Halloween Pet Safety Tips

As the festive holiday of Halloween rolls into town, keep your pets safe with these quick tips!

• Jack-o-lanterns with lit candles in them can be a fire hazard, especially around curious cats or dogs with wagging tails.  (Not to mention you pet could get burned in the process!)  If using jackolanterns indoor where pets will have access to them, opt for electronic candles to prevent fire and unwanted trips to the emergency veterinary hospital!

• Remember, chocolate is absolutely toxic to dogs.  Do not under any circumstances allow your dog to eat chocolate.  Warn children of the dangers too!  Your child could give your pooch a deadly “treat.”  Candy wrappers can also cause intestine obstructions, so be careful with all of the empty candy wrappers.

• Do you tend to welcome a lot of trick-or-treaters?  Place your dog or cat in a safe spot in the house so they don’t dash out the front door.  Many pets go missing on Halloween night with all of the commotion.  They simply slip out when no one is looking.  Your dog or cat might appreciated the peace and quiet anyway.  Set them up with a comfy bed, their favorite toy and even put on some music to drown out the sound of the constant doorbell ring and the “TRICK OR TREAT” squeals.

• Remember that pets don’t actually understand what Halloween is.  A highly social dog might act out when they see a ghoul or a witch arrive at the front door.  Play it safe – keep pets away from masked visitors.  Even if they don’t act out, the commotion might put them on edge.  (Again, create a “safe room” for them.)

• Some dogs and cats do not mind costumes, while others would absolutely detest it.  Do not force a costume on your pet if he/she shows discomfort.  This is especially important with masks.  A masked dog will have impaired vision and might get snappy if he or she feels threatened or nervous.  Again, pets don’t really understand why we humans do this crazy stuff once a year!

• Unfortunately, it is the truth that pets go missing on Halloween because they are stolen.  Urban legends speak of animal sacrifices, although most of the time it’s just pranksters.  Either way, don’t risk it.  Do NOT leave your pets unattended in the yard on Halloween.

Do you have any tips to share?  Leave a comment and we’ll post the best ones!

Happy Howl-o-ween!

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