“A dog’s natural instinct is to protect their home or to alert you that a stranger has arrived, while cats typically prefer a quiet environment with their family. Trick-or-treaters continually knocking on the door or ringing the bell can be very stressful to both dogs and cats.”
Here are some safety tips and tricks on taking the terror out of your pet's Halloween:
Halloween Treats- chocolate, raisins, candy and treats with xylitol (a common sugar substitute found in sugar-free candies and gum) can be toxic to your pet.
Halloween Decorations- keep them out of your pet’s reach; jack-o-lanterns, candles and other decor can be interesting to your pet, but also dangerous.
Human Costumes- keep all human costume pieces away from pets, along with glow sticks, decorations, batteries, and other holiday items. When chewed, glow stick items can release liquid that tastes really bad and can make pets drool excessively or act strangely (though it isn’t likely to be harmful). Other costume parts and decorations might cause choking, internal injury, or illness.
Pet Costumes- avoid pet costumes that don’t meet the following standards; fits properly and is comfortable, doesn't have any pieces that easily can be chewed off or cause choking, doesn't block your pet's sight, hearing, breathing, mouth, or movement.
Avoid outdoors with your pet- On Halloween, there are a lot more people on the streets and that, combined with strange costumes, can spook pets and cause them to bolt.
Create a safe space indoors- leave treats or toys in an area in your home that you know they frequent or will feel comfortable in. Check in on them from time to time throughout Halloween night, especially after doorbell rings and after visitors have approached the house.
ID your pet- these can be a lifesaver in finding a lost pet on Halloween—or any day of the year! Tags don’t have to be boring, either. There are plenty of fun, cute and even Halloween-themed pet IDs to pick from. If you need to take your pet out after dark, make sure he or she wears a reflective collar, is securely leashed and has proper identification attached.
Happy Halloween from Pets On The Bay!
Resources courtesy of humanesociety.org, amva.org, aspca.org
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