Halloween Safety Tips for Dogs

While humans may spend all year looking forward to Halloween, not all dogs share our enthusiasm. Often, they can feel scared and threatened as people enter their properties. It can bring them into contact with a range of new people and scents. Let’s look at some of the things you can do to make your pets feel more comfortable this Halloween.

First, you should try to create the best possible environment for them. This will reduce the amount of stress they feel and help them keep calm. For this reason, you shouldn’t leave them alone in your yard. Though it’s unfortunate, some trick-or-treaters have been known to tease dogs.

You may want to keep your dog away from the door. If your dog is very stressed, try to put them into  a safe space away from the front door, in another room or a crate. If they see the door repeatedly opening and closing, they might feel nervous and exhibit unusual behavior or even try to escape. Keeping your dog safe away from the door will keep both your dog and your visitors safe.

It’s always a good idea to have a form of ID on your dog, particularly around any holiday. This ensures that if they do manage to escape it will be easy for them to be returned.

As dog owners know, dogs love to chew on things. However, some of the decorations around your house might not be safe for animals. For this reason, you should be careful about the kind of things that they can access. For example, you should make sure that they can’t get access to things like glow sticks, as these often contain many dangerous chemicals. If your dog eats these, they can get very sick.

You should also try to make sure that your dog can’t access battery-operated devices. The batteries contain a dangerous mix of chemicals. If your dog eats these, they might die. In addition, make sure that any cords are protected from pets. If they chew on a power cord, they can receive an electrical shock that can seriously injure or kill your pet. You should also be strategic about the placement of jack-o-lanterns. If your dog gets too close, they might get burnt by the candles.

Finally, you should be careful about the kinds of foods that they eat. Make sure that candy is kept away from pets. These candies are often small, which can represent a choking hazard. Also, they tend to contain chemicals that can be harmful to pets. For example, sweeteners in Halloween candy have been linked to liver cancer in dogs.

While Halloween is a fun yearly event for humans, for dogs it can be a dangerous evening. As we discussed, there are several ways that they can hurt themselves during this event. Thankfully, there are a few simple things that you can do to keep your four-legged friend safe during Halloween. So, start making these precautions today to make sure that your dog enjoys this holiday as much as you do.