Halloween is the best holiday for the whole family to enjoy. For many people, getting everyone together for Halloween means including family pets, too. Many pet owners enjoy dressing up their pets for Halloween as much as dressing up in the costumes themselves. Halloween is a fun time for dogs and cats too, but there are many dangers that you as a pet owner need to be aware of to keep your pets safe this Halloween.
Get to know your pet
The most important part of keeping your pet safe on Halloween is understanding what kind of animal they are, and whether Halloween is really a holiday that your dog or cat should celebrate with everyone else. Some pets are best not to join the family for a Halloween party or neighborhood trick-or-treating. It may be best for your pet to stay home if it exhibits any of the following traits:
Aggression: Does your pet become aggressive when house guests come? Do they charge people on the street when you take them for walks? If that’s the case, it might not be a good idea to bring them with you for Halloween. Even if your dog naturally loves children, he may be afraid of children’s costumes, especially if children are swinging around swords, lightsabers, or magic wands.
Small Size: Kids are not known to be distracted when they go out on Halloween. If you have a smaller pet such as a Chihuahua or a cat, they may be stepped on by children or run over by strollers. There is a lot of activity on the streets on Halloween night, and you don’t want your pet to get hurt by it.
Anxiety: Some pets, especially cats, prefer the quiet life inside a peaceful home to the noisy activity in the neighborhood during the holidays. With so many people running around, your pet might get skittish if they join you on Halloween.
black cats
Black cats have long been associated with witches on Halloween. Sadly, some people have maligned any black cat they come across on Halloween. If you have a black cat, keep it in a safe place by keeping it indoors for the duration of the holiday. Better to keep your cat safe than to regret a bad outcome.
Food Safety
Keeping pets safe this Halloween doesn’t stop when trick-or-treating is over. Candy can be harmful to pets. Chocolate is a common Halloween treat, but dogs can get sick or die if they eat too much chocolate. Cats can choke on hard candy, too. Never feed Halloween candy to pets, and make sure your children keep Halloween candy out of reach of your pets.
clothing safety
If you plan to dress up your dog or cat for Halloween, be sure to provide them with an appropriate costume. Full face masks and headgear are fine for older children, but they should be avoided for your pets, as they don’t realize what’s going on and may see the mask as a threat.
The best pet costumes are simple, lightweight designs that simply drape over your pet’s body, with a clasp underneath to tie the ends of the costume together. A hat-type cap that sits on your pet’s head may be appropriate, although many pets don’t like them.