7 Ways to Keep Your Pets Safe This Halloween
Halloween is a festive time for humans, but it can be full of potential dangers for pets. From the costumes to the candy, it’s important to take precautions to ensure your furry fam stays safe during the spooky season. Here are seven tips to help keep your pets safe and stress-free this Halloween.
- Keep Candy Out of Reach
Chocolate and many types of candy, especially those containing xylitol (a common sugar substitute), are toxic to pets. Even a small amount can lead to vomiting, diarrhea, rapid breathing, or worse. Make sure all candy is stored in a secure place, well out of reach from curious pets.
- Be Mindful of Decorations
Halloween decorations can be intriguing for pets, but they can also be dangerous. Cats and dogs might chew on cords or decorations, which can lead to electrical shocks or internal blockages. Keep electrical cords and decorations like fake cobwebs or small objects safely out of reach.
- Choose Pet-Friendly Costumes
While dressing up pets for Halloween can be fun, not all animals enjoy it. If your pet seems uncomfortable or stressed, it’s best to skip the costume. If they do enjoy dressing up, make sure the costume doesn’t restrict movement, breathing, or vision. Avoid costumes with small, detachable parts that could become choking hazards.
- Keep Pets Indoors
On Halloween night, be super-cautious to keep your pets indoors. With trick-or-treaters constantly at the door, the unfamiliar sights and sounds can be overwhelming for pets – and the opening and closing of the front door can present opportunities for pets to escape. Then, once outside, the exploding fireworks and general mayhem can scare and disorient them, leading them to flee and become lost. Keep them in an enclosed room, turn the TV or stereo on to block out scary noises from outside and be conscious of their stress levels.
- Ensure Proper Identification
Halloween night is not the only time firecrackers and other exploding things are set alight. You’ve probably already been hearing the bangs. Almost all pets hate these scary sounds. Provide white noise for them whenever possible but here is a REALLY important thing: Make sure your pets are wearing collars with up-to-date ID tags. Make sure your microchipping information is up-to-date so that, if they are lost, the agency that rescues them can locate you ASAP.
- Be Cautious with Lit Pumpkins
Candles inside pumpkins can easily be knocked over by curious pets, leading to burns or even fires. Opt for flameless LED candles instead of real ones to keep both your home and your pet safe.
- Limit their Stress
Here is the bottom line: Halloween is scary (not in a good way!) for pets. It’s noisy, with unfamiliar sounds. The constant doorbell ringing and unfamiliar people in costumes are disorienting. Do everything you can to prepare in advance to help reduce their stress and prevent any potential escapes.
By following these simple tips, you can ensure that your pets have a safe and enjoyable Halloween!
