Halloween is a time for spooky costumes, pumpkins, and trick-or-treating. It can also be a stressful time for pet owners, as they worry about their furry friends being scared or harmed. Here are five tips to help keep your pets safe and happy during Halloween.
#1: Avoid sharing candy bags with your pet
Sorting through the loot after an excellent night of trick-or-treating is one of the holiday’s highlights for children. However, keep your furry pal’s nose—and jaws—out of your kid’s candy bag or the bowl of candy you bought to hand out to trick-or-treaters. Not only are many treats dangerous for pets, but the wrappers themselves can cause gastrointestinal obstruction. Place your candy bowl well out of your pet’s reach between each ring of your doorbell, and ensure your children don’t leave their candy or wrappers lying around within paw’s reach.
#2: Check your pet’s costume fit
While many pets prefer to wear their birthday suits on Halloween, your furry pal may enjoy donning a festive costume. When outfitting your pet, check the costume’s fit to ensure it does not slip over their eyes, restrict breathing, or limit movement. Also, check for parts that can be chewed off, such as ties, zippers, and other dangling pieces.
#3: Limit spooky encounters
Although you may enjoy setting up your yard as a haunted attraction, your pet may become too frightened to go outside to do their business. Minimize eerie sounds, motion-activated monsters, and flashing lights to avoid scaring your pet.
#4: Keep your pet indoors after dark
Most of the holiday’s mischief-making happens at night, so get your pet’s daily walk in well before dark. When letting your dog out one last time before bed, walk outside with them, and take a bright flashlight so you can keep a close eye on them.
#5: Microchip your pet
With the front door constantly opening, your pet has an increased chance of slipping out in the costumed chaos. Double-check that their microchip’s registration information is current so you can be contacted if they dart out the door. If your pet hasn’t been microchipped already, call us to schedule an appointment.
Halloween can be a frightening holiday, so our team is here to help if your furry pal encounters a scary situation. Give us a call to schedule an appointment.