Halloween is fun for kids and adults alike, with costumes, parties, candy, and celebrations! However, our furry friends may not enjoy this festive holiday as much as we do. The first thing to know about Halloween is that it breaks your pets’ routine – and they hate that.
To keep your four-legged family members content and healthy on Halloween, follow these expert tips.
Socialize Your Pet Throughout the Year
Some pet owners want to take their dogs with them when they make the rounds during Halloween. If you plan to do this, make sure your dog has been socialized properly to ensure they are comfortable during interactions. Even when your pet is comfortable socializing, keep them leashed when they accompany you and your trick-or-treater. An adult should always hold the animal on a leash and stand on the sidewalk, well away from the Halloween hosts’ doors.
Choose Comfy Costumes
Should you dress up your dog, cat or other pet in a Halloween costume? While it does incorporate the pet into the family, this will be important for you to determine based on your dog. Just as you go out of your way to choose the best costumes for your children, you should go out of your way to choose the best costume for your pet.”
The costume should, of course, be pet safe with no buttons, zippers or toxic substances. Beyond that, the pet must be comfortable and able to see and move freely.
Beware of Candy and Wrappers
Most pet owners know that candy and sugary snacks can make their pets ill — or worse. But beware of candy wrappers, too. If your pet ingests a candy wrapper, it can get stuck in their stomach and make them sick.
Keep the candy safely out of reach of your pets. Remind children not to share their candy with pets, and keep a close eye on kid-pet interactions. Children might not realize the seriousness of such actions.
Control Pumpkin and Corn Decorations
Pumpkin is not toxic to dogs or cats. In fact, it’s sometimes included in their diets (in a canned form) as a source of fiber. However, raw pumpkin may cause digestive issues. But other decorations might prove more dangerous, too.
Indian corn is not very digestible and could provoke indigestion. Swallowing a cob might even block the intestines, which could be quite serious, and it might even require emergency surgery. The best and safest bet is to keep your pets away from Indian corn and pumpkin.
Keep Candles, String and Wrapping Paper Out of Reach
Flickering candles may entice your pet to explore. Clearly, you shouldn’t let pets near any open flames. Also, keep string and wrapping paper away from pets. It cannot only upset their stomachs, but the items can also wind around critical organs, necessitating emergency surgery.
Make Sure Your Pet Has ID
Identification tags and microchips are the best gifts you can give a pet. And, of course, make sure you keep the information current. Holidays always produce the most lost pets returned to shelters, so make your chance of being reunited with a lost pet even stronger by microchipping your pets.
We wish you all a safe and happy Halloween! If you have questions or concerns, our team is here to help. Don’t hesitate to contact us!
