Halloween can be so much fun for kids and some grown-ups. It can also be fun for your pets. However, there can be some potential dangers and stressful events for your pets. Just remember to keep your pets safe from these Halloween hazards.
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Halloween Candy & Treats
Halloween means candy and treats that are plentiful and easily accessible to young children and pets. Remember that some candy and treats are not good for dogs! Chocolate and artificially sweetened candy such as gum contains xylitol and can be toxic to dogs. Wrappers and small pieces can be possible choking hazards and may cause obstruction or irritation to the pet’s digestive system. Party snacks may be too salty or contain ingredients that can also poison your pets. Try to keep the human goodies for the humans and out of your pet’s reach. Keep all treats in a sealed container and discard them properly. You can share some human treats with your pets such as carrots and sliced apples. However, remember not to give too many because overfeeding them can also cause problems.
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Trick-or-Treaters & Party Guests
Most of our dogs love when people are visiting. However, they may not like it when familiar people are dressed in their costumes. Some dogs may become very fearful and can behave in an unpredictable manner. Pets may also not respond well to the door bell ringing from the trick-or-treaters. The best solution is to place your pets in their crate or put them in a separate room. This may help to relieve some of the stress from these situations.
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Halloween Decorations
Halloween decorations can be spooky and fun for us but for our pets they are new objects that they want to explore. Keep decorations out of your animal’s reach. Watch the placement of power cords from the inflatable decorations because they may trip your pet and can cause electric shock if they are chewed. Be careful with the placement of your jack-o-lantern so that your pet does not ingest them or bump into them, especially if they have a candle in them. This will prevent the chance of your pet starting a fire or getting burned.
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Costumes for Dogs
We all know that some dogs do not mind when you put clothes on them whereas others really do not like it at all. They may feel very uncomfortable and a little scared of the costume. If you plan to dress your pet for Halloween, make sure the outfit fits comfortably. The costume should be roomy but not too loose fitting so that the pet doesn’t trip over the costume. It should also be reflective and fire retardant. A costume that is tied too tightly could cut off circulation or choke your pet. Never leave your pet alone with the costume on because your pet may decide to chew it. This can lead to choking, sickness, or development of a gastrointestinal blockage.
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Dangers Beyond the House
Try to keep your pet indoors on Halloween night. Loud and excessive noise can be frightening to your dog or cat. Providing a safe, stress free environment reduces the possibility of your pet injuring themselves or others. Black cats especially seem to be targeted during the Halloween season. If you do take your pet out, make sure your pet has a collar with ID tags on. Even if your pet is staying inside, they should have ID tags on so they can be returned if they escape. Having a microchip can also be very beneficial if your pet gets lost. Don’t forget to keep your dog on a leash at all times.
We hope all of this helps to keep your pets
safe this Halloween. Happy Halloween!!!
Trick-or-Treat!!!
