How to keep your pets safe on Halloween!

October 24, 2013 by houstonspca 2 Comments

It’s that spooky, scary, creepy, crazy time of year again!

Halloween is right around the corner and before the trick-or-treating begins, let’s take a look at how to keep your pets safe during this fun holiday!

Halloween tricks and treats can be fun for kids and adults, but strange costumes and loud sounds can frighten even the most well trained pet.

Here are some precautions you can take to make sure your pet stays safe and sound on Halloween night:

Check for Identification

And we aren’t talking about your driver’s license! Each of your pets should have their own collar with identification tags. Those tags need to be up to date with their name and a working phone number. Also, make sure that all of your pets are microchipped with your current address and phone number. If your pet gets out of the house on Halloween night, you are much more likely to be reunited with them if they have proper I.D.

Keep Your Pets Inside!

While you might think it would be fun to take your dog along for the trick-or-treating, it can be very stressful for them and even the most well-tempered dog can panic and become upset if they see a ghost or goblin jump out from the bushes! Instead, keep your pet in a quiet room or their crate, away from the noise and excitement that can be scary on this spooky night.

Keep the Candy Away

While candy may be a nice treat for kids, it can be very dangerous for your pets.  Many candies have artificial sweeteners, such as Xylitol, that can be poisonous to your pets. Chocolate is also very poisonous to dogs. Candy wrappers left on the floor can be eaten by your pets which can cause intestinal blockages and vomiting. Please ask your children to not share their candy with your pets, not even a little bite!

Decorations

It is so much fun to decorate the house for Halloween but take some precautions to keep your pets safe. Keep lit pumpkins and candles out of your pet’s reach as they can pose a fire hazard. Streamers, ribbons, fake cobwebs, electrical cords, and confetti can all be dangerous if accidentally eaten by a pet. If you do see your pet eat decorations, please take them to your vet immediately to prevent any permanent damage!

Pet Costumes

Dressing up your pet for Halloween can be super cute but you also need be aware of the restrictions those costumes put on your pet. Some costumes can make it hard for your pets to breathe, move, see, or hear which is very scary for them. If the costume has elastic bands that squeeze your pet very tight, you might want to avoid it. Why not opt for a fun Halloween bandana or clip-on bow tie? Your pets can still look adorable while safely getting into the Halloween spirit!

We all want to have a great time on Halloween, including your pets! Let’s try our best to keep them safe and happy on this fun holiday!

To report animal cruelty, please call 713-869-7722 or file a report online at www.houstonspca.org.  If you see an injured stray animal, please call 713-869-7722 for our 24-hour stray injured animal ambulance.