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Make Halloween Safe For Pets

by Dr. Dawn Bookmyer, DVM

Last Halloween one of my patients, a two year old Golden Retriever named Goldie, played a scary trick on her owner – she ate almost an entire bowl of miniature candy bars. On the car trip to the emergency veterinarian, Goldie vomited several times and although she fully recovered, it was truly a frightening Halloween for everyone involved.

Goldie was lucky - a few days later she was back to her old self. Here are some guidelines to make sure that your pet’s Halloween is all treats and no tricks:

As cute as your dog or cat may look in a hat and cape, few pets appreciate the confinement of clothing. Elastic can bite into skin and restrict circulation and cause pain. Many costumes also interfere with the pet’s ability to see, hear and move easily. If your pet doesn’t object and you do decide to dress them up, make sure the costume fits properly and has no small pieces that could be chewed off.
Halloween pranksters sometimes target animals, even those who are fenced up in their own backyard. Because of their traditional association with the holiday, black cats may be at particular risk. But both cats and dogs can become victims, so in the days immediately leading up to or following Halloween, keep your pet in the house and accompany them when they go outside.
With the doorbell ringing constantly, the door opening and shutting non-stop, and costumed children shouting on the front porch, trick or treat can be stressful for pets. I recommend that you keep the family pet confined to a bedroom or the basement during Beggar’s Night. Not only will this help to manage your pet’s anxiety, but also help to prevent any unfortunate confrontations between beggars and pets. Keeping your pet confined also helps to ensure that your pet doesn’t take advantage of an open door. As always, make sure your pet is wearing identification and rabies tags.

A bag or bowl of candy is as tempting to animals as it is to humans, but for pets these treats present a potential threat. In both cats and dogs, chocolate can cause tremors, nervousness, vomiting, diarrhea, increased heart rate, seizures, and even death. Other candies present a choking hazard and can cause digestive problems. If your pet gets into the Halloween treats, contact your veterinarian immediately.
There’s nothing spookier than a jack o’lantern all lit up or an enormous spider web hanging from a corner of the room. Halloween garlands, streamers and candles are great fun, but watch the family pet around them – many decorations can be hazardous!

While Halloween is old fashioned fun for humans, pets usually prefer a steady, regular routine and can become stressed when their environment suddenly changes. For that reason, I recommend that pets be sheltered from most of our Halloween traditions.