How Spooky Dogs and Scaredy Cats Have Fun on Halloween

Remember how fun it was to put on a costume and run around the neighborhood on Halloween? Halloween brings out your goofy, fun, creative side. I mean, who doesn’t love to act like a swashbuckler or prom queen once a year? I know some people who love Halloween so much that they even dress up their pets. For instance, my friend’s Pug makes a very cute bunny rabbit.

You want your pets to participate in all the fun, but Halloween can present some scary issues, including uncomfortable costumes, getting into candy and knocking over pumpkins. There are also spooky noises and unfamiliar people to deal with. Here are a few tips for having a safe and fun Halloween.

Costumes

Remember how the costumes and masks you wore as a kid got hot and itchy? That’s how your pets may feel in a costume. Make sure no parts of the costume are blocking your pet’s eyes or nose, and that it’s not restricting the neck, chest or legs. If you want to dress up your furry companion, plenty of pet Halloween costumes are available in stores and online. You could also get creative and make your own.

Not all pets will go along with being dressed up, and will claw their way out of whatever you put them in. With these pets, be kind and go with a minimalist look for Halloween. My black Lab would not tolerate anything around her chest or on her head. So after some struggle trying to get her to keep a hat or sunglasses on, we settled for a simple but festive orange bandana.

Candy and Other Dangerous Foods

No chocolate for dogs – ever! It’s a good idea to keep all candy away from your pets, but chocolate is especially dangerous for dogs. The chemical theobromine in chocolate can cause vomiting and can even be fatal.

Other foods you should avoid giving pets include macadamia nuts, grapes and raisins. Macadamia nuts can cause tremors and temporary paralysis. Grapes and raisins have caused renal failure in dogs.

Candy wrappers are another hazard. Trick-or-treaters of all ages may leave wrappers strewn around in their excitement to get to the candy. Remind candy lovers to pick them up – wrappers are a choking hazard for pets and can cause digestive problems.

Decorations

According to the National Retail Federation, roughly half of Americans buy decorations for Halloween. Just keep those festive decorations out of the way of the animals in the house or yard. Pets can easily get tangled in electrical cords, strings of lights or items that hang from doors, trees, or walls.

While you may see fun Halloween decorations around the house, your pets see exciting new chew toys. Even pumpkins with a candle inside can burn a child or animal or be tipped over and start a fire. Make sure to keep them out of reach.

Noise

Scary noises are a big part of Halloween, from the motion-activated talking skulls to the kids trying to spook each other with a scream. All this ruckus can be confusing for animals. Some just like to hide out, while others want to dive in and bark or play. For a pet who likes peace and quiet, find a calmer place. For one who likes to be in the middle of the fun, just keep an eye out for overstimulation, such as barking or jumping on people. Give that pet a break from the excitement in a quiet room or yard.

Visitors

If you’re having a holiday gathering, check in with your guests to find out if they enjoy animal company or if they have allergies or other pet issues. Some people are simply afraid of certain animals because of some previous experience. Respect those feelings and make other arrangements for your pets.

Before trick-or-treaters and guest arrive, give your pets some extra attention to help them feel safe. Then keep an eye on how the people and pets are getting along. Be responsive if your pets are getting too excited or anxious; move them to a quieter spot and calm them down with soothing talk and strokes.

When your pets are safe and your guests are comfortable, you can relax and really enjoy the holiday. Put on your mask and have some fun. Happy Halloween!

Visit us at PetHealthFocus.com for more health information and share your Halloween photos!

Amy G. Casey is CEO of Pet Health Focus (http://pethealthfocus.com), and an award-winning science writer and author of numerous science and pet health books and articles.

Her latest book, “Your Diabetic Dog,” deals with the day-to-day care of dogs with this chronic illness, and is due out in 2007.

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