Halloween is best when the whole family has fun, and family includes any dogs, cats, or other household pets. Halloween can be distressing for animals, but with proper precautions, they too can have a safe, happy holiday:
1. Keep Them Clear of Candy
As tasty as they are to humans, Halloween candies are not suitable for pets. Chocolate is toxic to cats and dogs, as are any candies that contain the sugar substitute xylitol. If the candy is in a wrapper or is attached to a paper stick, your pet will likely eat that as well, causing complications that may require surgery. Make sure everyone in your household knows not to feed candy to your pet, and clean up any stray candies before your pet finds them.
2. Pumpkin Prudence
Carved pumpkins look like an easy meal to an animal, so make sure not to leave your pets alone with a jack-o-lantern for more than a few minutes at a time. Though not toxic like candy, pumpkin can cause digestive problems in cats and dogs.
3. Fend Off Fire Hazards
Not only will pumpkin harm your pet’s digestive track, but if the jack-o-lantern being eaten has a flame inside of it, your pet could end up seriously burned. Never light jack-o-lanterns or Halloween candles unless you have secured your pet elsewhere. If you use electric lights, keep the cords out of your pet’s reach.
4. Take Care with Trick-or-Treat
You know that Trick-or-Treaters are just wearing costumers, but dogs don’t understand this tradition. If your dog sees a group of Trick-or-Treaters in scary costumes, she may panic and end up hurting herself or someone else. Keep your animals away from the front door while you accept Trick-or-Treaters, and tell your children not to visit them in their costumes.
5. Costume Concerns
Adventurous pet owners often dress their animals up on Halloween, and while you can do this safely, there are risks. A tight fitting costume may injure your pet or make it difficult for her to breathe, while your pet may become tangled in an elaborate outfit. There is also a risk that it will try to eat the costume. The simpler and looser your pet’s outfit, the better, and try to keep the costume away from the pets’ eyes, mouth, and lungs.
For more information on keeping your pet safe and healthy, visit our website today.
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