Halloween and Your Pet
Halloween and Holiday Safety for Pets
Everyone loves to have fun for Halloween and sometimes we want to include our pets in our festivities, but we must be careful because our pets can be “spooked” by all the noises, strange costumes and visitors coming to the door. Plan ahead for the holiday, if your pet is prone to bolt out the door, then confinement to a back bedroom may be necessary. Be safe by making sure your pet has an ID tag, microchip or even a GPS tracker in case he escapes or gets lost.
Halloween has the highest incidence of lost dogs, injuries from car accidents, and accidental poisoinings than any other holiday. Halloween also has an elevated number of dog bites to children and people the dog is normally social around. You are responsible for controlling your pet and protecting him from escape or biting the little ghouls and goblins that come knocking at your door.
Halloween costumes can be scary to or pets. Be careful that your dog won’t be scared or try to attack the stranger in the costume. Masks or hats can sometimes confuse your dog or trigger territorial instincts even if they are normally familiar with that person. My dog Jake, did not like the Monster that swallowed my son and tried his very best to pull the costume off my son. We had to take our son with the coustume in a bag to his friends house to change and go trick or treating. We also tried to put a costume on Jake, and he did not tolerate that well either. Some dogs love it and some dogs loathe it.
If you want your dog to wear a costume for Halloween, make sure he is comfortable at all times. Do not use any costumes that use rubber bands or can constrict circulation or breathing. Be watchfull for any toxic paints or dyes. You may want to dress him up a few days earlier to get him used to the idea rather than wait for Halloween when all the excitment is at its highest. If your pet is uncomfortable in any way, get a quick picture, then let him “Trick or Treat” in his “birthday suit”.
When your child returns with their treats, be sure to put the goodies far out of reach of your pet. Not only is chocolate toxic to dogs, but they can also consume the wrappers and sticks. Also, watch your treat bowl. An unguarded treat bowl brimming with goodies is tempting to your dog. Nothing ruins a Halloween festivity than a trip to the animal emergency hospital with a sick pet.
Halloween can be fun for you and your pet with a little safety planning and protecting him from escape, injury or accidental poisoning.
