Halloween is on the horizon, and the holiday poses certain horrors for your four-legged friend. As everyone debates their favorite Halloween candy and the best scary movie, ensure your pet is safe and sound by following our Pets & Friends Animal Hospital team’s Halloween pet safety do’s and don’ts.

DO keep your pet inside on Halloween

Halloween celebrations can get out of hand, and a roaming pet, especially a black cat, is vulnerable as the target for pranksters or other more nefarious shenanigans. Keep your pet inside on Halloween night, and secure your doors and windows to prevent an escape.

DON’T let your pet go ID free

Halloween festivities can be distracting, and while you are focused on your candy haul or the trick-or-treaters at your door, you may not realize that your four-legged friend has slipped out. To help ensure a happy reunion with your missing pet, ensure they are never without identification. Microchipping your pet is a simple procedure that implants permanent identification that can’t be lost or removed, and veterinary and shelter workers can access your contact information when your pet is found. Your pet should also always wear a collar and identification tags with your current contact information. Change your pet’s collar to one with a Halloween inspired theme and ensure their identification tags are legible and securely attached.

DO keep your pet leashed

If you want to take your pet on your trick-or-treating adventure, ensure you keep them leashed at all times. Scary Halloween decorations and people dressed in unfamiliar attire may spook your pet, and they may run away or become aggressive. Being leashed will prevent mishaps.

DON’T let your pet share your candy stash

Keep all your sweet treats out of your pet’s reach, and ensure your children know that they must not share their stash with your four-legged friend. Halloween candy dangers include:

  • Candy wrappers — Pets plowing through a candy stash don’t take the time to unwrap their bounty, and plastic and foil wrappers can become a gastrointestinal (GI) obstruction that requires surgical removal.
  • Chocolate — Chocolate is a favorite Halloween staple, but the sweet treat is toxic to pets. The darker the chocolate the more severe the toxicity.
  • Sugar-free candy — Sugar-free candy often contains xylitol, a sugar substitute that is toxic to pets, causing severe hypoglycemia and, in some cases, liver failure.
  • Raisins — Most people are sad to find raisins in their Halloween bag, but don’t pawn them off on your pet. Raisins can cause severe kidney damage in pets.

DO consider your pet when decorating for Halloween

Whether you transform your entire home into a haunted house or put out only a few seasonal adornments, ensure the decorations won’t cause problems for your four-legged friend. Considerations include:

  • Candles — Candles can set a spooky atmosphere or make your jack-o’-lantern’s eyes dance, but a misplaced tail swipe or curious paw can lead to a fire hazard. Ensure all lit candles are out of your pet’s reach.
  • Plants — Many fall plants, such as chrysanthemums and autumn crocuses, that decorate homes during Halloween season are poisonous to pets. Investigate any plant that you bring into your home. 
  • Electrical cords — Electrical cords used to power decorative lights and automated scary beasts can become a target for pets who like to chew. Use cord covers to protect your four-legged friend from a shocking experience.

DON’T force your pet to wear a Halloween costume

Granted, your pet is likely adorable dressed as a pumpkin, but many cats and dogs get stressed when forced to wear clothing, so instead, outfit them with a Halloween-themed collar or bandana.

If your four-legged friend doesn’t mind being a fashionista, follow these recommendations:

  • Ensure your pet’s costume doesn’t restrict their movement or breathing.
  • Ensure the material doesn’t rub or pinch your pet, especially around their limbs.
  • Remove loose pieces that, if ingested, may cause a GI obstruction.
  • Monitor your pet for stress signs, such as refusing to move and hiding, and remove the costume if they appear distressed.
  • Keep the costume session short and get pictures without stressing your pet.

DO recognize your pet’s Halloween-related stress

Oddly dressed small people come to your home in droves, ringing the doorbell every minute—you can understand why some pets find this stressful. If your pet is stressed by Halloween activities, tips include:

  • Create a pet safety area — Confine your four-legged friend to an interior room where they won’t be so disturbed by the evening’s activities. You can distract them by leaving music playing and a puzzle toy.
  • Dissuade trick-or-treaters — Leave your porch light off to dissuade trick-or-treaters from ringing your doorbell, or leave the candy bowl outside so they can help themselves.
  • Seek veterinary help — If your pet is especially anxiety prone, they may benefit from a veterinarian prescribed sedative or anti-anxiety medication.

DO contact our Pets & Friends Animal Hospital team if you would like your pet microchipped before Halloween, and DON’T be afraid to ask our advice if you think anti-anxiety medicine will benefit your four-legged friend and help them survive the spooky holiday.