When Halloween rolls around, people generally fall into one of two categories—those who delight in all things frightening and those who would rather skip the spooky season. Your four-legged friend may straddle the line, wishing for a handful of treats from the candy bowl, while bolting in fright from your yard full of inflatable monsters.

To ensure your pet experiences all the fun of the holiday and none of the fright, follow our All Breed Pet Care team’s list of Halloween do’s and don’ts.

DO ensure your pet’s identification is current

All of the ID tags and collar embroidery your pet wears will do no good in helping you reunite with them if the information is outdated. Double-check that any forms of identification your pet has, including microchip registration, contain your current phone number and contact information. Halloween is one of the busiest times of the year for animal control officers and animal shelters housing lost pets, so improve the chances of a prompt reunion with your furry pal by ensuring their identification information is updated.

DON’T stuff your pet into an uncomfortable costume

Although we agree that there is nothing more adorable than a cat donning a fierce lion costume or a dog dressed up as a superhero, many pets do not appreciate Halloween attire. Pet costumes can prove too restrictive or cumbersome, interfering with mobility, breathing, and vision. Plus, your pet may be intrigued by dangling embellishments or fasteners and chew off buttons and ties, which can become lodged in their gastrointestinal tract. 

If your pet appears uncomfortable in a costume—indicated by a crouched posture, flattened ears, and widened eyes—stick to simple festive adornments, like a spooky collar or bandana. 

DO stash candy in a secure spot

The bags of chocolate, sweets, and other treats you purchased for trick-or-treaters (or yourself) are some of the most dangerous items your furry pal may encounter on Halloween. From accidental poisoning to pancreatitis, choking hazards to gastrointestinal obstructions, a bag full of goodies can cause more tricks than treats if your pet indulges.

Some of the most common hazards found in trick-or-treat bags include:

  • Chocolate — Bite-size chocolates can add up quickly if your pet devours your child’s loot, and result in vomiting, diarrhea, hyperactivity, cardiac dysfunction, and seizures.
  • Sugar-free sweets — Candies, gum, and other sweets that contain xylitol instead of sugar can be fatal to pets. Ingesting xylitol, a common sweetener, can cause a severe drop in blood sugar and acute liver damage.
  • Trail mix — A tasty mix of nuts, chocolate, and raisins can tempt your pet into chowing down on this toxic concoction, so keep it out of reach to prevent poisoning caused by macadamia nuts, chocolate, or raisins.
  • Wrappers — Your furry pal can’t unwrap treats before gulping them down, so all those foil and plastic wrappers can wad up in their gastrointestinal tract and cause an obstruction.

DON’T place decorations within paw’s reach

Fake spiderwebs, candlelit jack-o’-lanterns, glow sticks, power cords, and countless other Halloween decorations pose a variety of threats to your pet. To prevent injuries that range from electrical burns and shocks to singed whiskers and paws, place all decor out of your pet’s reach. Electrical cords snaking across the floor should be covered or hidden behind furniture, while burning candles should be swapped out for battery-operated versions. Glow sticks and spiderwebs aren’t exceptionally toxic, but they can cause gastrointestinal upset or an obstruction if chewed or swallowed. 

DO confine your pet during trick-or-treating hours

 

When handing out candy to the endless rounds of trick-or-treaters, your attention likely will be focused on all the cute, creative, and creepy costumes instead of your pet’s whereabouts. Avoid potential mishaps by setting up your furry pal in a quiet, cozy room. Give your pet a long-lasting chew to entertain them, drown out spooky sounds with a soothing soundtrack, and ensure they remain secure by shutting the door. By giving your pet a calm, safe environment to relax in, you won’t have to worry about their escape artist tendencies, territorial behavior, or stranger-danger fears.

Halloween mishaps can turn into horror stories for pet owners, but advance planning can keep your furry pal safe from harm. A great way to help your pet stay safe during Halloween—and all year long—is through microchipping. Give our All Breed Pet Care team a call to schedule your pet’s microchipping appointment so they will always be identifiable.