Essential Halloween Safety Tips for Your Pets
It’s the spookiest time of the year, but we want to make sure it’s not too creepy by sharing our Halloween pet safety tips with you and your four legged friends. Happy Howl-O-Ween from your friends at Cherry Creek Veterinary Hospital.
Avoiding Halloween Pet Hazards
Pet safety during Halloween is important to ensure that everyone has a great holiday season. The ghostly activities of the time of year can certainly bring some unique pet Halloween hazards to deal with.
Keep your pet safe from:
- Candies that contain chocolate, raisins, or the artificial sweetener xylitol
- Halloween decorations that they could become entangled in
- Electrical cords that could be chewed
- Glow sticks, which are potentially toxic if ingested
- Corn cobs that could become an obstruction if swallowed
- Open flames or wax melts that could lead to a burn
Take a look at things from the point of view of your pets, and potential pitfalls will look a lot more obvious.
Keeping Pets Safe on Halloween
When the night finally arrives, be sure that your pet is safe and able to join the fun.
If your plans include:
- Trick or treating — Make sure to assess if your pet is really ready to go. Strange people wearing unfamiliar items, flashing lights, and sudden noises can be too much for some pets, and that is okay. If your pet does tag along, be sure that they are wearing a well-fitted collar or harness and a secure lead (no flexi-leads tonight). If they wear a costume, be sure that it does not impede their vision and allows them to move freely.
- Hosting guests — Take some time to be sure personal belongings are put in a secure area away from pets. Pockets and purses often have pet hazards in them like medications, tobacco products, and sugar-free gum. Unsecured trash cans and unattended plates and cups can also be Halloween dangers for pets. You might consider keeping your pet put up in a secure location to minimize stress, and be sure microchip and identification tags are current in case of an accidental escape.
- Partying elsewhere — If you are leaving your pet home while you head out, be sure to leave your porch light off so knocking and doorbell ringing are kept to a minimum. Turn on some white noise so that your pet isn’t disturbed by noises of the festivities outdoors.
We hope that you and your pets have a great Halloween, but if you need us, don’t hesitate to reach out. We are here for you during Halloween and any other time of the year.