Oct 15, 2021

Happy Fall!

Halloween is right around the corner, and while we tend to enjoy the groups of people and noisy celebrations, a lot of our pets don’t.

Halloween can be both exciting and scary for pets. People in costumes are very strange and can cause otherwise friendly dogs to react differently. There’s also a lot of crowds, which can be a new and strange experience for a lot of pets.

If you’re planning on dressing your pet up in a costume, be sure to introduce the costume to your pet before the big day. Ensure the costume is something they can move freely in and does not restrict any breathing. It’s also important for your pet to be familiar with their costume so they can become accustomed to wearing it, so they don’t get scared of the costume prior Halloween.

It’s always important to remember that your pet’s mouth is much closer to the ground than yours is. That means that if something falls to the ground, they’re generally a lot quicker to scoop it up than you will be – and a lot of candy can be dangerous for your pet. Always be cognizant of your pet picking up and chewing things you didn’t give them. It’s important to note that some candies have an ingredient called Xylitol, which is highly toxic to pets. In the case of an emergency such as poison ingestion, you can contact the APSCA Poison Control Hotline at 888-426-4435 (please note, there is a charge associated with calling this line, but you are helped by a veterinarian and specialists).

It’s always important to have your pet’s identification up to date. If they are microchipped, make sure your current phone number and address is associated with the chip (you can call 24 Pet Watch to check this information). If your pet isn’t microchipped, you can always call us for information on how to get one placed. Pets should also be wearing an updated name tag with phone number; Halloween comes with a lot of strangers, a lot of knocking on doors, and weird, scary masks – even the most well-adjusted pet can get scared of these things.

Most of all, have FUN! Sometimes that means your pet stays safely at home with dog friendly music (check out Through a Dog’s ear for music ideas!) and the porch lights off. If your pet enjoys the socialization and interaction, just follow the tips above and have a safe, happy Halloween!