It’s that time of year! Halloween is upon us and with it comes costumes, candy and lots of trick or treating! Although this time of year can be so much fun for your children and family, it can be a little stressful for your pet. Here are just a few things you can do to ensure your pet stays safe this Halloween season!
Identify Your Pets
Whether you’re planning on taking your pets out this Halloween or not, please make sure all of your animals have proper identification. Collars, ID tags and microchips can potentially save your pets’ lives. With so much foot traffic this time of year, even a pet that’s housed indoors can get loose. Without proper identification, it will be more difficult for your lost pet to return home safe and sound. You can stop by the Humane Society of Greater Dayton during our regular open hours and have your pets microchipped. It costs just $20 and takes just minutes to do. No appointments are required!
Prevent a costume malfunction
Many of us enjoy dressing our pets up in costumes. If a costume is in your pet’s future, choose one that is loose-fitting and easy for your pet to move around in. If a costume is too tight or has too many bells and whistles, it could malfunction and cause your pet to get tangled up or injured while trying to get out of it. One of the safest bets for getting your pets in the Halloween spirit is by using a loosely tied bandana or only dressing them up for a short period of time to take a quick photo or two. Some pets really don’t like being dressed up. If your pet doesn’t like costumes, don’t force them to wear something for your own amusement. This will just add to their stress and will leave you with a very unhappy animal.
Avoid Candy
As much as your pets love doing tricks for treats, resist the urge to share your Halloween candy with them. Both chocolate and xylitol, a sweetener found in many candies, can be especially dangerous for your pets to eat. In addition, the sticks of lollipops or the wrappers of the candy can be choking hazards for your pet. If your pet ingests any of your candy, please call your veterinarian as soon as possible. Instead of Halloween candy, opt for a treat that is made specifically for your pet, like a pumpkin-flavored dog biscuit for fido or a Halloween-themed toy for your kitty to play with.
Decorations can cause chaos
Holiday decorations such as carved pumpkins, dry ice, electrical cords, plants or decorative corn should be kept away from your pets. Not only could a swinging tail or a curious cat knock over candles or lit Jack-O-Lanterns, but they could also chew on cords or eat objects that could be harmful to them. If you have decorations like these at your house, make sure to keep them out of reach of your pets, or secure them so that pets won’t get harmed. Instead of open flames, try using battery-powered candles or other decorations that can be more pet-friendly.
Your pet might not want to mash
Whether you are having an indoor bash or just greeting trick-or-treaters at your door, a rush of people at your home can cause stress for your pets. Keep your pet’s anxiety level to a minimum by placing your pet in a secure room away from where all of the foot traffic and excitement occurs. If the noises continue to bother them, consider turning on some relaxing music so it can tune out some of the other chatter that comes along with Halloween festivities.
