If you’ve made the decision to include your favorite four-legged friend in your Halloween celebration, the American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals has some helpful hits to keep Fido and Fluffy safe on this frightening night.
They’ve included on their web site the Top 10 Safety Tips for Pet Parents. Here is a summary of what they suggest:
- No treats: Chocolate in all forms is dangerous for dogs and cats. The site also warns against candies containing xylitol sweetener, which can cause a sudden drop in blood sugar if digested. Tin foil and cellophane candy wrappers also pose a choking hazard and could cause intestinal blockage.
- Pumpkins and decorative corn are considered to be nontoxic, but could produce gastrointestinal upset if a pet ingests them. Intestinal blockage could occur if a large piece is swallowed.
- Wires and cords should be kept out of reach from your pet. Remember the cat from “National Lampoon’s Christmas Vacation?” Enough said.
- Use extreme caution if adding a candle to a carved pumpkin. They certainly are festive, but pets have been known to knock a lit pumpkin over and cause a fire.
- Dress-ups can be fun for pets, but before you start investing in this year’s Goldilocks costume, be sure that your pet loves it. Wearing a costume can cause undue stress if your pet is not completely OK with it.
- If your pooch does decide it wants to dress up, make sure the costume isn’t annoying or unsafe. The costume should not constrict your pet’s movement or hearing or impede its ability to breath, bark or meow. A quick trick is to try your pet’s costume on before the big night to ensure your pet’s not distressed or allergic to its costume
- Look closely at your pet’s costume to make sure it does not have small, dangling or easily chewed-off pieces that it could choke on.
- Most dogs should be kept in a separate room, away from the door during trick-or-treat hours. Too much activity could be stressful for pets.
- When trick-or-treaters do come to your house, be sure you dog or cat doesn’t dart outside.
- Make sure your pet has proper identification in case it gets away on Halloween. Tags and/or a microchip may increase the chances that the pet is returned.
ASCPA suggests if your pet has ingested a potentially dangerous substance this Halloween, to call your veterinarian or the ASPCA Poison Control Center at 888-426-4435.
