Halloween is a widely celebrated holiday, and if you have children, you always think of ways to improve your child’safety during those trick or treating hours. But as a pet owner you might not have ever given a second thought to keeping your pet safe on Halloween. When it comes to pets and holidays most people tend to worry more about the Fourth of July and New Year’because of all of the loud noises that can easily scare your pets. But the truth of the matter is that you should give just as much thought to your pet’safety on other holidays, including Halloween; you just never know what can be lurking out there that can be dangerous to your pet.
Here are some tips to follow to keep your pets safe on Halloween.
Tip one:
Sure it might be tempting to purchase those cute and adorable costumes that they sell for your pet in the pet stores for Halloween, but no matter how tempting it is, you should think twice before you buy it. If your pet is not used to wearing any kind of clothing you should never dress them up for Halloween. If you normally put your pet in clothes then you can go ahead and buy it. But if your pet is not used to any kind of clothes, making them wear a costume can make them uncomfortable, and it can even make them sick.
Tip two:
Always remember that candy is not made for pets. Sure they might be begging for those treats that you are handing out, and they might look cute while they are asking for it, but do not give it to them. If your dog is the type who likes to beg for treats then you should consider keeping a bag of dog treats nearby and give your dog those instead of candy.
Tip three:
Another thing that you need to know about Halloween is that chocolate can be toxic to animals; in some cases animals have been known to die from eating chocolate. So after the last trick-or-treater has come to your door be sure to put all of the candy up out of your pet’reach; remember, pets can jump up onto counters and other places, so it is best to keep the candy put away into a cupboard. Also keep close eyes on your pet when you have the candy bowl sitting out.
Tip four:
If you know or even suspect that your pet has gotten into any of the Halloween candy, you should contact your veterinarian immediately. If you can not reach your vet you can call the ASPCA’Poison Control Center 24 hours a day 365 days a year at 888-426-4435. But be aware that they might charge you a consultation fee.
Tip five:
If your pet is not good with strangers, then your best bet is to put them into a room where they are away from the door and won’t get stressed out over strangers approaching. Pets are not used to seeing people dressed up in elaborate costumes, so Halloween can be an extremely stressful and frightful time for your pets. By keeping them away from the door you are actually doing them a favor.
Tip six:
If you are not going to secure your pet in another room you should be sure that your pet has its license tags on. With the door opening and closing repeatedly there is a higher chance that your pet can escape outside and run away. Having its tags on will enable your pet to be returned to you when found.
