Halloween is a fun time for humans and can be a challenging time for pets. Trick-or-treaters ringing the doorbell all evening, enticing chocolate goodies lying around, even costumes have some drawbacks for our four-legged family members. Consider the following halloween tips to keep them safe and happy.
Costume Cautions
- While they make for adorable social media posts, most dogs are not fans of wearing costumes. Take a cue from your pet and avoid costumes if they display signs of stress during dress up. Opt for a Halloween-themed leash or fun bandana around the collar instead.
- If your pet does wear a costume, use Halloween costumes that are made for pets. Beware of any tags, tabs, strings or laces that can be chewed on or that could become a tripping hazard.
- Your pets may get upset if YOU are dressed in costume, particularly with masks or face makeup that make it difficult for them to recognize you. If your dog or cat seems upset by halloween costumes, it’s best to keep them separated from the Halloween celebration in a comfortable area of your home with fresh water and comfy bedding.
Safety Concerns
- Update your pets ID tags.
- Consider putting your dog or cat in a secure room away from the front door to help prevent them from darting outside into the night.
- Play it safe and keep pets indoors and/or supervised outdoors during this season.
Candy Cautions
Keep candy out of reach of pets and in secure containers. Sugary candy along with candy wrappers can be harmful on the digestive system and chocolate can be toxic. Stock up on extra dog and cat treats so you can give them their own Halloween treats. If your dog does ingest Halloween candy, particularly chocolate, call your veterinarian.
Symptoms to look out for include:
- Vomiting
- Diarrhea
- Blood or mucous in the stool
- Not able to get comfortable when resting
- Pacing
- Straining to vomit
- Refusing food
- Overall weakness
If the Halloween season has presented challenges for your pets in the past, consider giving your dog or cat a drug-free calming supplement like Zylkene®. Zylkene helps dogs and cats relax and cope with challenging situations — without making them drowsy. Start giving the capsules to your pet a week or so before Halloween to help them adjust. Ask for Zylkene by name at your local veterinary clinic or online at Chewy.com or Healthy Pets.
Please note: If your pet’s behavior changes suddenly in any way, call your veterinarian. He or she can rule out any underlying medical issues as well as make additional recommendations.