Halloween can be full of good spooky fun for the whole family, including your furry family members. Just like you do, preparing the evening for your pets is important! Below are some tips and suggestions we recommend to prepare for the spookiest of seasons!
Be Mindful of Their Costumes
Some of the most fun during this time of year is seeing all of the spooky, adorable, and creative costumes that we can dress our furry friends up in. Make sure that your pet appreciates their costumes and they are comfortable in them. There are some animals who love costumes, but there are also some who just aren’t comfortable wearing them. If your pet begins to resist, or their behavior changes immediately after putting one on, monitor them and consider hanging up the costume for the year. If your pet doesn’t mind dressing up, be cautious that the costume fits properly and doesn’t hinder their movement in any way, as well as their ability to breath, bark, or meow, move around or use their potty areas appropriately. Additionally, be mindful of pieces of the costume that dangle or hang off, as they can quickly become choking hazards should your pet start to chew at it.
Be Mindful of Visitors and Loud Activities
Many people enjoy gathering together for fun Halloween costume parties, and little ones are eager to go door to door for trick or treating. Be mindful that lots of different visitors throughout the holiday season can be overstimulating for your pet. Should your pet start to get anxious with all of the festivities, ensure that they have a safe and quiet spot away from guests where they can avoid some of the chaos and feel safe.
If your pet doesn’t mind being in on the spooky celebration, be mindful of the entrances to your home being opened and closed with more frequency. You don’t want your pet to run out the door while you’re giving treats to the trick-or-treaters!
In the unfortunate event, your pet does get spooked and gets out, it’s also important to make sure that they are microchipped and have an ID on to make it that much easier to get them back home. If you do lose your pet on Halloween, MAC is always here to help reunite you with them! For information on proper ID and what to do if you lose your pet, visit our lost/found section of our website.
Be Aware of Treats!
Halloween is full of tasty treats, for people and animals alike! Make sure that the only treats your pets are enjoying are made specifically for them. Many pet stores carry safe, healthy, and tasty treats to give your pets so they don’t feel left out! It’s also important to keep the human treats in a safe place where your pets can’t accidentally get ahold of them. Consider keeping candy in a high spot, or in a closed pantry or cabinet so no accidents happen.
In the unfortunate event your animal does get ahold of some Halloween candy, remember to determine how much they consumed, and monitor potential symptoms such as vomiting, diarrhea, rapid breathing, tense muscles, or seizures. Have the number to your veterinarian or local veterinary emergency center easily accessible so you can be prepared. The animal poison control hotline is also available for emergencies. They can be reached 24/7 at (888) 426-4435.
Keep Pets Away From Decorations
While you’re getting into the holiday spirit, be mindful of the decorations you are putting out in and around your house. Keep decorations with small parts and electrical cords out of reach from your pets to avoid a potential choking hazard. If your pet spends time outdoors, make sure they don’t get into your jack-o-lanterns or other outdoor decorations. While pumpkin can be good food for your dogs and cats digestion, jack-o-lanterns are prone to grow bacteria over time which can be harmful to your pet if consumed.