Halloween is meant to be a spooky time – but it shouldn’t be scary for your pet. Odd noises, new smells and strangers in costume coming to the door can quickly and easily overwhelm your dog or cat. Follow these helpful tips to keep your pets safe and happy this Halloween season!
Keep the treats out of reach
- Keep the bowl of candy away from your pets and reserved for the trick-or-treaters. Candy in general, but especially chocolate, can be very dangerous for dogs and cats. If your pet does ingest something toxic, contact your veterinarian as soon as possible.
- Feel free to have some pet-appropriate treats on-hand for your lil guy!
Ensure your décor is not a hazard to your pet.
- Although it may look tasty, the decorative corn and pumpkins are not so good for our pets’ stomachs if they nibble on them. They are relatively nontoxic but they can produce some upset stomachs.
- Keep all wires and cords from electric lights and decorations out of the reach of your pets! If chewed, your pet could suffer from cuts or burns, or receive a possibly life-threatening electrical shock.
- Be cautious of open flames. A carved pumpkin looks great lit up at night, but they can easily get knocked over by your pets and cause a fire! Curious kittens are the most at risk for getting burned or singed by candle flames, so be extra careful when furry friends are present.
Be cautious with pet costumes
- Just because you think your dog would look great as a pumpkin, doesn’t mean he would like it. Be conscientious of how your pet is feeling about wearing a costume as they may cause undue stress to your pets.
- If you do dress your pet in costume, make sure it is safe and not annoying for your pet. There shouldn’t be any restrictions to the animal’s movement or hearing and it shouldn’t interfere with their ability to breathe, bark or meow.
- Try on the costumes before the big night so that you can be sure your pet won’t be stressed. If your pet does seem stressed or shows abnormal behavior, sport a festive bandana instead!
Keep your pet inside on the big night
- Once the big night arrives, if your pet isn’t the most social dog, it might be a good idea to keep them in a separate room. Some costumes can be frightening to our pets!
- If you do keep your pets around while the festivities are taking place, ensure that your cat or dog doesn’t dart outside. And as always, be sure they have proper identification.
From all of us here at Pet Pros, we wish you and your pets a happy and safe Halloween!
