Are you ready for the 10 Halloween Pet Safety Tips for the season? With pets around, we should be extra cautious about what mischief they may get themselves into. There are holiday decorations and foods that are dangerous for pets to be around. As well, pets need their space and to be comfortable during times of stress. Remember to watch for those instances where your pet may show signs of distress; especially when they are in costume. Every year pet parents are likely to dress up their pets and design a photoshoot for them to share over social media. Before that happens, take extra precautions to ensure a safe and happy pet. To prepare for the Halloween season, follow along with these pet safety tips to ensure an enjoyable holiday.
Steer Clear of Certain Ingredients
Pets can easily get into the food/dessert table and ravage through the goodies. Certain ingredients and treats are toxic to pets. Create a barrier between your pet and the foods, make it so that the tasty goodies are impossible for your pet to get to. Keep note that pets cannot have
- Chocolate
- Raisins and chocolate-covered raisins
- Sugar-free candy
- Caramel apples
- Candy corn
- Macadamia nuts
Hide the treats
Those treats for the kids are only meant for the kids. Hide the candy and any extra treats from your pet when given out to the trick-or-treaters. Pets can get themselves into mischief when left unattended. Leave your pet in a separate area or keep the treats in a locked place. If you suspect your pet has ingested something toxic, please call your veterinarian or the ASPCA Poison Control Center at (888) 426-4435 immediately.
Create a Safe Zone
A nightmare Halloween is one where your pet gets loose. It is easy to have the door open and close throughout the night with trick-o-treaters knocking and friends and family walking in. The opportunity for your pet to slip out is highly possible. Try to keep your pet away from the door. Have them in their crate or in a room far away from the opened doors. Give them their comfort objects such as their bed, water, food, litter box, favorite toy, etc.
Practice Daily Life with the Costume
It could be stressful for your pet to wear costumes that make them uncomfortable. Only dress them up if they show interest in costume activities. Take note to steer clear of tight, loose items. Don’t dress them in complicated costumes that restrict movement and could possibly choke them. Remove their costume after a certain time, any longer than a couple of hours can leave your pet restless and uncomfortable.
Do Practice with Their Costume BEFORE Halloween Day
First, have your pet get used to their costume before they go anywhere with it. They should not be distressed or show any abnormal behavior. The last thing they want is to be distressed during the holiday AND uncomfortable in a costume. Go ahead and practice their daily activities ahead of time with their costume on. So take them on their walk, for potty breaks, socialization, naptime, etc.
Walk Earlier or Take a Different Route
There will be a rise in neighborhood activity throughout the evening and this may cause some anxiety for your pet. Walk your pet in a non-Halloween dense neighborhood or go for a hike instead. Take them out before the neighborhood erupts with trick-or-treaters and lively spooky decorations. Take not that anxiety can look like this in your pets:
- Panting
- Hiding
- Excessive barking
- Pacing
- Going to the bathroom in the house (or, for cats, outside of the litter box)
Make Pets Their Own Treats
With gatherings and holiday cheer, Halloween treats will be displayed openly. Instead of giving your pets human treats, go to the local pet stores and get them Halloween-inspired treats so they can be part of the festivities as well. Make it an activity to bake them the treats and decorate them with the family. Get creative and watch how happy your pet gets.
Careful with the Decorations
Holiday decorations are a dangerous playground for pets. For Halloween, carved pumpkins with flame candles can easily be knocked over by pets. Curious pets might snack on the pumpkins and other decorations which can leave them with upset stomachs. Electrical cords, Fog machines, and glow sticks can easily get chewed on. Any small decorations are a potential choking hazard as well.
Keep their ID Tags/Microchip Updated
There is a high statistic rate of pets running away from their home on Halloween day due to the feeling of fear, anxiety, or being overwhelmed. With too many strangers coming to the door, pets can easily get scared by all the commotion and try to run off. The chaos of the day can be stressful for pets, so make sure their ID tags are secured on them and their microchips are up to date. This way they will be reunited with you and your family.
Teach Kids to Respect Pet’s Space
Pets need their space too. The holiday activities could send your pet into a mood. Teach kids to not to scare pets or mess with their costumes. It’s ok to look and take pictures but don’t hover in their bubble or stay in their face. When your pet has had enough, allow them to go to their comfort zone without kids disrupting them.
Keep your pets safe and have a spooky Halloween, from the Fire Hydrant Team!