People can have fun at Halloween, which marks the end of summer and the beginning of autumn and winter. But the strange sights, sounds, and smells of the holiday can make animals very anxious. It can be scary for the family pets, and it can also be dangerous. Many sweets are bad for animals, pet costumes can be uncomfortable or even dangerous, and decorations might entice our pets to get into something that could hurt them. So, you need to take a few extra steps to make sure your pets are safe on this special day. Read on to find out more.
Keep Treats Out Of Reach
During this time of year, it seems like candy bowls are everywhere. Even though these bowls of candy may just look tempting to you, they can be unsafe for your pets.
Sugar-free candies with xylitol might be the biggest cause for worry. Dogs and cats can die from even a small amount of xylitol. Make sure your animals can’t get to any products with xylitol in them. If you think they might have eaten xylitol-containing candy, you should call your vet right away and have your pet insurance to hand.
Chocolate, especially dark or baking chocolate, is another danger that is better known. Some of the ingredients in chocolate can be harmful to dogs and cats. As a general rule, very small amounts of milk chocolate are probably safe, but any amount of baking chocolate may be dangerous.
If your pet ate chocolate, you need to call your vet right away. It helps to know what kind of chocolate it was (baking, dark, milk, etc.) and how much might have been eaten. There are lots of Halloween recipes that are safe for pets that you can make for them to enjoy if you want them to be a part of the celebrations.
Pet Costumes Can Be Dangerous
Yes, your pet looks cute dressed up, but even though they are cute, not every pet should wear a costume. Costumes should fit well without making it hard to move or breathe, or rubbing anywhere that could cause sores or bare spots. Pets can’t tell us what bothers them about a costume, so they might just act out by trying to get it off. In the process, they might bite off and swallow a piece of the costume, which could lead to an intestinal blockage or another emergency.
If you want to put a costume on your pet, make sure it fits well and keep an eye on it while it’s wearing it. Leave it on for as little time as possible, take some cute pictures to share with friends and family, and then take it off before your pet gets too uncomfortable or eats a piece of the costume.
Ensure IDs And Collars Are Up To Date
Since there is a higher-than-average chance that your pet will run away when you open or close a door, make sure they are wearing collars with up-to-date contact information so they can be found quickly and brought back home. This is a good time to have the information on that microchip updated, too.
Halloween is a fun way to start the holiday season, but it can be scary, confusing, and even dangerous for your pet. However, as you can see, only a few simple steps are needed to make the holiday fun and safe for everyone.
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