Halloween Safety for Pets

Everyone loves to have fun for Halloween and sometimes we want to include our pets in our festivities, but we must be careful because our pets can be “spooked” by all the noises, strange costumes and visitors coming to the door. Plan ahead and if your pet is one to bark at every visitor or try to bolt out the door, then confinement to a back bedroom may be warranted. Keep your pet safe in case he should escape by ensuring he has an ID tag, a microchip or even the new GPS tracker.

Halloween has a high incidence of lost dogs, injuries, and accidental poisoning. Halloween also has an elevated number of dog bites to children and people the dog is normally social around. You are responsible for controlling your pet and protecting him from escape or biting the little ghouls and goblins that come knocking at your door.
Halloween costumes may frighten our pets. Be careful that your dog won’t be scared or try to attack the stranger in the costume. Some dogs may not recognize some one with a mask or large hat and  it can confuse your pet or  trigger territorial instincts even if they are normally very familiar with that person. My dog Jake, did not like the Monster that swallowed my son and tried his very best to pull the costume off my son. We had to take our son with the coustume in a bag to his friends house to change and go trick or treating. We even attempted to put a costume on Jake, but he did not tolerate that either. Some dogs enjoy getting dressed up and some dogs loathe it.

If you want your dog to wear a costume for Halloween, make sure he is comfortable at all times. Avoid costumes that use rubber bands or can restrict circulation or breathing. Check for toxic paints or dyes. Try dressing your pet up a few days earlier to get him used to the idea rather than waiting for Halloween. If your pet becomes uncomfortable with his costume, at least get a quick picture, then let him go trick or treating in his birthday suit.
Once your child returns with their goody bag, be sure to place the treats far out of reach of your pet. Chocolate is toxic to dogs and pets are known to eat the goodies; wrappers, sticks and all. Also, watch your treat bowl. An unguarded bowl with goodies is tempting to your pet.  Nothing ruins a Halloween festivity than a trip to the animal emergency hospital with a sick pet.
Halloween can be fun for you and your pet with a little planning and safeguarding your pet against escape, injury or poisoning.