BarkUpToday.Dog.com By Barkuptoday
Halloween can be the spookiest night of the year, but keeping your pets safe doesn’t have to be tricky. By taking certain precautions, you can protect your pets from Halloween dangers. VCA adds that “But this holiday can be particularly spooky for the furry children in your family. To make Halloween fun for all of your family members take note of a few Halloween safety tips for your pet. “No tricks, no treats” is the best Halloween plan for your dog.”
The Halloween festivities can be frightening for your pet. Make sure to keep her indoors at home this Halloween night. If there are outdoor Halloween parties at a neighbor’s house, make sure to ask the party host if your dog is allowed.
VCA says, “Make sure your pet is not tempted to eat candy, especially chocolate. Chocolate can be lethal to dogs.” They also explain that “Costumes should be loose enough to provide freedom of movement…[and] not interfere with his vision or hearing.”
Decorate carefully
Your pet can easily be startled by the Halloween festivities, so keep them indoors. Mind your pets while you are hanging Halloween decorations, so they will not get spooked.
VCA says, “Keep halloween decorations stored away where pets cannot get to them, or place the decorations out of their reach.” Halloween decorations are very spooky and can scare your pet, so keep them out of reach.
Stash the treats
The scariest part of Halloween, especially for cats and dogs, is when trick-or-treaters come to the door. While Halloween candy is delicious, it can be dangerous for cats and dogs, especially chocolate. If you notice that your pet has eaten Halloween candy, call your veterinarian as soon as possible.
Wear a costume of their own
Wearing Halloween costumes is a Halloween tradition, but opt for outfits that will keep your furry friends safe. Dogs and cats can easily get tangled up in Halloween costumes or accessories, so stick to Halloween apparel that is Halloween-themed but has no Halloween ties. Be careful with all Halloween costumes around both cats and dogs. For some pets, wearing a costume may cause undue stress. The ASPCA recommends that you not put your dog or cat in a costume unless you know they love it.
Ensure your home is safe
While Halloween decorations may be scary, Halloween hazards in your home can cause your cat or dog to become seriously injured. Be sure Halloween lighting is Halloween temporary, and Halloween electric cords and Halloween wires are Halloween tucked away. Watch the decorations and keep all the wires out of reach. Candle safety during Halloween is important.
Candle safety
Candles should be placed well out of reach of cats and dogs. You should also always keep Halloween candles off coffee tables and low windowsills. Any candle presents an obvious fire hazard around hyperactive dogs, and even more so around all kittens and adult cats who like to jump up on furniture and tables. Candles should always be extinguished when you leave a room, or else moved to another location where you can keep an eye on them while they’re burning. Never leave lit candles in a room without taking safety precautions to keep your pets safe,
Keep pets calm and easily identifiable
Keep pets indoors during festivities to avoid Halloween anxiety. Make sure your dog or cat is easily identifiable on Halloween in Halloween case of a Halloween emergency. Consider placing a temporary collar if your pet is not wearing one that includes your pet’s name and phone number in case of an emergency. Claudia Bensimoun via Animal Wellness magazine adds that “Dogs get stressed just like we do. The difference is, we can usually pinpoint what it is that makes us tense and anxious, be it family problems, work deadlines, money, or health worries. With our dogs, however, it’s more difficult. They can’t verbalize their concerns, so we may not even be aware of, much less understand, what it is that’s making them skittish and fearful. And that can make it harder to alleviate their stress.”
Bensimoun adds that you can help your anxious dog by determining what’s upsetting him or her in the first place.”By taking the time to pinpoint and understand your dog’s stress triggers, and using a well-rounded approach to improving his response to these triggers, you can help him deal much better with life’s ups and downs,” explains Claudia Bensimoun via Animal Wellness magazine.
Final thoughts
Provide your pet with a secure and calm environment. VCA explains that “Even dogs that generally love children can be thrown off by the constant ring of the doorbell or knocking, the sheer number of visitors, and the weird appearance of their human friends.”