Halloween Safety Tips Every Pet Owner Should Know
While the Halloween season is full of tricks and treats that can be fun for the whole family, it also comes with plenty of hazards for our furry friends. Practicing Halloween pet safety is a great way to avoid an accident before it happens. With the following tips from Bowman Veterinary Hospital, you can minimize hazards and ensure a fun season for everyone.
Keeping Pets Safe On Halloween
Because pets are known to react to stimuli with a powerful fight-or-flight instinct, we encourage all pet owners to double check their pet’s microchip and change any contact information as needed. Likewise, if their collar and ID tags need a refresh, Halloween is a great time to update these.
Black cats can be easy targets for cruel pranks this time of year and should always be kept indoors. Watch black dogs carefully, and have safety lights affixed to their collar and leash when outside at night.
Stay With Me
Even pets that typically react to stimulation in a neutral or calm fashion can become highly anxious during Halloween. Be mindful of their appearance and behavior, and change your plans from parades or trick-or-treating to a quiet night at home.
Set up a quiet, dim room away from any action. Play a movie, music, or other white noise. Provide clean, fresh water, toys, treats, and lots of reassurance.
A Pet-Friendly Halloween
Many pets enjoy trick-or-treating with their families or standing by the door during the candy-giving festivities. These pets are often dressed up and seemingly part of the party. Pet costumes can be so much fun, but they must never obstruct vision or movement. Be sure they stay comfortable without scratching the skin, and are free from embellishments that could become dangerous. Remove the costume before the animal becomes agitated.
Out and About
If your pet accompanies you around the neighborhood, please add reflective tape to the leash and add flashing lights to your back so drivers can easily see you passing by. Try not to force them to endure large crowds, noises, or scary displays if they appear even the slightest bit worried or uncomfortable.
Be mindful that certain decor, such as ornamental corns, wreaths, fake cobwebs, animatronic displays, and string lights can all present specific threats to Halloween pet safety.
Say No to Chocolate and Candy
While it does depend on the type and volume consumed, chocolate can be terribly toxic to pets. Never allow your pet to have easy access to chocolate, pick up discarded candy wrappers, and encourage pets to “drop it” to reduce possible poisonings.
Xylitol, an ingredient found in sugar-free candies, gum, mints, baked goods, and more, is equally dangerous to pets, and should be kept away from pets.
Keep an eye on how you store candy and Halloween treats. High shelves, closed cabinets, and behind pantry doors can be excellent deterrents.
Halloween Pet Hazards
Please call us at (530) 823‑6306 with any questions about Halloween pet safety. Our veterinary team at Bowman Veterinary Hospital is always here for your pet.