It’s that time of year for pumpkins, dressing up, and spooky fun, and our four legged friends now have so many options to join in the fun! Whether they are dressing up as witches, ghosts, princesses, or just greeting all the trick or treaters, here are a couple of tips for a fun and safe time for all who are involved.
1. Costumes- Make sure that anything your pet is going to wear is not tight around the neck or extremities, and that there are no loose items the pets can bite or pull off and possibly consume. It is also important that costumes do not block their vision or rub their eyes, especially when they turn their head. Finally, any pet who is panting heavily, pulling their lips back into a smile, or is otherwise visibly stressed while wearing a costume might be happier going naked!
2. Candy- It is very important to make sure in all the fun that candy is kept out of reach of dogs and cats. At the very least sugary treats are not healthy for them, but chocolate and xylitol containing gums/sugar free candy can be toxic, and wrapped candy and plastic wrappers can cause intestinal obstruction if ingested. The darker the chocolate, the more dangerous it is!
3. General safety- It is also very important to remember that not all dogs find Halloween fun. Multiple visitors in scary costumes can be intimidating. If any dogs are stressed, barking excessively, or nervous, it might be best to keep them in a quiet area of the house, keep them leashed while walking, and try to avoid crowds. It’s best to ask that people not pet dogs that are stressed or nervous, especially if those people are in costume!
We hope everyone has a happy and safe Halloween!
