Halloween Hype
With all of the creepy commotion at the door, not only is Halloween scary for some pets, it can be downright overwhelming. Does your pet know how to act amongst all the ghosts and goblins? For some, people in costumes may elicit fearful or even aggressive responses. It’s best to avoid spooky situations by leaving your pet at home while you’re out with the trick-or-treaters. Keeping them in a room with their favorite bed or crate is typically the safest option. If your pet needs some additional soothing during all the activity, turn on some relaxing music and consider using a calming pheromone diffuser or a pressure wrap like a Thundershirt. For those that are super-reactive, talk with your veterinarian ahead of time about medications that can help.
Escape Artists
If you’re stuck at home passing out candy to the gremlins showing up at your door, be aware that some pets may think this is the perfect opportunity to make a break for it. And if they end up out on the street dodging the walking dead, no telling where they might end up! Keep your pet leashed just in case, or safer yet, keep them out of the room with the front door. But just in case somebody sneaks out, make sure all your furry family members are wearing proper ID on their collars and/or that all microchip contact information is up to date. A missing pet will quickly end the evening’s fun.
Tasty Treats
Make sure that your trick-or-treat goodies are kept far out of reach to avoid a potential digestive disaster or even worse, a toxic exposure. Many Halloween goodies are made with milk chocolate. While milk chocolate is not as toxic as dark chocolate, all chocolate is toxic! It’s also high in fat and sugar and can cause significant belly pains. The sugar substitute xylitol is another dangerous ingredient to be aware of. It is highly toxic to dogs and is found in gum and sugar-free candy. Make sure everyone in your family knows how important it is not to share their Halloween stash with Fido and have your veterinarian’s emergency contact info on hand just in case.
But I don’t want to be a ghost for Halloween…
Putting your pet in a funny or frightful get-up can certainly be entertaining and can provide fantastic photo ops. But unless your pet really loves donning the devil outfit, it may not be the best idea. Some pets will get stressed out - so if yours is feeling a little freaky - it’s just not worth it. But for those that happily tolerate any sort of accoutrement, go for it - as long as it doesn’t restrict movement, cover up eyes, or interfere with breathing. You’ll also want to make sure their costume is free of any small or dangling parts that could end up chewed off, choked on or even eaten. Additionally, be sure that your pet isn’t going to overheat in their disguise while they are out on the town. And don’t forget to confirm that potty breaks are still possible with clothes on. Finally, and maybe most importantly - do not ever leave your pet unsupervised with a costume on - no telling what kind of tricks they might try!