It's almost Halloween... a traditionally favorite time of the year. Many people love all the excitement, the costumes, the candy, the decorations, and did I mention the candy?
Our animal friends, however, just might find this time of year, this holiday, a bit too scary for them.
1. The days before, and the day of Halloween can be hazardous for your pet - especially dark colored cats. Please follow the advice of the ASPCA and keep your cats and dogs indoors during this time of year. Too many cases of malicious pet torture and injury are reported, don't let your pet become a statistic.
2. Costumes are such fun - all ages enjoy dressing for the season. If you are a pet owner who enjoys dressing your pet in a costume please see that some basic safety measures are followed. Masks should be avoided completely - they can inhibit your animals' sense of sight and smell - both of which are necessary for your pet to know what's happening around them. If your pet becomes confused through sight or smell inhibition they can become stressed - which could lead to irritability, snapping behavior, or fearful, hiding/ running away behavior.
Costumes should be manufactured to be worn similarly to a sweater or jacket. Any trailing aspect of a pet costume - a cape, for instance, needs to attach in such a way as to not put stress on to the neck of your pet. Rubber bands in any part of your pet's costume must be avoided. Because of their elasticity they burrow into the animal's skin, resulting in injury or choking. And, just as in children's costumes, insure your pet's costume is not flammable.
Please leave off any face/body paint or cream. Skin irritation or rash can easily result from any body paint use.
3. Candy - the piece de resistance of Halloween - can be quite toxic for your pet. Chocolate is deadly to both cats and dogs. Ask your children to keep their candy to themselves. This is not a time to encourage sharing! Signs of toxicity are the following: hyperactivity, excessive drooling, vomiting and diarrhea, muscle tremors and/or seizures, and coma. An immediate trip to the Vet ER is called for if your pet exhibits any of those signs. But more than the candy itself, it's the hazards of candy wrappers that's concerning. Tin-foil or cellophane or plastic wrappers, as well as lollypop sticks, can become serious digestive obstructions, when swallowed, necessitating an emergency trip to your veterinarian.
4. Halloween Night - the ghosties and ghouls and fairies come to call. Your pet might not recognize the Trick-or-Treaters as neighborhood kids, or even as human because of the shape, size of their costumes and the masking scent of the fabrics. As a result, your pet might be more aggressive or fearful. To protect your pet keep them on a leash when answering the door, or in another room behind a closed door. This also helps to prevent any escaping through that opened-to-the-ghosties door your pet might do.
Also, when you go out trick-or-treating, leave your pet at home. The sounds, smells and bustle might be too much for your pet, resulting in a run-away or an aggressive incident.
5. Jack-o-lanterns and other candles pose a hazard to our curious pets. Paws and tails can easily be burned. No burning candle should be left unattended for even a second.
6. Pet ID - In case of the accidental escape, insure your pet has a current and accurate ID tag. Microchip them, if possible. The sights and sounds can be quite stressful, resulting in running behavior. ID tags and microchipping are insurance of return.
Halloween is great fun. With proper precautions for your pets, they can also enjoy this holiday.
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