Whether you’re handing out candy to trick or treaters, sitting back and relaxing watching scary flicks on Netflix, or heading out for a haunted walk around the neighborhood, it’s all in good fun. That said, Halloween can be a fun or frightening night for our pets. It’s important to make sure they feel (and are!) safe all night long, no matter their feelings on the ghosts and goblins roaming the streets!
We’ve gathered together some of the best, and most important, Halloween pet safety tips to help you keep your furry friends safe.
Plus, we’ve got a great treat recipe to help them join in the creepy celebrations!
Halloween Pet Safety
Keep your pets safe at home and out an about with these Halloween pet safety tips.
No Treats Please
This one kind of goes without saying, but remember, no chocolate or candy treats for the furballs. Chocolate, especially dark chocolate is a no-no, but it goes beyond the chocolate. Many candies, especially gum, contain xylitol, a naturally occurring substance that is widely used as a sugar substitute. It’s extremely toxic to dogs. Even small amounts of xylitol can cause hypoglycemia (low blood sugar), seizures, liver failure or even death.
Whether you’re handing them out or snacking on the couch, keep those out of reach. Instead, make your pup their own special Halloween treat – we’ve got a great recipe below!
Watch your Decorations
Decorations can pose a potential risk for pets. They can also be scary, which can stress out an anxious pup!
- Keep lit jack-o-lanterns away from pets.
- Consider using fake candles instead of real ones.
- Keep scary music or Halloween sounds low inside.
- Make sure any and all decorations don’t pose a choking or other threat.
A Safe Place
No matter what your plans are for the night, make sure your pet feels safe. If your dog is not a big fan of the parade of witches and wizards traipsing down the street or the constant doorbell ringing, make sure they have a safe place to escape to. Allow your pet to curl up in the closet or head to their bed to get away from the noise. Consider something natural to soothe any anxious feelings and help your pet settled. CBD oil would be our go-to.
Outside or In?
As much as we hate to say it, sometimes Halloween really does bring out the baddies, even just those looking for harmless fun can pose a threat to your pet.
- Walk during the day to avoid the heavy foot traffic at night (and the costumes that can freak out even the least anxious pup).
- Make sure your pup’s wearing their collar with updated ID at all times, just in case they sneak out.
- Consider only allowing your pup out in the yard for quick bathroom breaks, always supervised, once the sun goes down.
- If your pup is a runner, keep them away from the door at all times during the trick or treat festivities.
- If walking at night, be sure to wear bright clothing and carry a flashlight.
Tricks for this Treat
You don’t want your pet to miss all the trick or treat fun, so whip up a batch of these hauntingly healthy treats for your canine pal! They feature only 3 ingredients. And the star of the show is pumpkin. We love pumpkin for dogs – it’s high in fiber, low in fat, and loaded with beta carotene, magnesium, potassium, iron, zinc and vitamins A and C. And the high fiber content in pumpkin can be great for your dog’s digestive track, which is why it’s often recommended for dogs with upset stomachs.
Perfect Pumpkin Patch Treats
What you need:
- 1 cup pure pumpkin (you can use homemade pumpkin puree or buy canned pumpkin – just be sure it isn’t pumpkin pie filling!
- 1/2 plain kefir
- 1/2 blueberries
Mix the pumpkin and kefir together, then gently fold in the blueberries. We use frozen blueberries because they tend to hold up better. Put the mixture in ice cube trays, then freeze for a few hours. Voila. That’s it. Healthy and delicious treats your pup will love!
Happy Halloween friends, and to all a good fright!
The Veterinarious team is made up of pet owners, pet lovers, and pet experts from around the globe! We’ve banded together to create a community of like-minded pet people to give you the latest research and health advice for your beloved beast!