None of this is cause for worry. It’s just a few easy moves for a good weekend: one high shelf for the candy, one “no thanks” to costume contacts, one early phone call about Medicare and one list of phone numbers taped where you’ll find it. Do one today, then pass this along to a neighbor with a dog or a Medicare card, which is most of us.

Read Dunlap.Today for more calm, clear news from the Sequatchie Valley, and find local health providers, pharmacies, vets and services on Dunlap.Directory.