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Community Corner

Tips on How to Keep Your Pets Safe on Halloween

Don't let Halloween be a frightening or dangerous experience for your pet.

Halloween is here, which means the daily landscape of our lives has been covered in spooky decorations, creative costumes, tempting candy and … hazards to our pet’s health? That’s right – this exciting October day brings with it several surprising threats that can put our beloved pets at risk. 

While most of us enjoy the spine-tingling festivities associated with the spirit of Halloween, this day could be a frightening or dangerous experience for your pet. Here are some helpful tips on how you can keep your pet safe, relaxed and healthy this Halloween:

Pet costumes: If you want to include your furry companion in the fun of dressing up for Halloween, be mindful of your pet’s comfort level when wearing a costume. Some pets won’t tolerate it at all, but if yours does be sure to avoid tight clothing or straps that might constrict their breathing. 

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Also, while your pet is being a good sport about having to wear a costume, make sure you supervise them the entire time. Regardless of how cute they may look, most pets aren’t thrilled about donning clothing or accessories and will attempt to shed them in some way. This could potentially lead to your pet getting tangled up or trying to chew at their costume – both of which are choking hazards.

Treats: There’s always an abundance of delicious candy available to us during this time of year. As a result, there’s a good chance your pet will have increased access to tasty human treats. Chocolate is one obvious danger that, if ingested by your pet, could cause serious illness or even death. But that’s not the only risk: Xylitol, a chemical used to sweeten candy, can cause low blood sugar or liver failure if your pet consumes even the smallest amount. 

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Lollipop sticks and foil wrappers are other items that can become lodged in your pet’s throat or digestive track and cause a painful obstruction that would require a trip to a pet emergency hospital. 

So be extra vigilant about where your Halloween candy stash is being stored. Also, if you have children who like to admire their trick-or-treat treasures by spreading them out on the floor, keep an eye on your pet to make sure they don’t seize that opportunity to sneak a treat for themselves. 

Strange visitors: The continuous ringing of the doorbell, interesting sounds, new smells and visitors dressed in unfamiliar clothing is enough to spook even the most calm or well-behaved pet. Animals that are scared or nervous can act out by trying to run away or acting defensively toward strangers that walk into their territory. Make sure they are wearing proper identification and are microchipped in case they do slip out the door. So allow your pet to enjoy Halloween inside the house in a safe, quiet place away from the constant activity at the front door. 

Also, it’s a good idea to leave your pet at home on Halloween instead of taking them with you on your trick-or-treat adventures. As fun as it is to include our pets in our outdoor activities, the loud noises, swarms of people, dark, hooded costumes and elaborate masks associated with Halloween can give your pet a real scare. 

Decorations: As festive as they are, some decorations can be dangerously enticing to pets. For example, fake spider webs tend to attract cats in particular, who mistake the stringy material as a toy and may tangle themselves up in it or ingest it. 

Jack-o-lanterns are another threat to pets during Halloween. Behind their carved-out exterior lies a very serious danger – a lit candle. A curious pet or a dog with a strong tail could knock over a lit Jack-o-lantern and either burn themselves or start a fire.

It’s easy to get caught up in the fun festivities of this delightfully scary day. But it’s important to be proactive about protecting your pet during this time because an ill, injured, misbehaved or lost pet can make Halloween a real nightmare for you and your furry companion. 

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