Halloween Safety: What You Should Know

As the holidays start to roll through town, it's important to keep your pet's safety in mind.  Here are a few tips for the first holiday on the menu: Halloween.

1.  No candy!  Chocolate, particularly dark chocolate and baking chocolate, can cause illness in dogs.  At best, you're looking at a bad case of diarrhea and ruined rugs, at worst, excessive chocolate consumption can lead to heart attacks, seizures, and death.  Sugar-free treats sweetened with Xylitol or other artificial sugars can be even more dangerous, as these sweeteners can cause blood sugar and insulin levels to rise and fall to dangerous levels.  Even the "safest" treats are unnecessary sugars.

2.  Use costume common sense.   Costumes are fun, but make sure there are no toxic materials, edible parts, or anything that can get caught up and trap or strangle the pet.  Pets should never be left unattended while wearing any type of costume.  Keep an eye on the weather and be sure the costume is not too hot for the temperature.

3.  Mind the decorations.  Candles, wires, steam-machines, whatever spooky Halloween fun you have planned, be sure that anything potentially dangerous is kept strictly out of pet boundaries.  Also, be sure to introduce your pet to any decorations they will have to come in eyesight of- some dogs are terrified of objects dangling from trees, or spooky sounds, or sudden motions.  Be sure your holiday fun isn't causing your pet undue stress.

4.  Keep the door off-limits during trick-or-treating.  No matter how friendly your dog is, you shouldn't allow them to join in the trick-or-treating fun.  Many children are scared of dogs, no matter what size, and the costumes and loud voices could startle even a well behaved dog into barking or growling.  It's best to keep your pets in a secure, quiet room away from all the commotion.  If you're sitting outside, leave your pets inside.

5.  Be ready just in case.  Have ID tags on your pets, current photos, and be prepared for any emergencies, both health-related concerns, or missing pets.  Holidays are the most common time for pets to go missing, both from accidental escapes, and theft.

Be safe, and have a Happy Halloween!