With Halloween just a few days away, I thought I’d write a quick post on a few different ways to keep our pets safe.
Halloween is filled with costumes, candy, parties, and a lot of fun chaos, so it’s important to keep an eye out for our four-legged companions who can get in a lot of trouble if we’re not closely monitoring them.
I also made a fun little infographic for you on the subject that sums everything up, so feel free to share it around!
You can find a more detailed list at the bottom, for those of you who like to read a little more in depth.
Infographic:
Know someone who has pets this Halloween? Share it!
1. Keep All Candy Away From Pets
If you’re giving out candy for Trick-or-Treaters or your children are Trick-or-Treating themselves, be sure to keep all the goodies away from your pets. Many types of candy contain Xylitol, a sweetener usually found in gum that has been shown to be very toxic to pets. Symptoms include vomiting, seizures, diarrhea and even death. Please be careful! Be sure to put away any candy you have somewhere where pets can’t get into it.
2. Keep Pets Away From the Door
If your dog is wary of strangers or you know they’re territorial, consider placing them in a separate room where they won’t be bothered by the constant doorbell ringing and loud Trick-or-Treaters. This also prevents them from accidentally getting out and becoming lost on quite possibly the scariest night of the year!
3. Keep Black Cats Indoors for a few Days Before Halloween
There are heartless people out there who love to use black cats solely for the purpose of mean pranks during Halloween. For this reason alone, some shelters have even stopped offering black cats for adoption during all of October. If you have any black cats, keep them inside for a few days before Halloween just to be safe.
4. Be Careful With Your Halloween Decorations
Pets can easily burn their noses or light fire to their fur if they get too close and mess around with a Jack-o-lantern or a lit candle. If these make part of your Halloween decorations, make sure your pets don’t have access to them to prevent injuries. Make sure all your other Halloween decor (glow sticks, fake jewelry, etc.) is also kid and pet friendly. You don’t want any of these items being chewed and ingested!
5. Make Halloween Costumes for Your Pet Optional
Everyone loves a cute dog in a cute costume, however, if your pooch doesn’t seem too thrilled, or looks uncomfortable, it’s best to take the costume off. And never leave a pet in a costume unattended as they can become tangled and injure themselves especially if their costume has ribbons, ties, or belts.