Your pet may enjoy the Halloween festivities as much as the rest of the family, but if you want to make sure the evening isn't too spooky for Spot, keep these safety tips in mind.
Pet Halloween Safety Tips
- Keep the chocolate AWAY from your pets! With so much delicious candy lying around on Halloween, your pet may be tempted to help himself. Chocolate can be fatal to most dogs or cats. Dark chocolate, baking chocolate, and cocoa powder are especially dangerous and can lead to kidney failure in pets who have a sensitivity to the food. Keep the trick-or-treat bag out of reach of your pets!
- Sugar-free candies that contain Xylitol can make your pets sick, as can pumpkin. Best to keep Halloween treats away from Fido and Fluffy.
- Dress your four-legged family members in costume only if they enjoy the Halloween spirit and don't mind being in clothes. Costuming a reluctant pet can cause undue stress on a night that may already be full of doorbell and dress-up anxiety. If your pet is a ham, make sure his costume fits well and is comfortable, with freedom of movement for all four of his legs and plenty of room around the neck. Secure loose-fitting garments with a safety pin or tie, and don't allow anything to drape off the costume, or your pet could be at risk of getting snagged.
- Keep your pet on a leash at all times while trick-or-treating, and be especially watchful around candles and jack-o-lanterns to make sure she doesn't singe her fur.
- Secure your pet before opening the front door to trick-or-treaters to make sure he doesn't make a run for it or inadvertently attack an invading tiny zombie or ghoul.
