Trick-or-Treat Safety Tips for You and Your Pet
Halloween is just around the corner and many people do not realize the haunting dangers around the home during the Halloween season. Here are some tips to keep you and your pet safe for a spooktacular Halloween!
1. It’s hard not to want to share your treats with your pet after an evening of trick or treating, but always remember that chocolate is a threat to the health and lives of dogs. Never feed your dog chocolate. If you want to treat your pet this season, there are plenty of recipes for pet friendly treats, and can easily be decorated or shaped as spooky bats, jolly jack-o-lanterns or wild witches!
2. After trick or treating with your kids, make sure to keep all treats out of Fido’s reach. Wrappers and small toys are harmful, sometimes fatal, if swallowed. Always make sure to keep treats and small toys out of reach.
3. Try using a glow stick or flameless candle in your Jack-o-lantern or better yet, paint a face on. Dogs have wild tails and curious snouts and can knock over a Jack-o-lantern causing a fire in the home. If you do use a candle, be sure to keep it out of reach of your dog, on a table or outside stand that is heavy enough to withhold a wild tail!
4. Be cautious with costumes on your pet. Make sure it is loose fitting so it doesn’t disrupt your pet’s normal movement and behavior or interfere with its breathing. Costumes look great and can be used if they fit appropriately; but often dogs are not as receptive to a costume causing irritability and stress. You can always decorate a leash and collar with festive Halloween colors and decorations
5. NEVER leave your pet outside while you are off trick or treating with your family. Halloween sometimes brings out mis-behaving kids and young adults who may be cruel to your dog while he is on a leash waiting for his favorite ghosts and goblins to come home. The constant coming and going of people at your door may also cause stress and anxiety possibly resulting in bites. Always keep your dog inside, away from the door with a comfort item to keep him or her calm while you are away.
6. Are you having a Monster Ball or Haunted House at your home this year? It is best to keep your pet in an enclosed area like your bed room, or home office where they will not be bothered. Too many people may make your pet irritable. Also, keeping cats and dogs in an enclosed area where guests will not be helps to prevent your beloved pet from escaping through the front door as it is opened and closed for guests and trick or treaters.
7. Are you taking your dog trick or treating with you? Make sure to have a reflector vest or harness and leash to avoid any accidents on the road as well as make other friendly ghosts, goblins, and witches aware of your Fido treat seeker. And don’t forget to take along Bags on Board to pick up after your dog on the road!
We hope you have found these tips helpful and have a happy and safe Halloween!
--Beth Tori
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Beth Tori is the FAQ guru at Simple Solution pet care products and a regular contributor to Wag Reflex.
barrie on October 28, 2008 at 04:11 PM
OMG! That's my dog Fancy holding the pumpkin :-D How fun!! I read Wag Reflex every day and was blown away when I saw the picture of my monster!!
Spanno on October 28, 2008 at 04:31 PM
Keep an eye on Fancy this Halloween. She could get a lot of candy with that Superman costume. :)
--Spanno
C Daniels on October 29, 2008 at 05:28 AM
Never feed your dog chocolate. This warning is so your dog never gets the idea that its a good treat. Unfortunately many owners give their dogs little amounts of chocolate without problem and discount the warning altogether. Better to never let your dog have chocolate and never have to find out just how much chocolate is the lethal dose.