Hallowe’en Safety for your Pet
Hallowe’en costumes:
Kids costumes can have strings and plastic parts that
curious dogs and cats will chew or swallow.
Kids will be happier without a chewed costume, and pets will be safer if
costumes are kept out of their reach. There
are many cute Hallowe’en costumes for pets.
Be sure if you are going to dress up your furry friend that your pet
likes to wear clothing. Some pets love
coats, hats and boots of various sorts, while others can’t stand to wear
anything other than their natural coat.
Dressing up a dog or cat that doesn’t enjoy it can cause a great deal of
stress, or a struggle and fight to get out of it.
If your furry one does enjoy dress-up, be sure to choose a
quality costume that is designed as pet safe.
Avoid costumes with parts that can easily be chewed off, and those that
are too constricting or can be caught on trees, fences, etc. Never dress a dog or cat in a costume that is
tight around the neck, head, or body, or prevents easy breathing, or full sight
lines. A dog or cat that can’t see
properly can easily be injured by trips, falls and cars. And never leave a costume on a pet
unattended.
Treats: no Tricks:
Hallowe’en candy and treats can be fun for children and
adults alike, but that tricky treat can become a danger if left in the reach of
furry paws. Cats, and dogs especially,
love to eat anything that they can get their mouth around. And just like people, most pets love the
taste of sweets and will overindulge if given the chance. Many treats or their packaging can quickly
become choking hazards to cats and dogs.
Dogs especially should never eat chocolate. Dark chocolate in particular can be quite toxic
to our kids of canine variety. Xylitol is
a common artificial sweetener in candies that can be harmful to pets, too. So keep that bowl of treats for the trick or
treaters at your door well away from the tricky treaters on your floor. Instead, stock up on some healthy pet treats,
or try your hand at baking your own in Hallowe’en shapes! Remember, only a few treats at a time for any
of your little goblins, furry or otherwise, to avoid upset tummies.
Devilish Decoration dangers:
Jack-o’-lanterns are a fun and festive way to celebrate All
Hallows Eve, but burning candles can be a danger to our pets. They pose the risk of burnt paws or mouths,
and if knocked over can quickly cause a fire.
LED lights are a safer choice for everyone. Pets have been known to gnaw on
Jack-o’-lanterns, or eat the pumpkin guts you remove before carving. Fortunately pumpkin is not harmful to dogs or
cats, and a little cooked pumpkin puree and rice can be used to help calm an
upset tummy. However excessive amounts
of pumpkin or pumpkin innards can do the opposite and give a bit of an upset
stomach so it is best to keep your pumpkin out of reach of your pet. Other decorations such as fake spider webs and
rubber spiders, bats and ghosts can be chewed and eaten. More dangerous are the electrical cords
attached to animated decorations and Hallowe’en lights. Be sure to keep cords out of reach. And even for cords out of easy reach, we
recommend wiping them with non-toxic dish soap or a bitter no chew product
designed for cats and dogs, to further lower the risk of cuts, burns and
electrocutions.
Black cats and werewolves belong indoors:
The days before, and especially Hallowe’en night itself
results in a lot more activity in neighbourhoods, including car traffic. For your pet’s safety keep even cats
comfortable with being outdoors safely inside.
There can be increased animal cruelty incidents, especially towards
black cats around Hallowe’en. Some
shelters won’t adopt black cats around this time of year for their safety. It is safest for everyone to keep your pets
inside. If you are taking your dressed
up doggy ghoul out with your trick or treating, be sure to have a quality leash
and keep them close and highly visible. An
LED light on the collar is a great idea.
Never take a dog out that is easily frightened. There are many strange people, dressed in
frightening ways, and many unusual sights and sounds on Hallowe’en night to
upset a nervous dog.
Ghouls at the door can be frightening indeed:
Door bells and visitors at the door can be very stressful to
family pets. Especially strangers,
dressed in unusual or frightening costumes and making scary sounds can be
frightening to animals. It can be a
highly stressful experience for all household pets. Also some pets will take the opportunity of
frequently opening doors to make an escape.
Keep household pets safely in a quiet and comfortable part of the house
with no access to front door when trick or treaters are visiting. A great idea is to stay outside the door if
the weather is warm, or stay by the door, at the ready to greet trick or
treaters as they walk up. This will
avoid repeated door bell rings and knocks on the door that can be quite
upsetting to your furry ones.
The ASPCA has more Hallowe’en tips for your pets here: http://www.aspca.org/pet-care/halloween-safety-tips. With a little planning the whole family can
have a happy and SAFE Hallowe’en.
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