Halloween is just around the corner! Through all the tricks and treats of this fun holiday, keep these handy tips in mind to keep your four-legged friend safe.
1. Keep your trick-or-treat candies out of reach of your pup.
Especially if your dog is a jumper, make sure that your candy is placed securely out of your dog’s way. It’s a commonly known fact that chocolate is dangerous for pups, and baking or dark chocolate can be especially lethal. Watch for symptoms of chocolate poisoning, which include vomiting, diarrhea, rapid breathing, increased heart rate, and seizures. Xylitol is another common candy ingredient that is toxic for pups to ingest.
2. Be mindful of your Halloween Decor.
Anything with wires or electrical cords could be potentially dangerous to a curious pup. The glass on light cords could shatter if chewed on and injure your dog as well.
3. Keep your pooch inside when it’s time to trick-or-treat.
Halloween has been known to bring out the pranksters. Keep your four-legged friend safe by not leaving them out in the yard for kids to harass or trample over.
4. Ditch the Halloween costume for your dog.
Some dogs have absolutely no problem wearing clothing or being dressed up. Unless your dog is one of those dogs, it’s probably best to forget putting them into a stressful situation just for that cute photo to post on Instagram. If you do dress your dog up, make sure the costume isn’t unsafe and allows your pup to move, hear, and breathe with ease.
5. Gauge your pet’s reaction to visitors.
Before the big night, get a really good understanding of how your pup will react to having tons of creatures, big and small, arrive at your doorstep.
6. Leave your anxious pet confined or away from the front door.
If your personal guard dog will bark every two minutes at the constant knocking and opening and closing of your front door, this is probably a good idea. It’ll keep both you and your dog’s Halloween experience less stressful.
7. Make sure to keep Halloween plants out of reach.
Pumpkins and corn are relatively safe for dogs to ingest – in appropriate amounts. Having too much of either could cause gastrointestinal upset or intestinal blockage.
8. Keep lit pumpkins away from your pup.
One curious sniff or accidental bump could seriously injure your pup – or even your house – in the event of a fire.
9. Put that collar and tag on your dog.
If your pup somehow manages to escape outside through the commotion of many trick-or-treaters coming to your door, having a collar and appropriate ID tag with your contact information on it will be crucial to ensuring your pup’s safe return- even if your dog is microchipped!
10. Keep glow sticks or glow jewelry away from your dog.
The liquid in these products can be dangerous to our four-legged friends. Although unlikely that they’re toxic, they don’t necessarily taste the best and can cause bad reactions in dogs.
