Halloween can be the spookiest night of the year, but keeping your pets safe doesn’t have to be tricky. ASPCA recommends taking simple, common sense precautions to keep your pet happy and healthy. Below are some Halloween Pet Safety Tips
Stash the Treats
The candy bowl is for trick-or-treaters, not pets. Several Halloween treats are toxic to pets. Chocolate in all forms—especially dark or baking chocolate—can be dangerous for cats and dogs, and sugar-free candies containing the sugar substitute xylitol can cause serious problems as well. If you suspect your pet has ingested something toxic, please call your veterinarian or ASPCA Poison Control Center at (888) 426-4435 immediately. http://2ndstreetvet.com/non-wellness-medical-services/
Watch the Decorations and Keep Wires Out of Reach
While a carved jack-o-lantern certainly is festive, pets can easily knock over a lit pumpkin and start a fire. Curious kittens are especially at risk of getting burned or singed by candle flame. Pumpkins and decorative corn are considered relatively nontoxic, but can produce stomach discomfort in pets who nibble on them.
Be Careful with Costumes
For some pets, wearing a costume may cause undue stress. Don’t put your dog or cat in a costume unless you know he or she loves it. If you do dress up your pet for Halloween, make sure the costume does not limit movement, sight or ability to breathe, bark or meow. Check the costume carefully for small, dangling or easily chewed-off pieces that could present a choking hazard. Ill-fitting outfits can get twisted on external objects or your pet, leading to injury.
Halloween brings a flurry of activity with visitors arriving at the door, and too many strangers can be scary and stressful for pets. All but the most social dogs and cats should be kept in a separate room away from the front door. While opening the door for guests, be sure that your dog or cat doesn’t dart outside. And always make sure your pet it wearing proper identification—if for any reason he or she does escape, a collar with ID tags and/or a microchip can be a lifesaver for a lost pet. Some links to other Halloween Pet Safety Tips are below: