Halloween just isn’t the same without trick-or-treaters, bags full of candy, and glowing jack-o’-lanterns. But to your pet, these holiday essentials can be downright frightful — even dangerous.
It’s our duty as pet parents to keep our fur babies safe on Halloween. The following tips can help you protect your animal family during this holiday, which is one of the most dangerous nights of the year for pets.
Spread the word and educate other pet parents about these six tips to keep pets safe on Halloween!
Tips For Keeping Your Pets Safe On Halloween
Next to the Fourth of July, Halloween may be the most dangerous holiday for pets throughout the whole year. That’s why it’s so important to take some extra precautions.
No one wants to lose a pet or take a trip to the emergency vet on Halloween. However, a fun holiday can quickly turn into a terrifying ordeal if we don’t play it safe.
Follow these safety tips to keep your pets out of Halloween danger:
1. Keep The Candy Out Of Reach
Chocolate and other candies are hazardous to dogs and cats, so be sure to keep the candy bowl out of reach.
Dogs may consume a large quantity of chocolate since it’s all sitting in one easily accessible bowl. Cats are less likely to eat chocolate but it’s just as toxic for them, as well, if they do.
Sugar, artificial sweeteners, and other ingredients in candy can be toxic to pets in high enough quantities, too.
Cats may want to play with candy since it’s often in shiny wrappers, and these shiny candy wrappers and foils can be also be hazardous if swallowed. They can cause choking or gastrointestinal blockages.
If you discover your pet has devoured the candy bowl contents, call your emergency veterinarian or the ASPCA Animal Poison Control Center at 1-888-426-4435.
2. Keep Pets Inside Your Home
Make sure your animals stay indoors, rather than out in the yard or roaming freely.
Noise and commotion from trick-or-treaters might spook your cat, and pranksters may release your dog from the yard. If you have to take them outside, make sure you keep them on leash or in an enclosure, and go with them at all times.
This rule is especially important for parents of black cats, as black kitties are sometimes specifically targeted for torment or abuse on and around Halloween.
3. Provide A Safe Space For Pets
The constant ringing of the doorbell may overly excite or frighten your dog or cat. The frequent opening of the door provides pets with the opportunity to escape.
Keep your pets contained in an area of the home where they can’t easily make a break for the door. This also keeps your pet safely away from trick-or-treaters, who might frighten your animals.
Your pets should always be wearing ID tags, but if they usually don’t, make sure they have their tags on them this night, especially, just in case.
4. Keep Jack-O-Lanterns Away From Pets
Lit pumpkins and wagging tails do not go hand in hand. Keep jack-o-lanterns out of reach to prevent burns and fires, not to mention smashed pumpkins.
Pets accidentally cause about 1,000 house fires each year. Don’t let it happen to you.
Also, pumpkin may be a great way to naturally cure stomach upset. However, if consumed in large quantities, pumpkins can cause stomach issues and intestinal blockage. Too much of a good thing can be bad.
5. Be Careful With Costumes
If you dress up your pet this year, make sure they’re comfortable in their costume. It may look cute, but remember that your pet is a living animal, not a dress-up doll.
Any restriction of movement or breathing is bad news. Check to make sure there are no loose parts that could get caught and strangle your pet, and that there’s nothing on the costume they can try to eat.
Don’t leave your dog or cat in a costume unsupervised. Dress them up, get your pictures, and take the costume off as soon as you can. That way, you have the cute pics you want, and your animal can get back to being an animal.
6. Place Decorations With Pets In Mind
Don’t put decorations out where your dog or cat can reach them. Decorations are great, but they’re usually not made with pet safety in mind. They have pieces that will break off if handled roughly or chewed on that can harm your pets’ internal organs.
Every pet parent knows their pets, and if you have a mischievous cat or pup, you really need to keep these decorations out of reach.
Pets may get bored while you’re at work and decide to play with these fun new items that have appeared all over their home. It’s natural that they will want to investigate, which can be disastrous.
A lot of this is common sense, but it’s always good to brush up every year on the basic rules of safety to make sure everyone stays safe.
Do you have any other tips to keep pets safe on Halloween? How do you make sure your animals stay out of danger on this holiday? Let us know in the comments below!
