Halloween Safety Tips
🎃🎃 Halloween is all about fun for the family. But for your dogs, it could become a very scary night! Follow these five tips for keeping your dog safe this Halloween:
🍫Stash the candy. All forms of chocolate - especially dark or baking chocolate - can be dangerous, even lethal, for dogs. If your dog has ingested chocolate, look for poisoning symptoms like vomiting, diarrhea, rapid breathing, increased heart rate, and seizures. Candy containing xylitol, an artificial sweetener, can also be poisonous to dogs. Even a small amount can cause loss of coordination and seizures. If you suspect your pet has ingested something toxic, call your veterinarian or urgent animal hospital.
🚪Keep your pets inside and secure. People have been known to steal, injure, tease, and even kill pets on Halloween. Make sure you keep your dogs inside and safe from pranksters. Your door will continuously be opening and closing, and strangers will be dressed in costumes that could spook your dog. It’s best to put your dog in a separate and secure room.
🎃Keep decorations out of reach. Everyone loves a carved jack-o-lantern, but they are best kept away from your dogs. Lit pumpkins can easily be knocked over by dogs and cause a fire, plus uncooked or moldy pumpkin can cause gastrointestinal issues if ingested. Electric and battery-powered decorations are a safer choice but can still pose a risk. Dogs who chew on wires and batteries can receive electric shocks or burns.
👙Choose the right costume. For some dogs wearing a costume might cause stress. Make sure the costume does not restrict movement, hearing, eyesight, or the ability to breathe. Your dog should be supervised while wearing a costume in case something goes wrong. It always helps to run a dress rehearsal before Halloween night, so your dog gets comfortable and rewarded for wearing it. If your dog hates wearing their costume, opt for a festive bandana instead!
📞Make sure you have proper identification for your dog. If your dog gets loose on Halloween, having the proper identification will increase the chances of a safe return. Ensure your dog is microchipped and wearing a collar with up-to-date contact information.
🎃🎃Please follow these helpful tricks so you, your family and your dog can enjoy a night of treats!