Tips for a Dog-Safe Halloween
Halloween can be a fun holiday, to ensure your dog finds it fun here are some tips for a dog safe halloween.
While Halloween is a favorite holiday for many people, it’s rarely enjoyed by dogs. With the variety of costumes and decorations that can be found while on a walk, it can be a scary time to be a pup!
In this article, we’ll be sharing the top tips you need to know in order to keep your dog safe and healthy this Halloween season.
1) 1. Give Your Dog a Safe Space
If you will be having trick or treaters visiting, or even just guests over for a small costume party and drinks, it’s important to give your dog a space where they can retreat and feel safe.
Even if your dog is generally well behaved and friendly, a stranger arriving at their home in a costume is enough to make many dogs tuck tail.
For some dogs, a baby gate keeping them away from the door is enough to put them at ease. Plus, this helps prevent them from escaping when you hand out candy to young trick or treaters on your doorstep.
Other dogs, especially if you are having a gathering at your house, will benefit from having a room to themselves where they can relax with some music and a yummy treat.
2) Don’t Share Your Candy
We all know that chocolate is bad for dogs, but other candies can pose a risk as well. Rather than sharing candy with your dog, get them their own special treat for the day instead.
Many candies contain a sweetener called xylitol that is extremely toxic to dogs. Even ingesting a small amount can be enough to kill a dog. Immediate veterinary treatment is necessary to try and save any dog that has eaten a product containing xylitol.
Candies may also pose a choking hazard to your dog as well, and wrappers can cause an intestinal obstruction. For these reasons, it’s best to keep the candy to yourself.
3) Be Wary of Dog Costumes
Photo by Videlle
Here is a photo of Indo trying on his Halloween costume. It takes him some time to warm up to clothes, so letting him wear it a few times before Halloween does the trick.
Many costumes can cause unnecessary stress to dogs, especially if they’ve never worn them before or have to wear them for a long period of time.
We know that it’s cute to see dogs dressed up, but it’s also important to consider your dog’s feelings on the matter.
Instead of a full costume that is restrictive, consider a bandana or a simple shirt with decoration.
You should also test your dog’s costume out ahead of time to make sure they are comfortable, or to spend time preparing them.
A dog that refuses to move, licks their lips, yawns, or displays other stress signals shouldn’t be forced into a costume.
4) Keep Decorations Out Of Reach
The variety of decorations that can be found around Halloween can not only be scary for your dog, but hazardous as well. Keeping decorations out of reach is an important part of Halloween safety for dogs.
Any decoration with cords or batteries can pose a risk when chewed on or ingested. Chewing on cords can lead to electric shock, and batteries are extremely toxic to dogs when ingested and chewed.
Other decorations can have sharp edges, especially when chewed. Metal and plastic decorations should be kept out of reach to avoid injury.
In addition, even soft, stuffing-filled toys can be harmful. If your dog destroys the decoration, they may ingest pieces of the stuffing that can cause an intestinal blockage.
Finally, pumpkins themselves should be kept away from dogs. While plain pumpkin can be beneficial for dogs in small amounts, they shouldn’t be allowed to eat an entire pumpkin.
Swallowing a chunk of pumpkin, or eating too much, can cause a gastrointestinal upset.
Following these tips will help you and your dog enjoy Halloween as much as possible this year, without scaring your dog or risking a health problem.
Photo from Canva