Halloween festivities are filled with candy, costumes and trick-or-treating, but it’s important to remember that spooky season can be dangerous for pets.
While it’s easy to enjoy the fun, it’s crucial to be mindful of the foods and decorations that pose a risk to four-legged family members.
To help ensure a safe and worry-free night for your furry friends, the Arizona Animal Welfare League, the state’s largest and oldest no-kill shelter, offers these simple safety tips.
Keep chocolate and sugar-free candy out of reach
Chocolate in all forms, especially dark or baking chocolate, can be very dangerous for cats and dogs as it contains chemicals that are harder for them to metabolize. Pets that digest chocolate can exhibit symptoms like vomiting, diarrhea, increased thirst, panting, excessive urination or a racing heart.
Owners also need to keep sugar-free candies and treats out of reach because many contain sugar substitute xylitol which causes serious problems in pets and can be deadly, even in small amounts.
Know which table scraps are toxic for animals
It can be hard to not sneak food off our table to our pets, but experts say you should avoid doing this altogether. Dogs will learn to beg but worse, you could be feeding them something that could cause an upset stomach or be harmful to their health.
That doesn’t mean you can’t treat your pup to a fall-themed sweet — a simple pet-friendly dessert can be made by mixing pure pumpkin puree with plain non-fat yogurt, pouring it into a mold tray, then freezing for a couple of hours.
Check your pet’s costume
Pets in costumes are just about the cutest thing ever, but when you’re picking out a costume for your pet, there are a few things to keep in mind.
If your furry companion tends to be anxious, a costume might overwhelm them, so a festive bandana might be the way to go.
If you know your pet is comfortable with costumes, make sure to select an option that is lightweight and easy to remove in case it gets caught on something.
Keep pets inside during Halloween and away from visitors
Pets that are easily spooked by the doorbell or by new visitors should be kept inside behind a gate or a closed door. Instead of having trick-or-treaters come to your door, try setting up a spot on your driveway or patio so your neighbors can grab candy while your dog or cat is safely inside.
If you want to bring your dog trick-or-treating, make sure they aren’t easily spooked by loud noises or crowds.
If your dog does well in these situations, make sure they are always secure, on a leash, wearing an ID collar and have a microchip with up-to-date contact information in case they get separated from you.
Following these simple tips can help ensure a fun and safe Halloween for the entire family, including your pets. For more information on pet safety, please visit aawl.org.
Editor’s note: Kimberly Vermillion is director of marketing and communications for Phoenix-based Arizona Animal Welfare League, the state’s oldest and largest no-kill shelter. Reader reactions, pro or con, are welcomed at AzOpinions@iniusa.org.
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