Halloween is fun for people as they celebrate fall, make their homes spooky, and dress up in their favorite costumes. However, cats and dogs on Halloween can become very stressed by the unusual sights, sounds, and smells of the holiday.
It is not only scary but also dangerous for family pets. Many candies can be toxic to animals, pet costumes can range from unpleasant to dangerous, and ornaments can tempt pets and expose them to harmful things.
Therefore, a little extra precaution is required to safely celebrate this special day with your pet. Here are some Halloween safety tips for pets.
6 Halloween Pet Safety Tips
1. Keep candy and sweets out of reach
Bowls of this tempting candy seem to be everywhere this time of year, but they can be dangerous for pets.
Although all candy and sweet treats are prohibited for pets, two types of candy are particularly dangerous:
sugar free candy
Perhaps the biggest concern comes from sugar-free candies containing xylitol. Even small amounts of xylitol can be fatal to dogs and cats. Always keep products containing xylitol out of reach of animals.
If you think your dog may have ingested candy containing xylitol, contact your veterinarian immediately.
chocolate
Another more easily recognized danger is chocolate, especially dark or baking chocolate. Chocolate contains ingredients that can be toxic to dogs and cats.
In general, very small amounts of milk chocolate are likely to be safe, but any amount of baking chocolate can be a concern.
If your pet has eaten chocolate, contact your veterinarian immediately. It helps you know what type of chocolate you have (baked, dark, milk, etc.) and how much you eat.
Fortunately, there are many Pet-Safe Halloween Recipes You can create something that your pet can safely enjoy.
Or reward your pet. halloween treats for dogs and for catslooks like this:
2. Pet costumes are cute, but they can also be dangerous.
Yes, your dog will look adorable in a red and black ladybug outfit, and your cat will definitely look disgusted with pointy ears on its head. But while these costumes are super cute, not all pets are comfortable wearing costumes.
Costumes should fit properly without restricting movement, causing breathing difficulties, or chafing causing bare spots or sores.
Pets may not be able to tell us what is bothering them about the costume and may simply respond by wanting to take it off. In the process, parts of the costume can be chewed off and swallowed, potentially causing an intestinal blockage or other emergency.
If you want to dress your pet in a costume, make sure it fits properly and supervise your pet throughout the costume. Leave it on for a short period of time (take a cute photo to share with friends and family), then remove the costume before your pet becomes uncomfortable or ends up with pieces of the costume in its stomach .
Remove the costume if your pet shows any of the following signs of discomfort or anxiety:
Signs of anxiety in dogs:
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lick your lips
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turn your head
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I tucked my tail in
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stillness
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run away
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growl
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bark
Signs of anxiety in cats:
3. Keep dangerous Halloween decorations at bay
Decorations are one of the biggest attractions of Halloween. However, problems can arise when curious pets explore them.
Dangerous Halloween decorations include:
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Open fire: One of the most overlooked concerns is open flames. If your pet jumps up near a pumpkin with a candle in it, it can certainly start a fire, burn its paws, and burn its fur. Keep open flames high and away from your pet’s paws.
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Wire: Many other ornaments may contain wire, which can also be a problem, especially if bitten. It’s not uncommon for puppies and kittens to chew on strings associated with Christmas decorations and suffer mouth burns. Running the wire through conduit, PVC, or even aquarium tubing will provide adequate temporary protection.
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fake spider web: Many items, especially those that make up long string ornaments or spider webs, can become stuck in the intestinal tract after ingestion. Keep all decorations up high and out of reach of pets.
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rotten pumpkin: As a general rule, pumpkin and pumpkin seeds are safe for dogs and cats in small amounts. However, if your pumpkin or seeds are moldy or rotten, you should be concerned. Pumpkin skin clumps can cause intestinal blockage. If in doubt, call your veterinarian for advice.
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glow stick: The liquid inside the glow stick is non-toxic, but it tastes awful to pets. According to ASPCA®pets that chew psyllium may run around the house drooling.
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Foggers: Fogger solutions can be toxic to pets, so avoid using foggers or keep pets away from foggers and their liquids.
4. Calm your anxious pet during activities
One of the most common concerns for both dogs and cats is the stress caused by Halloween. Your doorbell may keep ringing when trick-or-treaters arrive, and this type of activity can be confusing and frightening for your pet.
Signs of stress and anxiety in dogs and cats include:
Here are some ways to calm your anxious and stressed pet.
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Provide a quiet safe zone. The safest option is to provide a private safe zone. Turn on music or the TV to mask the sound of the doorbell ringing or other unusual noises associated with Halloween festivities.
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Use your calming vest. Best to relieve anxiety and calm your mind like Thunder Shirt® Helps calm scared pets.
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Use a calming diffuser. like a diffuser Adaptil® for dogs and Feliway® for cats Releases special pheromones that calm your pet.
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Please bring your pet with you. If you’re hosting a Halloween party or are expecting a lot of visitors, consider bringing your pet to the property. Usually stressed animals prefer to be away from the festivities and in a quiet area, even if it means staying in a kennel all night.
In either case, it is important to minimize the stress and escape risk that the night may cause. If you’re having a Halloween party or greeting trick-or-treaters, keep your pet in a safe place in your home so it doesn’t jump out.
5. Keep an eye on your pet and keep the door closed
Constant opening and closing of doors can cause frightened animals to escape into the dark night. This can have all sorts of dire consequences, and in some areas black cats tend to be particularly mistreated around Halloween.
Here are some ways to prevent your pet from running away from your home.
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Please keep an eye on your pet.
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Keep pets away from the door.
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stand up dog gate.
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keep a pet safely packed.
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Store it in a safe and quiet room.
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We ask guests to keep their doors closed.
6. Make sure your pet’s ID and collar are up to date
There is a higher than normal risk of your pet escaping when the door is opened or closed, so be sure to wear a collar with up-to-date contact information so you can quickly return home. This is also a good time to update your microchip data.
Halloween is a fun and whimsical start to the holiday season, but it can also be confusing, scary, and even dangerous for pets. Fortunately, by taking a few simple steps, you can make the holidays fun and safe for everyone.
