Halloween Pet Safety Tips for Dogs and Cats
The chill of fall is in the air, and the smell of pumpkin spice drifts out of every shop. Halloween approaches, but if your dog or cat had a hard time with the 4th of July, you might be worried about how they’ll handle trick-or-treating.
This is also the start of the holiday season, a time when a lot of changes happen in most homes, some of which can be hazardous for pets. So before you break out the mulled wine, let’s take a look at some ways to keep your pets safe during Halloween.
Pet Safety Tips for Halloween Decorations
Bringing the skeletons out of the closet is one of the best parts of the Halloween season. Having pets in the house doesn’t mean you have to miss out on the festive atmosphere, but you do need to keep their safety in mind when decorating.
Here’s a few quick tips for pet-proofing your home and yard:
Avoid decorations with thin plastic, strings, or other small parts that could be swallowed by pets. Fake cobwebs are especially hazardous as small pets and birds often get entangled in them.
Watch out for extension cords that pets could chew up or trip on. Secure them to the wall with stick-on clips, cover them with non-skid rugs, or stake down ones for outdoor decorations.
Know that pets might see all-natural decorations like pumpkins, gourds, and dried corn stalks as snacks. Pumpkins are actually a great treat for dogs and cats, but if you’ve put anything on them, like paint or bleach (to slow decay), they could become poisonous.
Be cautious with open flames. Keep those cosy candles out of reach of pets and opt for an LED candle in any jack-o'-lanterns that will be on the ground.
Watch your pets for signs of fear or stress around animatronic decorations; they might easily spook anxious animals.
If you have a sundowning dog in the house, don’t place anything where it might block usual walking paths or confuse them. New furniture layouts to accommodate decorations can also be disorienting for older pets.
The Halloween season is the perfect time to make sure your pets all have up-to-date microchips before your house gets busy with the end-of-year holidays.
Pet Safety Tips for Trick-or-Treating
If your family is going trick-or-treating, you might want to bring the whole family along, but it can be a stressful environment for dogs and cats. The streets will be loud and crowded with people in strange costumes.
Some pets may find this exciting and fun, but others might be intimidated. It’s also a very common night for pets to go missing in the commotion. You can reduce risks and help keep everyone safe with some careful planning:
Know Your Route
It can be tempting to head to a new neighborhood for better candy prospects, but for your pet’s sake, it’s better to stick with streets you’re both familiar with. Especially if this is your first year trick-or-treating with your pet. Plan out a route that has adequate places for doggy bathroom stops and quieter places you can take a break if needed.
Secure Them Properly
Pet owners who will be handing out candy instead of questing for it should make a safe room that you can shut pets in before the festivities start. If you don’t have a separate room, use baby gates to secure them or sit out on the porch to greet trick-or-treaters rather than opening the door every time. That way, you won’t have to worry about them running out the door.
And if they’ll be joining you for trick-or-treating, they should have a secure and trusted leash or carrier. This isn’t the time to be trying out a new harness, even if it really matches your costume.
Wear Reflective Gear
It will likely be dark for most of the time you’re trick-or-treating, so you and your pets need to be visible to anyone driving, biking, or walking on the streets. Use reflective tape, clothing, or lights — you could even incorporate it into your costume. This also doubles to help you keep track of all the kids and pets in your group.
Protect Them from Chocolate and Candy
Chocolate is highly toxic to dogs and cats. Before the holiday, make sure you keep it locked up or well out of their reach. And even if it’s not poisonous, all candy is unsafe for pets. Don’t trust plastic packaging to be able to keep out a determined dog or cat.
Chocolate and other candy will also be all over the ground during trick-or-treating and for a few days afterward, as well as increased broken glass, trash, costume parts, food, and other debris. If your dog has a habit of trying to eat things they shouldn’t on a walk, using a muzzle can be a good way to keep them safe from themselves.
Want to learn about other common foods that are poisonous to dogs? Check out this article.
Pet Safety Tips for Halloween Costumes
Some costumes are safe for dogs and cats to wear, but there are also many on the market that are cheaply made and don’t take your pet’s safety into account. Avoid costumes that are tight around their neck or have strings/straps they could get caught in or impede their movement. Also look out for parts that could be chewed off or swallowed.
Safe costumes have breakaway features that allow your pet to easily escape in an emergency or if they get frightened. Try to choose from brands that already produce pet care products, which are usually held to safety standards that dollar-store brands might not be.
Some of our favorites are:
Never leave a pet in a costume unattended.
You should also take your pet’s comfort and enjoyment into consideration when deciding on a costume. Even if it is safe for them to wear, it might stress them out or just be uncomfortable. In many cases, it’s a better idea to skip the costume; besides — they’re cute enough already.
Are hair dyes and temporary paints safe for pet costumes?
You should never apply hair dye, hair paints/chalks, or nail paint to your dog or cat unless it is approved by your veterinarian or groomer. Human-safe products aren’t good enough; they will not only need to be skin-safe, but also non-toxic if your pet licks it off. Some safe products do exist, but most of them are not very well regulated.
If you plan to create a pet costume that involves dye or temporary paint, work with a groomer who specializes in it well in advance. Talk to them about how to keep your pet safe while wearing it, and how to wash it off when you’re done.
Should You Leave Your Dog Alone on Halloween?
While we encourage you to leave your pets at home during Halloween festivities, for many dogs (and cats), this could be a stressful experience. Having people they don’t know come to the door, knocking, ringing the bell, and often shouting is likely to cause barking and other anxiety behaviors. You know your pets best, and some do fine if they’re shut up in an interior safe room of the house. But others may start chewing furniture or bark themselves hoarse.
If you have plans for Halloween evening, using an in-home pet sitter is the best way to give you and your pets peace of mind. You won’t have to worry about them destroying something in a panic with the 20th knock at the door or spending the night in fear under your bed.
And if you’re in the San Francisco Bay Area, you’re in luck! With G&G Pets, you have access to the best pet sitters in the area who will make sure your pets have as good a time as you do on Halloween. We’ll even refill the candy bowl.
Use the buttons below to learn more about services or to view the available sitters in your area and apply for your best match:
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