Getting ready for all of Halloween's festivities? Don't forget about you furry family members!
5 Things to Help Your Pet Have A Spooktacular Halloween
Keep Costumes Comfortable
Wearing a costume can cause unneeded stress on our fur babies. If you do dress up your pet for Halloween, make sure the costume does not limit their movement, sight or ability to breathe, bark or meow. They must also love it!
Wearing a costume can cause unneeded stress on our fur babies. If you do dress up your pet for Halloween, make sure the costume does not limit their movement, sight or ability to breathe, bark or meow. They must also love it!
Look over the costume closely for small, dangling or easily chewed-off pieces that could present a choking hazard. Ill-fitting outfits can get twisted on external objects or your pet, leading to injury. If they try on their costume and seem distressed, consider letting your pet rock a festive bandana instead.
Let Your Pet Know It's You Behind The Costume
Don’t be surprised if you're wearing a costume and your pet doesn’t recognize you. They might even be frightened! To help them become comfortable with your festive apparel, have your dog or cat watch you put it on. Throughout the night, you should take of your mask (or parts of the costume) to show your pet that it’s still you underneath the clothes.
Don’t be surprised if you're wearing a costume and your pet doesn’t recognize you. They might even be frightened! To help them become comfortable with your festive apparel, have your dog or cat watch you put it on. Throughout the night, you should take of your mask (or parts of the costume) to show your pet that it’s still you underneath the clothes.
Keep Your Pet Inside
Keep your pet safe and secure inside of a bedroom or other area in your home. With the doorbell ringing, youngsters shouting “Trick or Treat,” and strangers at your door every few minutes, pets can become frightened easily. This fear can lead to aggression (barking, growling, or even biting) or can result in a panicked dog or cat escaping out the door. We never want a pet on the run, especially on a holiday.
Keep your pet safe and secure inside of a bedroom or other area in your home. With the doorbell ringing, youngsters shouting “Trick or Treat,” and strangers at your door every few minutes, pets can become frightened easily. This fear can lead to aggression (barking, growling, or even biting) or can result in a panicked dog or cat escaping out the door. We never want a pet on the run, especially on a holiday.
Decorate With Furry Friends In Mind
Spooky decorations go hand in hand with Halloween, but can quickly turn worrisome - or even fatal - if you have curious pets. While many seasonal plants, such as pumpkins and decorative corn are nontoxic, they can lead to upset tummies in animals if eaten.
Spooky decorations go hand in hand with Halloween, but can quickly turn worrisome - or even fatal - if you have curious pets. While many seasonal plants, such as pumpkins and decorative corn are nontoxic, they can lead to upset tummies in animals if eaten.
Hide All Unsafe Sweets
All Halloween goodies should be reserved for trick-or-treaters of the human variety. Dogs are especially sensitive to a chemical called theobromine found in chocolate. This compound is found in all types of chocolate, but dark and unsweetened baking chocolate is the most dangerous. Ingestion of chocolate can cause vomiting, excitement, urinary incontinence, tremors, heart arrhythmias, and seizures.
All Halloween goodies should be reserved for trick-or-treaters of the human variety. Dogs are especially sensitive to a chemical called theobromine found in chocolate. This compound is found in all types of chocolate, but dark and unsweetened baking chocolate is the most dangerous. Ingestion of chocolate can cause vomiting, excitement, urinary incontinence, tremors, heart arrhythmias, and seizures.
Many sugar-free candies and gums also contain xylitol, a sugar alcohol that tastes sweet but has no calories. For animals, xylitol can lead to a rapid drop in blood sugar. Symptoms include weakness, vomiting, seizures and liver dysfunction or failure.