Are you planning on celebrating Halloween with your favorite pup this year? We've got some safety tips to make sure you keep your dog safe and calm during your festivities!
Beware of chocolate
With Halloween coming up that means it's time for trick or treating. Remember to keep that chocolate candy away from your dog. To prevent your dog from eating chocolate we recommend keeping all chocolate in a safe place that is out of reach from your pup.
It's true, chocolate is very toxic for dogs. In fact, signs of chocolate poisoning usually appear within 6 to 12 hours. The reason chocolate is so toxic for dogs is because chocolate contains both theobromine and caffeine, both of which can speed the heart rate and stimulate the nervous system of dogs. Your dog becoming sick from ingesting chocolate depends on the type and amount of chocolate consumed and the weight of your dog. To calculate your dog's risk of toxicity visit PetMD here.
Don't share your candy
Aside from keeping chocolate out of your dog's reach, you'll want to refrain from sharing your candy with your pup. Hard candies can cause an obstruction in your dog's stomach. Another important reason to keep candy away from dogs is that a lot of candy contains xylitol. This is a sugar alcohol commonly used in sugar-free gum and candy.
According to Caroline Coile, AKC Family Dog Nutrition & Health columnist: “The dog’s pancreas confuses xylitol with real sugar and releases insulin to store it. The insulin removes real sugar from the bloodstream and the dog can become weak, and have tremors and even seizures starting within 30 minutes of eating it.” Even the smallest amounts of xylitol can be fatal for dogs so suggest you keep candy away from your pups. If you think your dog ate candy with xylitol call your veterinarian or the Pet Poison Helpline (855-764-7661).
Your dog doesn’t have to go without Halloween treats though. Take a look at some of our previous blogs with scrumptious DIY doggie treat recipes here and here.
Guard that Front Door
Be alert to your dog’s proximity to the front door during the witching hours of trick-or-treating. It only takes one inattentive moment for an over-excited dog to make a dash out the door. If your dog shows signs of anxiety with the chaos of the doorbell ringing and strangers appearing, it may be best to keep him or her crated or placed in their favorite part of the house with a fan for white noise. Your pup will be happier and calmer away from all the action.
Costume safety and ID
If you and your dog will be venturing out to trick-or-treat make sure your dog's costume is safe and that they have their collar or pet harness with their ID.
No matter how adorable your dog’s costume may be, make sure it is safe. Your dog should be able to see, breathe, and move unimpeded. Keep an eye out for any dangling parts to a costume that might be chewed off. Additionally, dogs can often get spooked and run away in fear. Runaway dogs are returned much faster when they have IDs on. So remember to keep the collar and ID on even if your dog is in costume.
Be in the know about the glow
Glow sticks, glow jewelry, and glow decorations look like fun toys to your pet. Unfortunately, if chewed the glow liquid can cause mouth pain and irritation. This goes for humans as well! Watch out for curious mouths around glow-in-the-dark items. Much like candy and chocolate we recommend you keep these out of reach for your pup.
Take caution with candles
What would Halloween be without candles and flames? Dogs are curious by nature, we know this! So if your dog is around candles or open flames on Halloween make sure that wagging tail and sniffing nose doesn't come in contact with them. Painful burns and injuries are no fun for you or your dog.
Final words
Have fun with your pup on Howlaween! Get dressed up and celebrate with family and friends. We trust that you'll be safe but when in doubt follow our safety tips above for an extra safe night of trick-or-treating.
If you still don't have a costume for your pup, check out some DIY dog costume ideas below!
All proceeds from Thousand Hills Pet Resort support New Life K9s. New Life K9s provides service dogs to veterans and first responders with PTSD at no cost to them.
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