1. Do NOT leave your dog in your yard on Halloween- Many pets are injured or killed by vicious pranksters. So please keep your dogs (and cats) indoors.
2. Keep your dog (and cat) confined and away from front door. A bedroom or a crate will be good to keep your pets safe this Halloween. Keeping your pets away from the constant opening and closing of the front door will help reduce their stress as well.
3. Keep all treats away from your pets. All chocolate can be dangerous for all pets. Symptoms of chocolate poisoning may include vomiting, diarrhea, rapid breathing, increased heart rate, and seizures.
4. Keep Halloween plants such as pumpkins and corn out of reach. While small amounts of pumpkin can be fed safely to your pets, uncooked and potentially moldy pumpkins and corn can cause gastrointestinal upset or even a blockage can occur.
5. Keep glow sticks away from pets.
6. Keep a ID tag with all your current information, just in case your pets escape your home. I recommend this for the WHOLE year, not just Halloween.
7. Don’t lite your pumpkins around your pets. Real candles are dangerous, so please make sure your pets does not have access to a lit candle.
8. Keep electric and battery operated Halloween decorations out of reach. Pets who are big chewers (puppies fall in the category) are more likely to chew on power cords and battery operated decoration. Batteries can cause chemical burns if chewed open and gastrointestinal blockage if swallowed.
9. Don’t dress your pet up in a costume, unless you know they’ll love it. If you chose to dress up your pet, make it a positive experience with lots of treats (dog approved treats). Always have an adult supervision when you have dressed up your dog. Dress your pet in their costume before Halloween to allow them to adjust to having it on. If at anytime your dog seems distressed by his or her costume, please consider just a bandana or his “birthday suit”.
You can give your dog plain canned pumpkin as a special treat. Do not use the pumpkin pie mix. 1-2 tablespoon is plenty, less if you have a small dog.