For many of us, Halloween is an exciting time: candy, costumes, decorating, haunted houses. For our pets, Halloween comes with its own set of hazards and stressful moments. It’s our duty as pet owners to minimize both and keep them safe during Spooky Season.
These Halloween safety tips are easy to implement to ensure that you and your pet get the most out of the holiday.
Be Cautious with Candy and other Festive Foods
Halloween candy is everywhere before summer even ends. If you love to stock your house with it, keep it in a high cabinet or somewhere with a child-safety lock. Many of the candy we love is toxic our pets and can even be deadly. And we don’t want a horror movie unfolding in the confines of our own homes.
While cats are typically picky eaters, dogs will eat anything if given the opportunity. The candy below is especially hazardous to your pets, so be sure to keep them out of reach.
Chocolate – Dogs and cats who’ve eaten chocolate are the top reason for emergency vet visits during October. Chocolate contains chemicals, theobromine and methylxanthines, that is toxic and sometimes fatal. Baking chocolate and dark chocolates have higher levels of this chemical. Symptoms to look out for are vomiting, diarrhea, muscle tremors, abnormal heart rhythm, abdominal discomfort, increased thirst, and seizures. If you discover that your pet has eaten chocolate, contact your vet or emergency vet hospital immediately.
Sugar-free candy – The artificial sweetener, Xylitol, is found in many foods, including sugar-free candies. This sweetener is extremely toxic to dogs and cats causing low blood pressure, seizure, liver failure, and sometimes even death. Be wary of companies hiding Xylitol in their products by calling it wood sugar, birch sugar, or birch bark extract.
Raisins & chocolate-covered raisins – Raisins are very toxic to dogs and cats and can lead to kidney failure. If you notice your animal has eaten raisins, grapes, or the chocolate-covered variety, get them to your vet as soon as possible.
Sugar – In general, small amounts of sugar are okay for your dog (e.g., a small handful of blueberries or strawberries), but if consumed in large amounts, it can cause gastrointestinal upset. Expect your dog to have severe diarrhea and vomiting if they get into any candy, like candy corn, that has high sucrose and glucose levels.
Macadamia nuts – This nut isn’t often found in candy, but it is a popular nut in our holiday baked goods. Macadamia nuts are toxic to both dogs and cats; even a tiny amount can cause weakness, tremors, and lethargy.
Dairy – A common misconception is that cats love milk. And yes, they will lap up a small dish of it, but cats are lactose intolerant. Try to keep any food that may contain milk products away from them.
Also, be aware of candy wrappers and apples. Candy wrappers can block your pet’s throat or intestinal tract, requiring surgery, while apple seeds contain a form of cyanide. If you suspect your pet has eaten anything toxic, call your vet or the ASPCA’s Animal Poison Control Center 24-hour hotline: (888) 426-4435.
Pick a Comfortable Costume
There are all types of incredible pet costumes available now. Even small pets like guinea pigs and lizards are getting in on the fun. Be aware of your pet’s boundaries and comfort level when wearing their costume. If they’re afraid of their costume or look uncomfortable, consider getting a Halloween-themed or autumn-themed collar or bandana instead.
Here are our tips for choosing a pet costume:
Make sure it’s comfortable, fits properly, and doesn’t restrict your pet’s ability to move or breathe.
Beware of small parts, buttons, or dangling pieces that can be ripped off and ingested.
If your pet becomes stressed while you’re dressing them up or wearing their costume, take it off them and return it. Make sure to keep that receipt!
If they are comfortable, don’t keep the costume on for very long.
Don’t leave your pet unsupervised while they’re wearing their costume.
Beware of Dangerous Decorations
Who doesn’t love to decorate for Halloween; the pumpkins, the bats, the orange and black lights, and the fun yard decorations like that 12-foot skeleton that went viral recently.
Here are the Halloween decorations that can pose a safety risk:
Small decorations – Anything small enough to be swallowed whole should be avoided or kept way out of reach on a high table or shelf.
Glow sticks – Fun for adults and children, glow sticks can easily be mistaken for a toy by your pet. While the goo inside them isn’t toxic, it tastes awful.
Electrical cords and lights – Easily seen as something to chew, if electrical cords are plugged in, your pet could get shocked or tangled in them.
Fog machines – The fluid inside fog machines is potentially toxic, so keep the bottle away from your pets and don’t let them be exposed to an active fog machine for too long.
Candles – We love lighting up our Jack-O-Lanterns, but a lit candle can pose some danger to your pet. Curious noses will sniff out a candle and get too close to the flame.
Corncobs – Yes, they’re beautiful, but if your pet eats them, it can cause intestinal obstruction and may require surgery to remove them.
Styrofoam – Styrofoam is often used to create Halloween decorations like ghost heads or tombstones and is poisonous to your pet. Consider keeping the ghosts aloft and out of your pet’s reach and making your yard tombstones out of wood.
Other decorations to keep out of reach are rubber eyeballs, fake blood, synthetic cobwebs, and potpourri.
Minimize the Spooky Season Stress
Let’s go over some general tips to lower stress for you and your pet during the Halloween season:
If you get a parade of trick-or-treaters coming to your door on Halloween night, keeping your pets away from the front door might be best. If they’re comfortable confined to a bedroom or cage or even a fenced-off area in your house, find what works best for you and your pet.
Keep a collar with tags on all your animals just in case they slip out the door. And if they’re microchipped, make sure your contact information is up to date.
Anxiety manifests as panting, hiding, barking, and pacing. If your pet is prone to anxiety, call your vet and discuss any medical issues or if a calming supplement is necessary.
Keep them inside during the week of Halloween, especially black dogs and cats. Some tricksters are more devious than others.
Keep all these tips and tricks in mind during the Halloween season to ensure your and your pets' safety.