Keeping Your Pets Safe on Halloween

By Tamara Sevigny

Trick-or-treaters, candy, Jack-o'-lanterns, haunted houses and costume parties. Halloween is fun for the whole family; however, it is one of those holidays that is enjoyed more by people than by pets. The change in routine, extra people and activity going on in the home can be stressful to our furry friends.
Here are some helpful tips to keep in mind when preparing for your Halloween activities.
Your pet will appreciate a quiet place away from trick-or-treaters and other Halloween activities. Your pet may be frightened of the many unknown visitors knocking at the door all evening. You know that the ghosts and goblins outside are just costumes, but your pets may not. Your pets might become easily agitated by the bells and whistles of the elaborate costumes the kids are wearing. In addition, with the door constantly opening and closing it is a perfect means for your pet’s unnoticed escape.
As always, it is important to keep candy away from pets. Chocolate can be especially dangerous to dogs. Wrappers can be harmful if swallowed and could even cause choking. Instead, offer your pet some of his own favorite treats.
Decorations such as candles and jack-o’-lanterns should be kept out of your pet’s reach. You don’t want your curious pet to get singed or burned by a flame, or to accidentally knock over a candle and cause a fire.
Watch out for dangerous decorations. Streamers and fake spider webs, wires and cords from electric decorations should be out of reach. You don’t want to turn your Halloween into a real nightmare with a choking or electrocuted pet.
If you choose to dress up your pet for the occasion make sure that the costume is appropriate for your pet. Check the costume for any parts that your pet could chew off. And don’t leave your pet unattended with his costume on.
It might sound like fun to have the family dog attend the trick or treating outing with your children. But the children may have a difficult time handling the dog during all the excitement and other children around. Your pet could get loose and lost in all the excitement.
Lastly, have fun and keep all of your children safe this Halloween.