Happy Howl-oween from the team at Vetpost!
Halloween is full of excitement, but all the new smells, strange costumes and heavy influx of people at the door can be overwhelming for our pets. Not to mention the temptation of human treats!
Here’s our top 5 tips for keeping your pet safe and stress-free this scary season.
1. Be Selfish with the Treats
Although delicious for us, human treats can be fatal for our pets. The theobromine in chocolate is toxic to dogs. The darker the chocolate, the more poisonous! If you believe your pet has ingested any chocolate, contact your vet immediately. Candy has the potential to cause harm too. Even sugar free candy can be deadly to pets. Xylitol (a sugar replacement), which is also known as “Birch Sugar” is a known toxin to pets. Healthy alternative like nuts, or fruit aren’t safe either. Some nuts and fruits like raisins can make pets sick, and even cause kidney damage.
Give your pet their own treats to occupy them this scary season, and keep them away from the human treats. A long-lasting chew or dental treat like Veggiedents can be a tasty way to keep your pets busy and safe. There are also enrichment toys, such as Kongs, lick mats, and the Pet Remedy Boredom Buster, designed to keep your dog entertained and mentally stimulated.
Pet-Safe Treats & Toys For A Happy Howl-oween
Veggiedent Fresh Dental Chews for Dogs 15 pack
Price range: $16.64 through $30.78 — available on autoship from Price range: $20.19 through $37.33 / week
Pet Remedy Boredom Buster Foraging Kit
$61.33 — available on autoship from $59.49 / week
KONG Classic Dog Toy
Price range: $22.00 through $49.95 — available on autoship from Price range: $21.34 through $48.45 / week2. Safe Dress Up
Pet dress-up is becoming more and more popular. Some pets look adorable dressed up in costumes, but make sure it is done safely. Ensure the costume doesn’t obstruct their vision and isn’t too tight. Ensure your pet can’t pull any part of their costume off and ingest it – potentially causing an internal blockage! It’s important to keep a close eye on any pet in a costume in case the costume moves and becomes dangerous, and be ready to remove the costume if they become distressed.
3. Beware The Visitors
Halloween can be a fun time to get together, dress up and have fun. Some pets are not so keen on visitors and may experience a rise in anxiety during this busy time. Even if you’re not having a Halloween party, you’re likely to have a rise in door-knocking visitors, which can keep pets on high-alert.
Some pets love the extra excitement, but others prefer a quiet space away from the action. Set them up in a comfy room with their bed and a favourite toy while trick-or-treaters are visiting. There are a range of calming products available for pets made to be used around times of heightened stress.
Support for Calm Pets
Feliway Diffuser for Cats (+48ml Vial)
$97.00 — available on autoship from $94.09 / week
Adaptil Calm Diffuser (Includes Refill)
$107.77 — available on autoship from $104.54 / week
Pet Remedy 15ml Spray
$17.00 — available on autoship from $16.49 / week
Pet Remedy Plug and Diffuser 40ml
$59.00 — available on autoship from $57.23 / week
4. Decoration Safety
Spiderwebs, lights, pumpkins and spooky decorations galore! If you are decorating this Halloween, try to keep it pet safe. Keep wires, small decorations, and candles well out of reach. Even innocent-looking items like fake cobwebs or plastic spiders can be tempting to chew. Stick to pet-safe decorations whenever possible.
5. Trick or Treat Truants
We open our doors a lot on Halloween night. The stress of heightened door traffic and the increased open door opportunities can easily lead to a pet getting out. Ensure your pet is easily reunitable by making sure their ID tags and microchip details are up to date.
Happy Halloween from the team at Vetpost. Wishing you and your fur-family and safe and fun holiday.
Halloween can be a lot of fun, but it’s also full of spooky surprises for our pets. A little preparation and awareness go a long way in keeping them happy and safe. From all of us at Vetpost, have a spook-tacular, pet-safe Halloween!
