Howl-oween Safety for Pets

Halloween can be a fun time of year to include pets in the festivities, but safety should always be top of mind during any holiday.

Here are a few of our favorite tips to keep your pets safe this Halloween!

Costume Safety:

1. Make sure costumes fit well: If a costume is too tight, it can make it difficult for your pet to breathe and a costume that is too large can lead to injuries from tripping or the ability to chew on pieces of the costume (leading to ingestion).

2. Avoid putting masks on your pets:  This can lead to stress, difficulty breathing, and even eye injury.

3. Plan for night time visibility: If you are taking your pet trick-or-treating, using a reflective leash or reflective tape can help prevent accidents, especially as people navigate roads that they may not normally travel.  Just be sure that your pet is properly socialized before adding them into the mix of trick-or-treating.

Creating a Safe Environment

1. Disruption from knocking and doorbell ringing: Some pets do not do well with constant visits from trick-or-treaters. Creating a safe space with favorite toys and water, away from the noise can help ease the anxiety.  If medication is necessary, please contact your veterinarian soon to be ready in time for Halloween.

2. Add a barrier to prevent escaping: Even if your pet is generally calm during trick or treating hours, it is always a good idea to add a gate by the front door or have your pet on a leash (and keep it in your hand) to prevent your pet from escaping your home.  Spooky costumes and strange noises can cause pets to act in unpredictable ways.

3. Keep candy away: Pets can be curious around new treats.  Ingesting chocolate and xylitol (found in many sugar-free candies) can be toxic for pets, but those ingredients aren’t the only danger, wrappers can also lead to complications if they are eaten.

4. Use alternatives to flames for pumpkins: Glow sticks or larger LED candles can be great alternatives to traditional candles for lighting pumpkins.  Over 1,000 fires are unintentionally started each year on Halloween due to pets.  Just be sure the items you use are not small enough to be ingested.