As Halloween approaches, families everywhere are gearing up for spooky fun, including Trick-or-Treating. While the safest bet for pets is keeping them cozy at home, we know some families want to bring their dogs along for the adventure. But beware! It’s essential to keep your dog’s comfort and safety in mind amid the excitement. If you dare to take your dog out on your Trick-or-Treating journey, stay alert for lurking hazards that could put a quick halt to the Halloween fun. Here are a few tips to ensure your pet and family have a safe evening.
1. Prepare
Before Halloween night, we recommend prepping to ensure a safer evening for your family and dog. Here are some steps to help keep Trick-or-Treating running smoothly:
- Ensure your dog obeys basic commands like “stay” and “sit.” This is crucial to keep them from chasing after squirrels or trying to join in the fun with the neighborhood kids.
- Make sure your dog is microchipped and wearing ID tags. With spooky decorations and distractions, there’s a chance they could run off. ID tags and a microchip will help increase the chances of reuniting with your dog if they go missing.
- Since it will be dark, invest in a reflective or LED collar, leash, or costume to keep your dog visible to traffic.
- Before Halloween night, let your dog gradually get used to their costume, introducing it piece by piece. If they show signs of distress or discomfort, remove it immediately.
2. Costumes
Many pets aren’t fond of wearing costumes—let’s face it, they’re more for our enjoyment than theirs! That said, it’s crucial to ensure your pets are comfortable and safe in whatever they do wear. Here are a few tips:
- Monitor your pet at all times while they are wearing the costume and if they become irritated, itchy, or clearly uncomfortable, promptly remove it.
- Do not allow costumes to impair your pet’s vision, hearing, movement, or breathing.
- Steer clear of costumes with small embellishments like metallic beads or sequins that could be chewed off. If swallowed, small items can pose a choking hazard or cause a blockage.
- For your pet’s sake, it might be best to skip the costume altogether or opt for a simple Halloween bandana or bowtie instead!
3. Trick-Or-Treating
While out Trick-or-Treating with the kids, it’s wise to designate one adult in your group to be responsible for your dog. This person will keep a close eye on any signs that your furry friend may be ready to head back to the car or home. Here are some tips for a safe and fun outing:
- Avoid busy streets with large crowds and heavy traffic.
- Your dog should remain on-leash at all times for better control. Again, we recommend using a reflective or LED collar and leash.
- Don’t allow your dog to approach unfamiliar people or animals. It’s a good idea for the designated handler to stay on the sidewalk or street with your dog while kids walk up to the neighbor’s door.
- Be mindful of your dog’s reactions to costumes and decorations. If they seem alarmed or startled by sudden noises, it’s best for the handler to take your dog home.
- Be on the lookout for dropped candy or glow sticks on the ground! Kids might accidentally drop treats, or your dog could try to sneak a bite. Glow sticks can be dangerous if your dog punctures them with their teeth. The glowing contents can cause pain and irritation in the mouth for your dog, as well as profuse drooling and foaming at the mouth.
- Keep your dog away from lit candles inside pumpkins, as they can cause burns or become a fire hazard if your pet tries to investigate or knocks the pumpkin over.
4. At-Home
Once you’re home, remind the kids not to leave their candy bags where pets can reach them. It’s best to stash all candy in a high cupboard, the top shelf of a closed pantry or closet, or in a secure cabinet. Find more tips here!
If your pet does get into the Halloween candy, this could lead to serious health problems, including chocolate toxicity, xylitol toxicity, raisin toxicity, an obstruction from all the wrappers, or pancreatitis from the sugary sweets. Contact your local animal emergency hospital or a pet poison hotline to determine the best course of action.
Remember, your pets can still be part of the Halloween fun in other safe and enjoyable ways! You can bake them homemade pumpkin treats, set up a festive backdrop for a Halloween photo shoot, snuggle up together for a spooky movie night, or have your dog do a trick for a treat!
We hope you and your pets have a safe and fun Halloween! Share your favorite ways to celebrate Halloween with your pet in the comments!
If your pet does experience an emergency on Halloween night and your family veterinarian is unavailable, our Oakdale Urgent Care is open from 2-10 PM daily, and both our Oakdale and St. Paul ERs are open 24/7, year-round.
More Reading:
