Halloween is a fun and relatively stress-free holiday for all ages. Of course, kids love dressing up in costumes and collecting their favorite candies. Adults enjoy decorating their homes with seasonal decorations and sneaking treats from their children’s stashes. However, October 31st is not a good day for everyone. It’s a very stressful day for pets.
Excitement, noise, light, and poisonous food can all be dangerous and scary for your four-legged friend. Fortunately, there are some simple things you can do to make the holidays safer and more enjoyable for everyone. Here’s what you need to know:
1. Move candy out of reach
Chocolate is clearly a no-no for pets, but xylitol, a sweetener commonly found in gum and sugar-free candy, can cause severe liver damage in both dogs and cats if ingested. Empty candy wrappers can pose a choking hazard, even if you’ve eaten every last bit of the delicious treat. To protect your pets during trick-or-treating season, help kids understand that they should keep Halloween candy out of reach of pets and never share candy with their furry family members. Please.
2. Designate a quiet room
With doors constantly opening and closing for trick-or-treaters, pets have plenty of opportunities to escape. Place your dog or cat in a quiet room away from the front door (like the laundry room or guest bedroom) and distract them from the noise with treats and toys. Consider adding white noise from the TV, music, a fan, or even a white noise machine. White noise can help drown out voices or the sound of a doorbell ringing, which can distract pets who are easily excitable by visitors. Just in case, keep a collar and tag on your pet for the big night. Microchipping is an important way to ensure your dog or cat’s identity if their collar comes off. If your pet isn’t microchipped, consider talking to your veterinarian about your options before Halloween.
3. Keep pets indoors
Some pets are used to spending their nights playing in the yard, but it’s best to keep them indoors on Halloween night. With so many strangers trick-or-treating in your neighborhood, your pet is at even more risk. Even if you have a gated yard, chances are your kids will open the gate to pet your cute dog and then forget to close it. Unusual numbers of visitors can also scare pets. Even normally docile dogs may become spooked by costumed children or masked strangers and may bite out of fear or attempt to protect their owners from these mysterious intruders.
4. Don’t force costumes
There’s nothing cuter than a cat in a costume, but some pets don’t like wearing costumes. If you want your pet to be happy wearing bee wings, introduce the costume before Halloween begins. Make them comfortable to wear for short periods of time, give them treats and build a positive relationship. Make sure the costume fits correctly and does not interfere with your ability to see, hear, or breathe, and remove any small parts that could be chewed off. Even after getting used to the costume, your pet may still show signs of discomfort when wearing something unfamiliar. If your pet doesn’t like costumes, bandanas are an easy and safe way to add some festive fun this Halloween.
5. Detox your decor
Halloween safety tips may seem obvious, but you may not have thought about the dangers your decorations pose. As you prepare your home for the Halloween season, be aware of decorations that are dangerous to your pet and be wary of items that can burn your pet, such as candles or lighted jack-o-lanterns. . If you decorate with flashing decorations or string lights, move the cord out of reach of curious claws. When it comes time for Halloween parties and trick-or-treating, be aware that small accessories like plastic spiders and fake eyeballs can fall off costumes or be moved indoors with small children. These unfamiliar objects can intrigue your pet and pose a choking hazard.
