7 Great Tips on How To Keep Your Dog Safe on Halloween

Two adorable pitbull pups in a jack-o-lantern

Kids love Halloween. Dog moms and dads love Halloween. But do DOGS love Halloween?  They do if we, as their care-givers, are sensitive to them and protect their well being.

After much research, I’ve put together a good list of tips on how to keep your dog safe on Halloween. A couple may surprise you…

Food:

Halloween Candy Bad for Dogs

Don’t feed your pet or allow anyone to feed your pet anything but his normal treats and food. Why? You can’t be too careful. People get a bit crazy on Halloween, maybe have a little too much to drink or maybe are unaware of what is dangerous to a dog and want to share. Many of us may have heard that chocolate and the xylitol sweetener found in many sugar-free candies and gum are potentially deadly to your dog. But alcohol? I hadn’t heard that one. Now, I’ve never even thought about giving my dog alcohol, but young college kids or others that may not realize how dangerous this is and think it’s funny might. Be aware and take care.

Some of us include pumpkin in our dog’s diet because, when it’s cooked, it’s healthy for them and is a good source of fiber.  But that’s cooked pumpkin. Raw pumpkin can give your dog a bad stomach ache so be careful your pup doesn’t get into a Jack O’Lantern and make a meal of it. Same goes for the candied corn! 🙂 Lollipop pops/sticks, as well as candy wrapping are also hazardous.

** Note: If you think your pet has swallowed something toxic during Halloween and you can’t get to your vet or a 24-hour emergency vet isn’t in your area, you can contact the Pet Poison Helpline, a 24-hour service that assists pet owners, veterinarians and vet technicians who are treating potentially poisoned pets.

Costumes:

We just talked about what fun it is dressing your pet up for Halloween. And it is! We can all enjoy Halloween and be responsible and sensitive to our pets at the same time. If your pet is going to wear a costume, it must fit well and be comfortable for him or her. Ill-fitting costumes can chafe and cause skin irritations or can get caught  in a dog’s feet where they can really hurt themselves.

Also any dangling pieces that can be chewed off and swallowed, or interferes with how your dog sees, hears or with its breathing is a bad idea and an accident waiting to happen. I’d be especially vigilant about interfering at all with a dog’s breathing for short snouted dogs like bulldogs, boxers, pugs and Cavalier King Charles Spaniels.

Ill-fitting Halloween Costume

And, please, don’t leave your pet unattended in costume. Our pups are like perpetual toddlers and can get themselves in grave trouble when we’re not paying attention.

Dangerous Decorations:

Lit candles, jack-o-lanterns, live wiring from Halloween decorations, even glow sticks and glow jewelry are dangerous for your pet. Keep them away. I’d never heard about glow sticks or jewelry. And while they’re probably not toxic, apparently, the liquid in these products tastes bad and makes pets salivate excessively. Even act weird.

Identification:

QR Code Dog ID’s Customized Tag

I can’t stress how important it is to make sure your pet has a microchip and ID tag. When there’s a line of kids at your door and you’re paying attention to helping them, your dog could slip out unnoticed. We never want this to happen, but it could. A microchip and ID tag could make the difference between getting your dog returned and not. And saving it’s life if your dog is on medication. There’s a company who has what I think is a great pet identification product called DogIDs.

They utilize what’s called a QR code which, when scanned by any smart phone, brings up your pet’s entire profile, including medications, allergies, much more information than would ever fit on a dog tag. There’s also a 1-800 number you can call if the QR code can’t be scanned.

It’s Too Loud Out There!:

Loud noises aren’t good for your dog

Noise affect pets. It makes some nervous and anxious. So please be sensitive to your dog. If they are affected by noise, best to keep them home and in a quiet, safe spot where they feel comfortable.

Trick or Treating May Not be Fun for Your Dog:

While you might think it’s a great idea to take your dog trick or treating, it might not be the thing to do. Why? Some children may be afraid of dogs. And some dogs who are sensitive to noise, can become scared and/or aggressive in the hoopla of Halloween.  Best to confine your Dog Halloween Costume Parade to the daytime hours and to keep a close watch on how Fido is handling the festivities. If your dog is out at night, it’s a good idea to put reflective tape on their costume so they are visible in the dark.

Animal Cruelty and Theft:

We would never dream of harming our pets, but there are all types out in the world. And Halloween tends to bring out rowdy, rebellious and even criminal behavior in some, who might tease, hurt or steal a pet. If your dog is outside, keep them on a strong leash by your side. And watch them. If they’re inside with you, keep a good eye on them too, or keep them in another room or a safe space where they can hide.

In Summary:

Halloween is a great holiday to celebrate with your furry family members. The tips above of how to do it safely and with sensitivity for your pet’s wellbeing will make it that much more fun for you both. Enjoy your Halloween and we would love to see pictures of your fabulous Halloween adventures!

Until next time…