Shelby TatomirIt’s the spooky time of year! Halloween is right around the corner and us paw-rents have thought of everything — our pet’s perfect costume, our matching outfit, and the best playlist for the night. What more could we need? Well, if you’ve been around the block before with a pet on Halloween night, you’ll know there are a few risks that the holiday poses to our furry friends, so we compiled a list of Halloween safety tips for pets.
Once trick-or-treating has begun, the jack-o-lanterns are flying, the doorbell is ringing, Fido and Mittens might get a little out of control. Here are our expert tips for keeping your pets safe on Halloween.
1. Tame the commotion when trick-or-treaters ring the doorbell.
By nature, dogs are creatures of habit. They enjoy their schedules and routine. When things like a holiday change up how many humans and family members are around, they can notice the difference and become on edge.
With the door opening and closing much more than usual, there’s an increased risk that your cat or dog may bolt. Julie Bank, president and CEO of the Pasadena Humane Society in California, said, “If you usually have few visitors and then [on Halloween] constantly open and close your front door, there’s no guarantee they won’t run out. That constant door opening and closing is completely different from their routine.”
The solution? Put a baby gate at your front door. Blocking the bottom half of the door with a gate allows you and your family to interact with the trick-or-treaters (or Halloween pranksters) while keeping everyone else safely inside.
If you are still worried about one of your pet’s doing a Houdini, get them microchipped with proper identification. If your pet already has a microchip, make sure the contact information is up-to-date along with the info on their id tags. You don’t want a lost pet on your hands!
2. Crazy Halloween costumes can add risk
The Pasadena Humane Society recommends having our pets wear costumes because it’s a wonderful way to show them they’re part of the family. “Just as you go out of your way to choose the best costumes for your children, you should go out of your way to choose the best costume for your pet.”
Remember that this means it should be pet-safe. No buttons, zippers, or toxic substances. It’s likely your pet will find a minute or two away from you while wearing their costume, so make sure there are no elements they can bite at or remove on their own. A simple festive bandana is always cute.
Fit is equally important. Our pets want to be comfortable in their costumes just like we do!
3. Keep Halloween candy and Halloween decorations out of your pet’s reach.
Most families are familiar with how chocolate, sugar-free candies, and xylitol (an artificial sweetener sometimes labeled as “birch sugar“) are poisonous to dogs and cats.
In addition to chocolate poisoning, candy wrappers pose an equal amount of risk to our pets’ safety on Halloween. They could pose a choking hazard or, if swallowed, they can cause gastrointestinal upset or intestinal blockage.
Glow sticks are a popular Halloween accessory and cats especially love them. The Pet Poison Helpline reported nearly 80 calls concerning pets that had punctured glow sticks or glow jewelry one Halloween. 70 percent of the calls involved cats.
“While not usually life-threatening,” they write, “their contents can cause pain and irritation in the mouth, as well as profuse drooling and foaming at the mouth.”
4. Keep pets away from jack-o-lanterns.
Pet owners need to be careful around lit pumpkins and lit candles as well. Keep them away from pets, electrical cords, and anything else that could be a fire hazard.
5. Nervous pet? Keep them occupied with a puzzle.
Not every pet cares for visitors. Some might be nervous, anxious, or scared by the increased activity at the door. Help keep them calm by giving them a long-lasting dog puzzle in a quiet room of the home, or a chew toy to gnaw on in their calming dog bed.
Adding treats that both entice your pet and provide a healthy dose of nutrients go best with our puzzles (no high blood sugar here). Wholesome Pride Pet treats, our sister brand, creates 100% natural, single- and limited-ingredient treats for dogs that are rewarding and healthy. Your pup can partake in a Halloween treat for themselves with our pumpkin slices!
Set Your Pets Up For Success This Halloween
Help your pets navigate Halloween safely this year. Store candy in high-up concealed spots that they can’t get to. Test out pet costumes beforehand to ensure they fit well and don’t have any dangerous materials or elements.
Additionally, challenge your dog or cat with the mental stimulation of treat puzzles! Break one out before the trick-or-treaters get there on the big night.
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