As Halloween night is quickly approaching, it's important to keep your whole family's safety in mind – including your pets! It’s a night filled with treats, adorable costumes for both humans and pets, and lots of fun times! Whether you're taking your furry friend along during trick-or-treating or keeping them safe and snug at home, brush up on these quick tips to ensure the entire family has a safe and spooky Halloween!
Are you dressing up your pet? Make sure to consider your pet's personality and comfort level in clothing/accessories. Your pet needs to move around comfortably and have the costume loose enough not to inhibit breathing, hearing, or range of motion. Avoid costumes with tiny, dangling objects, which can potentially present choking hazards. If your pet seems uncomfortable, please take the costume off. Signs include folded-down ears, eyes rolling back or looking sideways, a tucked tail, or hunching over.
Keep candy and chocolate out of paw’s reach! Leading up to Halloween, ensure candy is stored away and not out in places your pet can reach. During Halloween night, your big bowl of candy for trick-or-treaters or your kid's bags with goodies must always remain out of your pet’s reach. Consuming any amount of candy or chocolate can cause pets to become seriously ill, and can potentially be fatal. So be sure to keep treats out of their reach and encourage kids to sort their candy in a separate area as well! Keep the 24-hour ASPCA Animal Poison Control Center hotline handy: 888-426-4435.
Keeping pets properly identified throughout the evening is key. Whether taking pets out or keeping them indoors, ensure they are always wearing identification tags should they get lost or dart out the front door unexpectedly. It’s also recommended to use a high-visibility collar or light-up collar, so they can be seen in the dark. This happens way more than you think, and it's always better to be prepared ahead of time!
Carving pumpkins is a beloved Halloween tradition, but if you plan to light yours with a candle, ensure it's placed in a location where your pet cannot reach it or knock it over. (Remember that cats are quite clever when they’re curious about something!) Additionally, some animals may even get an upset stomach from eating pumpkins.
If your pet gets overly anxious or hyper when the doorbell rings, consider keeping them in a designated part of the house during trick-or-treating hours to keep them calm and relaxed. If your pet gets excited quickly, there is a risk of them running out of the door when you are opening it. Ensure they have plenty of their own toys and treats to keep them entertained and occupied in their own part of your home!