Halloween can be a fun-filled holiday but it can also be a little chaotic if you are answering the door for Trick or Treaters, expecting party guests, or helping children with their costumes. Keep your pets safe from stress and harm by following our five Halloween Pet Stress and Safety Tips:
Pet Costumes – Pets may look cute in costumes but being dressed up can be both stressful and harmful for pets. Don’t dress up your pet unless you know he is comfortable being the center of attention and is physically comfortable and safe in his costume. Try the costume on your pet in advance and be sensitive to your pet’s reaction. Make sure the costume:
is comfortable, not too heavy and not stressful for your pet
doesn’t constrict your pet’s movement when walking or climbing stairs
doesn’t constrict breathing, panting, barking or meowing, or vomiting
doesn’t obstruct vision or muffle hearing
doesn’t have loose pieces (buttons, bows, sequins) that can be chewed off to pose choking hazards
Trick or Treat Candy – All candies and chocolate pose safety hazards for your pets. Chocolate and candy with caffeine are dangerous for pets. These products are made from cacao seeds which contain methylxanthines. If ingested by animals it can cause diarrhea, vomiting, dehydration, excessive thirst and urination, hyperactivity, tremors, abnormal heart rate, seizures and possibly death. Also, some candies and gums contain xylitol, a sweetener, which is dangerous for pets because it can lead to liver failure; the early signs are loss of muscle control and coordination, vomiting and lethargy. All candies and candy wrappers (cellophane, paper, and aluminum foil) are choking hazards for pets and are dangerous if ingested. So keep your Halloween candy and children’s Trick or Treat Bags safe and away from your pets. Call your vet immediately or the ASPCA Animal Poison Control Center 888-426-4435 if you think your pet has ingested something he shouldn’t.
Halloween Pumpkins and Natural Decorations – Pumpkins, gourds, decorative corn, and other vegetable decorations are non-toxic but can produce gastrointestinal upset and intestinal blockage in your pet. Carved pumpkins with lit candles are a hazard because it’s easy for pets, especially frisky young puppies and kittens, to bump them. Don’t use real candles in your carved pumpkins to avoid burns to your pets and the threat of fire in your home. Small battery-operated flashlights or lights are a safer choice for lighting up your carved pumpkins.
Halloween Lights and Decorations – Lights, decorations and wire cords present hazards for your pet. Your pet can receive life threatening electrical shocks from chewing through wires and your pet’s mouth can be injured by pieces of plastic or glass.
Trick or Treaters, Party Guests, and Other Visitors – It’s best to keep your pet in a separate room because too many strangers can be stressful for most pets and you will want to minimize the risk of having your pet escape when opening the door for trick or treaters and guests. Make sure your pet is wearing a securely-fastened collar with up-to-date identification to increase the chance of your pet’s safe return if he does escape.
Have a fun-filled, stress-free and safe Halloween!
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Your pet will thrive if you can provide him with a predictable, calm and safe home environment and schedule.
Pets like a predictable schedule. It is best for your pet if you can maintain the same schedule for their walks or exercise periods and meals. If you give them a treat after grooming them, they will expect this every time. The ability to predict these events lowers your pet’s stress.
Pets also have social needs. Dogs are pack animals, and many birds are pair-bonded or live in the wild in large flocks. Even a cat (who can be a bit of a loner) still needs regular attention from you. Part of creating a stress-free home environment includes addressing your animal’s social needs.
If you are
gone for long periods of time, your pet may become
lonely so pay attention to your animal when you are home. Sometimes this can be as simple as making space for them in
the rooms where you spend the most time. Put a dog bed down in
your family room. Encourage your cat to lie in your lap while you watch TV or read a book. Bring the bird cage into the room where you read your newspaper or chat with your family.
Consider how to prevent your pets from being lonely and to keep your pets stimulated while you are away. You may need to hire a pet sitter
or a dog walker,
buy a companion animal, buy special toys that make your pets play for food, or even leave out stuffed animals or a t-shirt that smells like you. It’s up t
o you to see that your pet remains stimulated but safe whenever you are away for more than a few hours at a time.
And finally, don’t forget, even you can be a source of stress in your animal at home. Animals can feel your stress and are more sensitive to your moods than you would think. If you are anxious or angry, your pet is going to notice.
You can learn more about how to create a predictable, calm and safe environment for your pet in the appropriate pages of this web site.
