Halloween Pet Safety

From a pet’s perspective, Halloween can be pretty spooky: flashing lights, perpetual doorbell ringing, costumed kids running through the streets. The commotion can provoke anxiety in pets at best and pose safety risks for both animals and trick-or-treaters at worst. Follow these top Halloween pet safety tips to avoid a real scare.

Keep Candy Out of Reach

That big bowl of candies sitting by the front door is tempting for everyone — including pets. Keep the treats to yourself on Halloween, though. Chocolates (especially dark chocolate) and candies artificially sweetened with xylitol are poisonous to dogs. Dogs will often gobble up candy wrappers, too, which can block their intestines and cause pancreatitis.

Call your vet if you suspect Fluffy ingested some Halloween treats, or call the 24-hour ASPCA Animal Poison Control Center hotline at 888.426.4435. (Warning: They may charge a consultation fee.)

Give Pets a Quiet Place to Relax

Minimize “ding-dong” dog anxiety by keeping your pet in a dedicated space with a calming atmosphere away from the front door. Your pet’s favorite toys or food puzzles will be a welcome distraction. Even better: Get ahead of knocking and bell ringing by sitting on the front porch to give away candy.

When In Doubt, Stay Home

Even kid-friendly dogs can become overwhelmed by the chaos of trick-or-treating. Costumed kids and adults reaching out to pat Fido on the head may provoke anxiety in your dog, posing a threat to trick-or-treaters. Scared dogs — even when well trained — can become aggressive when they feel threatened. Leave trick-or-treating to the humans and leave your pet at home.

If you can’t resist taking your fur baby out for a stroll, keep them on a short or retractable leash. Ensure they’re properly outfitted with reflective safety tape and their collar with identification. Unfamiliar roads, heavy foot traffic, and costumed trick-or-treaters may cause a fearful dog to bolt.

About Those Adorable Costumes

Is there anything cuter than seeing a dachshund dressed as a hot dog? Or a kitty donning a fierce lion mane? Animal costumes are nearly irresistible but choose carefully as they can pose a Halloween pet safety problem. Too loose, and they might cause your pet to slip out while walking the neighborhood. Too tight, and they’ll struggle to move. Steer clear of costumes that:

• Cover your pet’s eyes or ears.
• Have little snackable buttons and loose strings.
• Include toxic hair dyes or paints your pet could lick off their fur.

Decorate With Care

Keep candles well out of reach of pets, including those inside jack-o’-lanterns. Consider using flickering LED bulbs instead. The same goes for spooky string lights, which may electrocute pets when gnawed through. Keep potentially poisonous liquids locked away, like glow sticks and fake blood. Remember that anything round can be a choking hazard, so skip the rubber eyeballs this year!

With the Halloween pet safety basics covered, you can focus on hosting a killer party with these spooky goodies and games!