Halloween Safety for Dogs: Ghosts, Goblins, and Dogs Don't Mix
Halloween can be scary and dangerous for your dog, and that can turn the holiday into a real nightmare for you. Here are some things to remember on All Hallows' Eve — and the days and nights before and after.
Before Halloween
1. Prepare your dog in advance
Dogs are creatures of habit, so make that work for both of you in the days and weeks leading up to the holiday. Keep your dog on a regular, routine feeding, exercise, and sleeping schedule. That will help prepare him for the stress and excitement of a whole night when the doorbell never stops ringing — and for the endless parade of bizarre-looking creatures that appear when the door opens. When your dog feels stress, he can react with aggression.
2. Prepare a place for your dog to hang out
The best place for your dog on Halloween may be his crate, where he feels safe and comfortable. At the least, consider keeping him in a separate room during peak trick-or-treat hours. Either way saves you the stress of making sure your dog doesn't dart out the front door every time you open it.
3. Best dog Halloween costume: a tag and a microchip
If your dog does manage to get out the door while you're occupied, he'll find his neighborhood pretty frightening: strange-looking creatures (who may tease him), strange sights, and strange sounds. If he's too confused to find his way home, be sure he's wearing a tag with his name and your phone number on it. And if your dog doesn't have an identification microchip implanted between his shoulder blades, now's the time to get one. All animal shelters, most vets, and many pet stores have scanners that can read the chip.
4. Second-best costume: his fur
A few dogs will tolerate a costume, but most find the exercise confusing, uncomfortable, and stressful. If you must play doggy dress-up, be sure the getup does not constrict his movement, vision, or hearing; prevent him from breathing or barking; or contain small, dangling, or easily chewed-off pieces he could choke on.
On Halloween
Trick or treat?
Halloween is when humans and dogs should each stick to their own tricks and treats. Halloween chocolate is toxic to your dog, and many other human sweets can be too — all year round, not just on October 31. If you want to include Fido in the fun, keep some dog treats handy so he won't eye the candy in that plastic jack-o'-lantern by the door.
Keep an eye out for xylitol
It's a sweetener used in candy and gum, and it's toxic to your dog. Make sure products that contain xylitol are out of your pet's reach.
Keep an eye on Jack
That jack-o'-lantern looks great with a candle in it. But if your dog knocks it over with his tail, he may burn himself — or start a serious fire.
Keep decorations out of your dog's reach
Candy isn't the only hazard. Pumpkins and decorative corn are relatively nontoxic, but if your dog eats them, he may suffer an upset stomach — or even an intestinal blockage.
Kids: out. Dogs: in.
When your kids go trick-or-treating, keep your dog at home. We enjoy seeing friends and neighbors conceal their identities behind unfamiliar masks and costumes, but the whole spectacle just frightens your dog. When your dog is afraid, his behavior becomes unpredictable. He may seek out a quiet corner or his safe place — or he may bite.
If your dog gets sick, know who to call
If you suspect your dog has eaten something dangerous:
- Call your veterinarian or local animal hospital — keep their numbers posted.
- Call the ASPCA Animal Poison Control Center: (888) 426-4435.
After Halloween
Don't forget the wrappers. Once all the Halloween candy is eaten, you and the kids forget about it. But your dog could find candy wrappers and packaging that lead to choking or other injuries. Clear away all the Halloween debris as soon as your little goblins go to sleep!