Halloween is one of the most anticipated times of the year for kids because of all of the candy, treats, decorations, parades, and haunted things to do. Halloween is also one of the most dangerous times for pets, mostly for the same reasons. In order to make sure Halloween is safe and fun for your dogs and cats, here are some things to be aware of to take the proper precautions.
1. No chocolate or other treats – chocolate is one of the most dangerous things for dogs or cats to get their paws on, so make sure to keep it far out of reach.
2. Costumes on pets – while it is adorable to dress up your pets in their Halloween best, you need to make sure that they are comfortable, flame retardant, and loose fitting. No matter how cute you think it is, your pet may feel differently and attempt to chew it off, possible ingesting some of the fabric which can be detrimental to their health, so make sure to keep them in sight at all times.
3. Be careful at the door – on trick-or-treat night, you have to be especially careful each and every time you open the door that your pet doesn’t sneak through and run outside. Depending on how close to the road you are, this could be a disaster waiting to happen.
4. Pumpkins with flame – putting a lit tea candle in a carved pumpkin is a favorite pastime at Halloween, but this can be dangerous for your pet if it gets knocked over. Not only could your pet get burned, but it could cause a fire. The best words of wisdom we have are again, pay close attention to where your pet is when the pumpkins are lit.
5. Wires and cords – the wires and cords from electric lights and other decorations should be kept out of reach of your pets. If chewed, your pet could suffer from cuts or burns, or receive a possibly life-threatening electrical shock.
6. Decorative corn can be harmful – the decorative corn that is used in so many homes during the Halloween season is thought to be relatively non-toxic to pets, but it can cause upset stomachs if ingested, not to mention that the pieces of corn could be a choking hazard.
7. Have proper ID – always make sure your dog or cat has proper identification. If for any reason your pet escapes and becomes lost, a collar and tags and/or a microchip can be a lifesaver, increasing the chances that he or she will be returned to you.
8. Taking your dog trick-or-treating – if you take your dog trick-or-treating with you, make sure to have them as lit up as possible to prevent getting hit by a car or bikers. One way of doing this is to purchase a light up dog collar or even get a reflector vest made for dogs.
Keep your pets safe this Halloween by taking the proper precautions and keeping them in your sight at all times. A happy pet makes for a happy pet owner! Happy Halloween.
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