With Halloween quickly approaching, there are a few things to keep in mind. It’s important to remember these helpful tips to keep our pets safe during this Halloween season!
-For starters, we want to make sure to keep the bowl of candy away from our pets, and keep it just for the trick-or-treaters. Chocolate can be very dangerous for dogs and cats, especially dark or baking chocolate. Candy in general can cause problems for our four-legged friends, so just leave it for our two-legged friends! If your pet does ingest something toxic, contact your veterinarian as soon as possible. You can also call the Animal Poison Control Center at (888) 426-4435.
-Although it may look tasty, the decorative corn and pumpkins are not so good for our pets’ stomachs if they nibble on them. They are relatively nontoxic but they can produce some upset stomachs.
-Keep all wires and cords from electric lights and decorations out of the reach of your pets! If chewed, your pet could suffer from cuts or burns, or receive a possibly life-threatening electrical shock.
-Whenever having any kind of open flame, it’s important to be careful. A carved pumpkin looks great lit up at night with a candle, but it’s also important to remember that they can easily get knocked over by our pets and cause a fire! Our curious kittens are the most at risk for getting burned or singed by candle flames, so make sure to be extra cautious when our furry friends are present.
-Just because you think your dog would look great as a pumpkin, doesn’t mean he would like it. Make sure to be conscientious of how your pet is feeling about wearing a costume. Some pets love it, but others aren’t so fond. In some instances, wearing a costume may cause undue stress to our pets.
-If you and your pet are completely up for getting dressed up in costume, make sure that the costume is safe and not annoying for your pet. There shouldn’t be any restrictions to the animal’s movement or hearing. It also shouldn’t interfere with the ability to breathe, bark or meow. Make sure to try on the costumes before the big night so that you can be sure your pet won’t be stressed. If your pet does seem stressed, has an allergic or shows abnormal behavior, consider taking off the costume or just sport a festive bandana for the night!
-Also make sure the costume doesn’t have any small or dangling objects that could easily be chewed-off. It’s important to make sure that your pet will not choke on any part of the costume or get twisted around something which could lead to an injury.
-Once the big night arrives, if your pet isn’t the most social dog, it might be a good idea to keep them in a separate room. Some costumes can be frightening to our pets! It can also be very overwhelming for our pets to see that many strangers coming to their home. So unless your pet is very friendly and fine in many different situations, it might be best for them to be separated from all of the chaotic festivities!
-If you do keep your pets around while the festivities are taking place, make sure that your cat or dog doesn’t dart outside. Always make sure your dog or cat has the proper identification. If for any reason your pet gets outside and escapes or becomes lost, a collar and tags and/or microchip can be a lifesaver which will increase the chances that your pet will be returned to you.
Enjoy your Halloween festivities in a safe and fun way this year! It can be fun for both you and your pets, just be sure to follow these helpful tips.
