Halloween Hacks for Humans: How to Keep Your Pets Safe During the Scariest Night of the Year
- Cassi Colvett
- May 14, 2022
- 6 min read
Updated: Oct 3, 2023
Every year, I throw an elaborate Halloween shindig with my nearest and dearest pals. Scary snacks are made (hopefully in appearance and not flavor), decorations litter the walls and the floors, party playlists blare, and friends fill the usually unoccupied corners of my home. Halloween is hands down one of my favorite holidays to celebrate, but I can’t say the same for my pets.
Looking back, I’m honestly pretty fortunate that my previous events have gone off without a hitch — studying animal behavior has taught me that much. My animals are my favorite thing about my home, so when people come over, naturally they’re the first thing that I want to show off! Little did I know, I was exposing my pets to many unnecessary dangers and possibly overwhelming circumstances on Halloween nights in the past.
Our pets rely on us to keep them safe, so we need to do what we can to keep them happy and healthy on the scariest night of the year. Keeping these tips in mind should help you avoid Halloween dangers for your pets.
Prevent your pets from getting lost or injured.
Halloween is one of the most common holidays for pets to get lost. In fact, the SPCA reports that the day after Halloween is the busiest day for lost dogs and cats to arrive at the shelters.
While some pets may enjoy all of the social interaction, it’s important that they’re not given the opportunity to run out of the front door. This can prove to be a difficult task, considering the front door will be opening and closing multiple times in the evening — whether it be due to party guests or trick or treaters.
If you’re not completely confident that you can keep your pet from running out of the front door — for instance by keeping them leashed and harnessed or kept away with a gate — the safest course of action would be to keep your pet safely confined in an area away from party guests or the door , such as a comfortable room or kennel.
While it’s safest to keep them home, if you decide to take your pup on the road trick or treating with you, make sure to keep them in fluorescent clothing or accessories, just like the rest of the of the family. Don’t be afraid to warn trick or treaters to approach with caution, as your pet may feel protective and the need to defend you or themselves from the scary, masked monsters.
In addition to any precautions you take the night of Halloween, it’s always a good idea to prepare in advance. Make sure your pets are wearing tags with up to date information, and you should consider getting them microchipped as well.
Even the most prepared pet owners experience unlikely accidents, so having your up to date information attached to your pet is a must.
Beware of the people treats.
One of the best things about Halloween, in my opinion, is the variety of tasty treats that are available at nearly any time. Unfortunately, those treats are meant for people and not pets, and keeping them out of reach can be a little tricky.
Keeping your pets away from Halloween treats can be crucial, because some easily accessible snacks around the house can prove to be potentially fatal.
According to the Pet Poison Helpline, the four most common food-related Halloween hazards for pets are chocolate, candy overindulgence, raisins, and candy wrappers. While some people may know about the dangers of chocolate for pets, the majority of pet owners may not know exactly how dangerous chocolate can be, and they may not be aware of the other dangers related to candy on Halloween.
Even in small doses, chocolate can cause death or make your pet very ill. Just like people, dogs are attracted to the taste and smell of chocolate, but unfortunately their metabolisms do not process it as well as people, leaving them at risk for chocolate toxicity.
The dangers of candy are not just limited to chocolate. A pet that finds a candy bowl is probably not going to limit itself to just one piece, and too much sugary candy can lead to a lot of problems. Ingestion of candy can lead to a disease called Pancreatitis, which can be very painful. Symptoms don’t show up immediately after eating the candy, but they can be very severe.
Another danger of eating candy is an ingredient called Xylitol, an artificial sweetener found in some candies. Xylitol causes a sudden release of insulin in the body that leads to extremely low blood sugar, and it can also cause liver damage. It can be fatal if left untreated.
While raisins may be a healthier snack alternative for children, raisins and grapes can cause kidney failure in cats and dogs. Symptoms can occur in less than twenty four hours, and the effects can be lasting and possibly even deadly.
Last on the list, candy wrappers pose a large risk as well. Eating candy wrappers can cause pets to experience a bowel obstruction, which could even need surgery to repair.
If you think your pet has ingested anything that could be dangerous, please contact your veterinarian, an emergency veterinary clinic, or the Pet Poison Helpline at 855–764–7661 as soon as possible. It’s always better to be overly cautious or to treat sooner rather than later.
Don’t cause your pet to fight or flight from fright.
Creative costumes, fun music, and a night of socializing are some of the things that make up a phenomenal Halloween night for humans partaking in the festivities. For pets — not so much.
This can make Halloween a scary time to be a pet! That’s why it’s important to set them up to have as pleasant of an evening as possible.
There are several different options to consider that may help ease the stress your pet could potentially experience on Halloween.
If you think your pet can handle it, a safe space set up in your home may work well for you.
You may also consider getting a pheromone diffuser for your pet. The diffusers work by mimicking a natural pheromone that helps to stop or reduce stress related behaviors in cats and dogs.
If you know your house is going to be a highly stressful environment, for instance if you’re hosting a party, you may need to consider an overnight boarding service. While missing you may be stressful in itself, a calm environment away from the excitement of the evening may be a better option for your furry pal.
Wherever they are, keeping your pets inside for the night is the best option for their safety and their anxiety. Dogs left to guard their back yard from goblins will be stressed all night, and cats are simply not safe roaming on Halloween night.
Cute costumes are comfortable and not coerced.
I will be the first to say that I enjoy animals in costumes way more than I should. I mean, how could you not? Animals dressed up for Halloween spark joy in my soul, and if they don’t in yours — I’m concerned.
While I, and probably many others, greatly enjoy dressing up my pets for Halloween, they may not be as big of a fan. Well, they at least don’t typically start out that way.
If you wish to dress your pet up for Halloween, by all means, please do! But for the benefit of your pet, you will need to put in some work with them before the big debut.
Purchase your costume far in advance, and use positive reinforcement training to help your dog or cat associate the costume with good things!
This will help keep the experience of being dressed up stress free. Trust me, it will be no fun if you’re the only one enjoying it.
Make sure you watch out for any signs of stress in your pet, and if they don’t warm up to the idea, a costume just may not be in the cards for this year.
Be careful to pick a costume that doesn’t affect your pet’s ability to see, move, and breathe. Also, avoid the urge to change the color of your pet. Even if the dye is considered non-toxic for people, it could still hurt them, which is not worth the risk.
Keeping these things in mind will assure that there’s no harm in dressing up your pet for the occasion. Taking the time to make sure the costume is fun and safe for everyone involved will ensure that it’s a hit!
These tips should ensure your pets stay safe and that this year's Halloween is a howlin' good time.
It’s less tricky than you think to keep your pets safe and happy on Halloween.
Taking the proper precautions to keep your pet safe and feeling secure can make or break the evening! Giving them a safe space, respecting their boundaries, and avoiding dangerous things will ensure that you all have the best Halloween yet.
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