Dark place with a pumpkin and candles nearby

Keeping Your Pet Safe On Halloween

Keeping your pet safe on Halloween is important because there are additional risks and factors that may not be present in your pets day to day life. Not only are there dangers, but your pet might be confused or even scared as they do not know what is going on. So, with Halloween being a week away, here are some Halloween pet safety tips.

Halloween Pet Safety Tips

Costumes

Dressing up your pet can be fun and they can look great too. However, there are some things that you need to know before dressing up your pet in a costume.

  • Make Sure They Like It: Most people enjoy dressing up on Halloween, however, most pets do not like to dress up for the occasion. Before you try to fit them into a costume, make sure that they are comfortable being in one.
  • Choose Costume Wisely: Their costume should not restrict their hearing, eyesight or ability to breathe in any way. Also, be sure to check for any loose piece of the costume that could be chewed on.
  • Try It On Beforehand: Have your pet try on their costume before Halloween so you know if you need to make any adjustments or find them a new costume.
halloween pet safety tips

Treats

What is a treat to you could actually be a dangerous trick for your pet. That is why you should only be giving them treats that are designed for them. Here are some things to keep out of their paws.

  • Chocolate: Most people know that chocolate can make pets severely sick, or even kill them. That is why it's important to keep it locked in a child-proof cabinet or high up on the fridge. Keep your candy out of prying paws!
  • Xylitol: Not many people know about this, but it is more toxic to pets than chocolate is. Xylitol is a natural sugar substitute and is becoming more common in candies and other treats. Hard candies, sugar-free gum, and some chocolates have xylitol in them.
  • Wrappers: Not only can the candy pose a health risk to your pet but so can the wrappers. If swallowed the can their throat and even their digestive tract too.

Decorations

Decorating your house is a great way to show off your Halloween spirit. However, you should check your decorations to make sure that they cannot cause any harm to your pet. Curious dogs could end up eating your decorative spider webs. Other things they might find appetizing are your autumn vegetable or glowsticks. If you hang up spooky lights, be sure to tuck away any cords so your pets are safe throughout the night. Be sure to check out one of our previous articles to learn more about Dog Proofing Your Home.

Trick-or-Treaters

Chances are you will have a plethora of dressed up people knocking at your door or ringing the doorbell. This can cause your pet to become scared and confused. Especially when the door is answered and a ghost is on the other end. This can cause some of the nicest pets to lash out at trick-or-treaters on Halloween.

To this from happening there are a few things that you can do. One of the best ways to do this is to have your pet in another room so they do not have to deal with people constantly at the door. Another way is to get them accustomed to the knocking and doorbell ringing.

Trick Or Treating With Pets

If You decide that you want to take your pet trick-or-treating with you there are additional things that you need to be wary of. The first thing you need to do is keep them on a leash at all times to them from running away from you. Another thing to do is watch them as you take them from door-to-door. If they show signs of discomfort or anxiety-like the following, you should take them home.

  • Whimpering: This means that you pet is frightened and wants to get out of the situation they are in.
  • Attempting to run and hide: This is just like whimpering, except they are trying to immediately escape the situation.
  • Tired: Pets can get tired when trick-or-treating. Make sure you have a plan on what you can do to give your pup some rest.

If your pet is still frightened while at home, there are some other things you can do. Finding a safe space for your dog can help them. Another thing that can help reduce their anxiety is K9 and Kitty Calmer.

Other

There are some other ways that you can keep your pet safe on Halloween. One of the best is to keep an eye on them at all times. That way you can catch them if they dart out of your house. The reason you want to know where they are at is that you do not want your pet to be the victim of a cruel prank.

Sources:

https://www.humanesociety.org/resources/halloween-safety-tips-pets