Safe Hallowe'en for your Pets

Halloween can be a really fun holiday for humans, especially for youngsters. In all the busyness of putting up decorations, buying candy, and making costumes, do you think about how this holiday affects your pets? It can be a major upheaval and stressor in their lives. Here are some tips to make it a little easier for them.

Dangerous Ingestion
Keep the candy locked away. Many types of candy can be fatal to pets. Chocolate, especially dark chocolate, raisins, and artificial sweeteners can cause things like low blood glucose levels, liver damage and kidney failure. Foil wrappers can cause tears in the intestinal tract when ingested. If you're having an adult party, make sure alcohol is far away from your pets because just a little bit can kill. Put decorative items such as corn cobs and pumpkins out of reach, due to the high risk of intestinal obstruction when ingested.

Decoration Catastrophe
Pumpkins also can pose a fire risk, so it's a good idea to use artificial candles. I purchase mine at the dollar store. Wires and cords can be a problem if a pet becomes entangled, smoke machines can cause irritated eyes or even burns if you are using dry ice.

Uncomfortable Costumes
Some pets ham it up and love wearing their doggie Halloween costume (I'm assuming cats hate being dressed up). Unfortunately, they definitely don't all like the capes, hats, antlers and what-have-you that accompany the holiday, so don't force them to wear them. The first danger of a costume is the possibility of eating it. Eating a large piece or even a small piece of fabric can cause a blockage, and strings or tassels on costumes can get caught in intestines. A few days before Halloween, put the costume on your pet. See how he or she reacts. Doing it a couple days ahead of time will get the pet used to the costume before the excitement of the big day. Animals really can read our moods, and if you have some really excited children in the house, it may make things very scary.
Another danger of costumes comes from a HUMAN wearing a costume, even a human that the pet knows. The animal may attack or run away. Pursuing your retreating pet while wearing a costume may elicit a fight-or-flight response that can pose danger to human and animal alike.

Anxiety
The excitement of the holiday can translate to anxiety and confusion for your pet. Animals can dart out the front door when it's opened to greet trick-or-treaters. Doorbells being rung every 3 minutes make noise and are not a normal part of everyday life. One thing I do is put a note on the doorbell that says "Zombies ate the doorbell. Please knock." It dissuades people from ringing the bell. Taking your pet out on the town on Halloween can be especially dangerous, not only because of the high anxiety, but because sometimes people do not act like themselves hidden behind their costumes and may do careless things or drive when they shouldn't be driving. Keep your cats indoors, ESPECIALLY black cats. Black cats are at greater risk at this time of year to be harmed.

Don't forget clear and up-to-date ID tags. If your pet does run out the door and get lost, the ID on your pet will help make sure you are reunited. Take those extra precautions and keep your furry babies safe!