Halloween can be fun for all the kids, both the two-legged and the furry, four-legged ones. Not only is “Trick or Treat” fun, but it can also be frightening. Every year, there are kids and dogs that end up in the hospital. We can avoid this and keep the treat without the trick in Halloween by following a few simple tips. Keeping your dog safe on Halloween must be a priority.
Keeping your trick-or-treaters safe doesn’t have to be tricky. Just take the simple, common-sense precautions listed below to keep everyone healthy and happy.
Keeping the Treat, But Not the Trick in Halloween is easy.
Make sure the surroundings are safe.
- Don’t allow your dog to roam freely in your yard on Halloween. Cruel people have stolen, teased, injured, and even killed dogs on Halloween night. These awful occurrences can be avoided if you keep your dog safely indoors around Halloween.
- Keep pets confined and, unless under careful supervision, away from the door. It is safer for your dog to be kept indoors during the witching hours on Halloween. The door will be opening and closing frequently and strangely dressed people will be approaching his territory. Your dog may take this as an act of aggression. He may try to protect you or to escape.
- Placing your dog in a secure place, such as a crate or room away from the front door will help to reduce his stress level. Having such a safe place prevents them from dashing out into the night. No night is good to be searching for a lost loved one, but Halloween is one of the worst nights for this to happen.
Keeping your dog safe inside the house is the next step.
- Keep your dog calm and easily identifiable. Many dogs will not enjoy the costumed visitors begging for candy at your door. The laughing and jostling that often goes with the Halloween spirit can be frightening for many dogs. If your dog gets stressed easily, keep them away from the door during trick-or-treating hours.
- Even if your dog is very social and enjoys the event, be sure that they do not dash outside when you open the door. Make sure your pet it wearing accurate and easy to read identification. A dog collar with ID tags or a microchip can be a lifesaver for a lost pet.
- Be careful with the Halloween decorations and keep wires out of your dog’s reach.
Most decorations include a carved jack-o-lantern, sometimes both inside and outside. Dogs can easily bump into a pumpkin and knock it over. If that pumpkin holds a lit candle, it may start a fire. - Keep your dog away from glow sticks. Many people use glow sticks to add some spice to their holiday decorations and to help keep people safe in the dark. However, if a dog bites into a glow stick, the benefits are lost. Although the non-poisonous liquid inside will not make your dog ill, it does taste awful. Your dog will become agitated and paw at their mouth, drool and, maybe, vomit. None of this is pleasant for the dog or the family. It would certainly put a damper on the holiday fun! Be sure to give the dog some water or feed him a little bit of food to help clear the material out of the mouth.
To wear or not to wear a costume is the question.
1. Be cautious with costumes. There are many cute and clever costumes for dogs and some have no problem wearing them. Some dogs, however, find wearing costumes very stressful. It is best to find out how your dog will react to wearing a costume before the big night. Do not make your dog wear a costume that they do not like.
2. It is vital that the costume does not prevent the dog from seeing, barking, moving or breathing easily and freely. Verify that the costume does not have any pieces that could be a choking hazard. Also, a costume that can become twisted or easily caught on other items might cause your dog to get injured.
3. If, when you put your dog in the costume to check it out for safety, he seems to be distressed, go to “Plan B”. Be sure to try the costume on your dog before the big night. If he or she seems distressed or shows abnormal behavior, take it off. It may be best for your dog to go “au natural” or to wear a colorful bandana instead.
This little cutie is Bella. Though she is tiny, she is mighty. Bella is a member of our eldest daughter’s family.
Keeping Your Dog Safe on Halloween Means Being Careful With the Candy
What the night is all about…the candy! Your dog should have their own treats and not be allowed to eat those designed for humans.
The candy in the bowl is for the human kids, not the furry, four-legged ones. Many of the well-known treats for Halloween are not safe for dogs to ingest. All chocolate can be dangerous, even lethal, for dogs. Baking chocolate and very dark chocolates are the most dangerous for dogs.
Symptoms of chocolate poisoning may include:
- Vomiting
- Diarrhea
- Rapid breathing
- Increased heart rate
- Seizures
Halloween candies containing the artificial sweetener, Xylitol, can be poisonous to dogs. Even small amounts of Xylitol can cause a sudden drop in blood sugar and a subsequent loss of coordination and seizures. More significantly, Xylitol ingestion can also cause liver failure in dogs, even if they do not develop symptoms associated with low blood sugar. If you think your dog may have ingested even a small amount o Xylitol, contact your vet immediately.
If you suspect that your dog may have ingested anything toxic, do not delay. Immediately call your veterinarian or the ASPCA Poison Control Center at (888) 426-4435.
Here is more info on foods toxic to dogs. https://happymutt.org/why-you-should-keep-grapes-away-from-your-dog/
The costumes in this video are fantastic! My favorite was shortly after the 4-minute mark, but several of the earlier ones were hilarious as well.
Golden Retriever Dogs Dressed Up In Halloween Costumes
Halloween is coming… 🎃😂
Posted by Woof Woof on Wednesday, October 9, 2019
Video by MaiPm.net and WoofWoof
Mary Brookes
This is just so amazing! Definitely above and beyond a 10 on a scale! Great job! Keep up the great work! Everyone should be here.
Susan Sloan
Mary, sorry it took so long to get back to you on this comment. FOr some unknown reason, I just now saw it! You are so kind and I really appreciate your reading our articles and taking the time to comment. Thanks, again!