Tips for pet safety this Halloween

Halloween can be a great time for fun and games, but we must remember our fur babies and keep them safe on the spookiest night of the year!

At Halloween for pet safety, it is crucial to keep all Halloween sweets out of the reach of counter-surfing dogs and cats. Despite the fact that your pet should not consume any of it, many varieties of Halloween sweets are especially harmful to animals, toxic or are choking hazards.

Halloween frenzy creates pet anxiety

Place your dogs in a quiet place where they will be protected from Halloween activities before trick-or-treating begins. Consider placing your dog in their crate with a treat-filled toy and quiet music playing in the background if they are prone to attempt to run out the front door and are used to their crate. If you must, even sit outdoors to prevent trick-or-treaters from knocking on your door or ringing your doorbell if that noise frightens your pet.

Halloween treats for humans but a trick for pets!

Pre-Halloween and during trick-or-treating, store sweets in a cabinet secured with a lock or childproof latch. Numerous items, including chocolate, gum, and xylitol (a common food additive), are toxic to dogs. Children may make the detrimental error of sharing their treasure. Ensure that kids understand the distinction between treats for themselves and treats for their four-legged companions. Call your veterinarian immediately if you believe your pet has ingested a harmful substance.

Pumpkin is extremely popular at this time of year, but the good news is pumpkin is safe and actually quite beneficial for dogs and cats, but excessive consumption might create stomach difficulties. Halloween lanterns (carved pumpkins) should not be used as a holiday snack since rotting pumpkins may house harmful germs.

Pet costumes are adorable but dangerous

Yes, your dog looks charming dressed as a red and black ladybug, yet your cat looks utterly repulsed when you place those pointy ears on its head. However adorable they may be, costumes are not suitable for all pets. Costumes must fit correctly without limiting mobility, creating breathing difficulties, or rubbing areas that might create sores. Pets cannot communicate what is troubling them about a costume and may just respond by attempting to remove it. In doing so, they may bite off and consume a section of the costume, which might lead to intestinal blockages or other emergency problems.

If you choose to dress your pet in a costume, you must ensure that it fits correctly and then keep an eye on it while it is wearing it. Leave it on for as little time as possible (taking photographs to share with friends and family) and remove the outfit before your pet becomes too uncomfortable or ingests costume pieces.

Ensure decorations are placed securely

Decorations are among the most alluring aspects of Halloween. However, when pets investigate them, they may occasionally cause issues. One of the most overlooked dangers is an open flame. Your pet can burn its feet or burn hair if it climbs up near a pumpkin with a candle inside. Ensure that any open flames are placed out of reach of your pet’s curious paws.

Many other ornaments may include wires, which is an additional hazard, especially if bitten. It is relatively uncommon for puppies and kittens that have chewed through holiday extension cables to get mouth burns. Putting the wires in conduit, PVC, or even fish tank tubing may offer enough protection temporarily. Keep any decorations out of your pet’s reach by placing them on high shelves.

Ensure that pet identity tags and collars are updated

Since there is a greater-than-average danger of your pet escaping while doors are opening or shutting, ensure that they are wearing collars with current, up-to-date contact information so that they may be brought home as soon as possible. This is an ideal moment to update the information contained on the microchip. Halloween night with fireworks, constant doorbells, and bangs can be terrifying for your fur babies, and they can be tempted to run away seeking safety.

Halloween is a festive and fanciful beginning to the holiday season, but it may be scary, confusing, and hazardous for your pet. Fortunately, a few easy actions may be taken to make the holiday enjoyable and safe for everyone.