Spook-tacular Tips For Pet Owners

5 Easy Ways to Make Sure Everyone in Your Home Enjoys Their Halloween

Halloween brings more than candy, spooky movies, and costumes; it brings a whole new world of troublesome adventure to your pets. There’s no need to curb your enthusiasm for the fun-filled holiday, but being aware of potential hazards will ensure a frightfully wonderful Halloween for everyone in your household. Keep these five tips in mind to enjoy a boo-tiful Halloween.

Costume Do’s and Don’t’s

• Costumes are incredibly cute, but not always appreciated by your pet. If you’re hoping to dress your Halloween party up in corresponding Star Wars apparel, make sure Fido is okay with his Ewok costume. Try it on in advance and let your pet test run the outfit for at least an hour to make sure no irritations or chewing hazards become apparent.

Treats Can Be Tricky

• While neon glow sticks and necklaces are a viable safety precaution for children, they’re extremely toxic when ingested. Candy is also toxic for pets, especially the artificial sweetner xylitol, raisins, and chocolate. Be on the lookout for shaking, vomiting, and diarrhea as telltale signs of over consumption. The smaller the breed, the more your pet is at risk for any of these hazards, so proceed with caution.

Houdini For Halloween?

• With the parade of trick-or-treaters knocking on neighborhood doors, it’s easy to become distracted and allow Fido a chance to pull a Houdini and disappear. ID tags are extremely beneficial throughout the entire holiday season, so be sure your pet is sporting a collar and ID tag for Halloween.

Horrific Holiday Encounters

• Kids of all ages love dressing up for Halloween, but the pooch in your life may see the costumes as a threat. If your dog has displayed anxiety around new people in the past, count on them taking costumed candy-lovers as a sign of danger. While Fido may typically have a heart of gold, it’s best to keep a nervous pooch in a safe place for Halloween.

Shockingly Hazardous Décor

• Though your string of pumpkin lights may be the perfect addition to your Halloween party, it could be a temptingly dangerous chew toy for your pet. Be sure to keep all electrical cords, candles, and toxic decorations out of reach. For more information visit www.aspca.org/pet-care/halloween-safety-tips