Dear Tabby & Brutus,
Halloween is my favorite holiday of the year. My family and I love decorating and celebrating All Hallow’s Eve to the max. However we have several animals that I want to be sure they are kept safe. What can you suggest we do to insure a fun and festive evening?
Sincerely,
No Scaredy-Cats Allowed
Dear Scaredy-Cats,
Halloween can downright be the most frightful night for both you and your pet. Forgo the stress and dangers by following these tips to ensure the best hair-raising holiday this year.
• Keep your pets safely indoors. Surprisingly, vicious pranksters have been known to tease, injure, steal, and even kill pets on Halloween night. Inexcusable? Yes! But preventable nonetheless. Also, be sure to confine your pets. Not only will your door be constantly opening and closing on Halloween, but strangers will be dressed in unusual costumes and yelling loudly for their candy. This, of course, is scary for our furry friends. Dogs are especially territorial and may become anxious and growl at innocent trick-or- treaters. Putting your dog or cat in a secure room away from the front door will also prevent them from darting outside into the night … a night when no one wants to be searching for a lost loved one.
• Get ready in advance. Even if your dog enjoys company, especially children, the constant thumping on the door and shouts of “Trick or Treat!” may be more than they ready for. Get a handful of treats and practice with them: have someone knock on the door (quietly, at first), then feed Fido a treat. Repeat frequently, increasing the volume of the knocking each time until even loud thumping doesn’t scare them.
• Trick-or-treat candies are not for pets. All forms of chocolate — especially baking or dark chocolate — can be dangerous, even lethal, for dogs and cats. Symptoms of chocolate poisoning may include vomiting, diarrhea, rapid breathing, increased heart rate, and seizures. Halloween candies containing the artificial sweetener xylitol can also be poisonous to dogs. Even small amounts of xylitol can cause a sudden drop in blood sugar and subsequent loss of coordination and seizures. And while xylitol toxicity in cats has yet to be established, it’s better to be safe than sorry. If your pet is experiencing these symptoms, please contact your vet immediately.
• ID’s Please! Opening your door frequently for trick-or-treaters creates ample opportunities for your pet to escape. If your beloved feline or Fido should escape and become lost having proper identification will increase the chances that he/she will be returned safely. Up to date ID tags and microchips are of the most importance.
• Playing Dress-Up. Most pets prefer to be in their “birthday suit.” However, if you decide to dress them up be sure that your pet is comfortable in the costume. Make sure it does not confine movement, restricts breathing, barking/meowing or hearing or causes an allergic reaction. We also suggest to try it on before the big night so they will get used to it. Have a party pooper? Try using a festive bandana as a form of costume.
• Decorations can be dangerous. Make sure that your ghoulish decorations are out of reach for your pets. Halloween pumpkins and corn can be potentially harmful to your pets. Although they are relatively nontoxic, such plants can induce gastrointestinal upset should your pets ingest them in large quantities. Intestinal blockage can even occur if large pieces are swallowed. Do not light your Jack-o-Lantern’s if your pet can reach them. It could burn them if they get too close or your playful pet could knock them over and cause a fire. Also, be sure to use fake spider webs sparingly. Your pet could choke on the material.
• When going out trick-or-treating, leave your dog at home. Dogs can be easily excited by the Halloween commotion and a dog bite or lost dog will quickly end the evening’s fun. If you absolutely MUST take your dog with your while trick-or-treating be very aware of your surroundings and of others. Your dog needs to be on a leash under an adult’s control. Even if children are physically able to control the dog (a small breed, for example), they are not experienced enough to predict and manage her behavior. If something goes seriously wrong (the dog gets loose, fights with another dog, snaps at another child, etc.), you – the owner – are responsible for your dog’s behavior.
Hope you have a safe and spooky Halloween! If you have pictures of your pets in their Halloween costumes, we’d love to see them! Please send them to feedback@ccspca.com
– By Sasha Bell