Halloween-How to Keep Your Pets Safe and Calm

How do you keep your dog or cat safe and calm this Halloween?

Halloween can be a fun time for children and adults alike. Masks and costumes, spooky decor, candy, parties, and haunting the neighbourhood are all part of the festivities.

But it can be a frightening and anxious experience for your pets. It can also be a dangerous time for their health if you aren’t prepared.

To make Halloween a fun time for all, please use these tips to keep your fur kids safe.

Leave Your Dog at Home

While it may sound like a fun idea to dress up your pup and take him along with the kids for trick-or-treating, it’s really not the best idea. What started out as a fun night for everyone, including your dog, could be a lot of stress for your dog and a potential disaster.

Even kid-loving dogs can be confused and anxious with sidewalks overflowing with children and parents. Spooky costumes can disguise even the people they know. Well-meaning hands reaching out to pat your pooch may frighten them.

This fear reaction could cause your usually sweet pup to growl or snap. It’s just not worth it.

If you do have a well-socialized dog and really want to bring them along, make sure they are on a short leash(no retractable leashes) so you can keep them close. That will also prevent them from tripping anyone up in their leash. Monitor them to make sure they’re not getting anxious, nervous, or over-excited.

Guard the Treats!

Keep dogs and cats away from the treat bowl and your children’s candy stash. Chocolate and treats containing Xylitol are toxic to your pets.

Dogs, especially, may gobble up even the relatively safe treats, wrappers and all. This can lead to everything from intestinal upset to pancreatitis, to a GI blockage.

Caramel apples and raisins are also toxic. Snouts off!

Explain to your children the importance of not sharing their treats with their fur siblings. Just because the family dog wants the treat, doesn’t mean they can safely share it.

Decoration Safety

Setting up spooky decor has become a tradition in a lot of households. Pumpkin carving, strings of lights, cobwebs, and candles can give your home a ghoulish look that a Halloween fan will adore.

Just keep in mind the safety of your fur family. There’s a few hazards to be aware of to keep your fur babies safe.

Pumpkins are a healthy snack for your pets. But gobbling up a whole jack-o-lantern will qualify as “too much of a good thing” for your dog. Intestinal upset is not a fun thing for your dog or for you.

To prevent mold and rot in your jack-o-lantern, use vinegar, not bleach. It’s just as effective and will protect your pet, just in case.

Lit candles can be knocked over by wagging tails or curious felines. Go for LED candles if you can swing it or just be sure to keep the critters away from open flames.

Make sure the cords for your string lights and decorations are secured out of reach, especially if you have kittens or puppies. Getting tangled in the cords, or worse, chewing them, is an obvious hazard.

Even those colourful corn cobs that are used for fall displays can cause GI blockages if your dog decides to use them as a snack. Just keep them out of reach.

Pet Costumes

Okay, who doesn’t love a cute photo of your favourite furry critter, decked out in a costume? Sweet, right?

But if that costume is causing your little friend stress or anxiety, or, worse yet, is a danger to them, it’s not worth it.

Watch for costumes that would be a trip hazard or would inhibit their sight or hearing. Yes, I’m looking at you ghost costume!

If you want to quickly put on a costume for a cute photo, that’s one thing. But keep in mind that your pet shouldn’t go through undue stress for that perfect Instagram pic. Watch for signs of obvious distress.

Now, some pets are very tolerant and don’t mind dress-up time. Just be aware of how your pet is reacting to prevent undue stress.

If they’re going to be wearing it for an extended time, keep it simple. A cute pet bandana or collar with a fun Halloween pattern should be plenty. Your pet will look adorable and be happy.

Some kittens don’t need a costume to fit in at Halloween

Keep Your Cat Indoors

This might be a good night to persuade your felines to stay inside. Halloween can be a scary and dangerous night for cats.

Their usual neighbourhood prowls can turn into the stuff of nightmares. Extra traffic and lots of little strangers in odd costumes, yelling and running can be terrifying for our little feline friends.

They may run away and get lost or hide in an enclosed space and get trapped. An evening at home is going to be much less stressful for them, whether they know it or not.

Then there’s the issue of those people who torment cats on Halloween. Black cats, in particular, can be a target but all cats need to be protected from these monsters.

A Safe Space

All the noise of little trick-or-treaters at the door can give your pets a lot of anxiety or, at the least, over-excitement. Cats can scoot out underfoot and escape into the night. Dogs may become protective with all these strangers. They will be better off not hanging around your front door.

If you feel your pet is more comfortable by your side, keep them on a leash so you can react if they try to run outside or if they get over-excited or upset by strangers at the door. Watch them carefully for signs of anxiety or stress. The animal that you thought would be very chill may suddenly be very uncomfortable.

Find them a spot in your home where they can relax and be safe. Put a few toys, some treats and catnip for the kitties, a comfy place to rest, and play some soft music or have the TV on for them to drown out some of the noise.

If you’re having a party, put a sign on the door to keep it closed so they aren’t disturbed. A dog or cat underfoot can be a tripping hazard in a crowded room. And, while your dog may normally love people, a bunch of strangers in strange costumes in your livingroom might just be a bit much for them.

Conclusion

A lot of pet safety at Halloween is common sense and being able to monitor your fur kids to protect them from hazards and anxiety. Try not to put them in a position to fail.

You can have a lot of fun at Halloween. Just keep your pets in mind and keep them safe. Planning ahead for your pets will help them stay calmer and happier throughout the festivities.