Halloween Safety for dogs
October 22nd, 2010
Unless your dog has the energy of a puppy, the calmness of a Zen master, and the endurance of the Energizer bunny, odds are the Halloween craziness will stress our dogs out.
In addition to the stress brought on by noise and commotion, there are other concerns to keep an eye on. With this in mind, here are a series of tips to keep your dog safe.
Avoid chocolate and other candy.
Make sure to keep any candy that you are going to hand out safely hidden from your dog. Notify kids in the house to put their candy bags away. Chocolate is a big no-no for dogs as it contains theobromine, which their bodies cannot properly digest. The darker the chocolate, the worse it can be. Small amounts are typically not lethal, so if he does snag a bite don’t freak out. But also don’t let it happen. Candy wrappers, tinfoil, and other dangers can be found in candy bags, so keep your dog safe by putting these away.
Put your dog in a safe place.
Either a separate room or a crate, when the trick-or-treaters are coming by. Unless your dog has a strong obedience on “Place” command you should not let your dog be at the door to greet the kids. Costumes, commotion, and loud noises will stress any dog out and can cause problems ranging from stress to aggression.
Don’t leave your dog around kids without supervision.
The erratic movements and loud, startling noises can really upset him. Add in a scary costume and you have a formula for disaster.
Be careful about placement of electrical cords for decorations.
If your puppy or dog chews on these, trouble will follow. Arrange them for safety and use a bitter apple spray on the cord to keep pets at bay.
Don’t leave candles unattended.
Carved pumpkins look great with a candle burning inside them, but they can be tipped over. They can also be investigated by curious pets which can lead to burns or worse.
Have a safe Halloween.