If you are anything like us, you absolutely love and look forward to Halloween every single year. What’s not to love? If you are a pet owner, Halloween can be taken to an entirely new level of adorableness. You probably started eyeing all the creative and cute costumes for both dogs and cats that began popping up over the last few weeks, giving you ammo to start to plan your furry friend’s Halloween, unbeknownst to him or her.
Once you’ve found the perfect costume and have your holiday all planned out, it is important to take the time to familiarize yourself with some of the top Halloween safety tips for dogs and cats. While we all love this spooky holiday, it can spell trouble for your pet if you aren’t careful. Keeping your pet safe on Halloween will only really require a little bit of common sense and the extra care to keep your pooch out of the candy, thus out of harm’s way.
In order to make for a happy holiday, be sure to keep the following safety tips in mind:
Avoid ALL Human Halloween Treat Intake
This may seem like a no-brainer, but it is such an important point that we must mention it before anything else. While we all may love biting into a delicious candy bar, chocolate, raisins and other sweets can be harmful for dogs and cats. Keep in mind that it is not only the treat inside that can be harmful, but the tin foil or cellophane wrapper, too. If you do suspect that your pet has ingested something toxic, please call our veterinary clinic right away.
Keep Seasonal Plants out of Reach
Even though many popular Halloween plants like pumpkins and decorative corn are considered to be relatively nontoxic, they can cause an upset stomach and lead to more problems if ingested by your dog or cat. These plants may also cause intestinal blockage if ingested by pets. In order to avoid an emergency vet trip, do your best to keep these items – along with all Halloween decorations – out of reach.
Make Sure if they Wear a Costume, It’s Safe
There is nothing cuter than a dressed up puppy, but it is important that should you choose to have a pet costume, make sure your dog or cat is comfortable being in one. While your pet may love the attention, it can cause them undue stress if they are paraded around for too long. Furthermore, Halloween costumes should not hinder your pet’s ability to see, hear, breathe or move about freely.
Establish a Safe, Quiet Place
Depending on where you live, the doorbell may be ringing nonstop come Halloween night. For some pets, the doorbell is stressful enough when just rung on an occasion. This is why it is a good idea to know your dog or cat’s limitations and establish a safe, quiet space for them to retreat to if you expect to entertain trick-or-treaters.
These four tips should be everything you need to have an enjoyable, fun and safe holiday with your adorable dog or cat. Happy Halloween, from all of us to you!
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