This entry was posted on 2023-07-19 by Pet Heaven Store.

Halloween used to be an American tradition, but South Africans also joined in the fun. It can be the spookiest night of the year, but keeping your pets safe doesn’t have to be tricky. What follows are some precautions to keep your pet happy and healthy during Halloween.

Stash the Treats

The candy bowl is for trick-or-treaters, not Roxy or Diesel. Several popular Halloween treats are toxic to pets. Chocolate in all forms—especially dark or baking chocolate—can be very dangerous for cats and dogs, and sugar-free candies containing the sugar substitute xylitol can cause serious problems in pets. If you suspect your pet has ingested something toxic, please call your veterinarian immediately.

Watch the Decorations and Keep Wires Out of Reach

Be aware of which decorations pose threats. Some hazards are obvious, like lit candles (fire hazards and toxic to birds if scented). Other potentially dangerous decorations include rubber eyeballs (choking risk), glow sticks and fake blood (possible poisons), fake cobwebs (can choke or entangle pets and wildlife), potpourri (toxic to birds) and strung lights. Watch out for those candy wrappers and plastic packaging too!

Pumpkin can be good for dogs and cats, but too much can cause digestive issues and rotting pumpkin may harbour bad bacteria.

Electric and battery-powered Halloween decorations are certainly safer than open candles, but they still can present a risk to pets. Pets who chew on electrical cords can receive a possibly life-threatening electrical shock or burn. Batteries may cause chemical burns when chewed open or gastrointestinal blockage if swallowed. Shards of glass or plastic can cause lacerations anywhere on the body or, if swallowed, within the gastrointestinal tract.

Be Careful with Costumes

For some pets, wearing a costume may cause undue stress. Do not put your dog or cat in a costume unless you know he or she loves it. If you do dress up your pet for Halloween, make sure the costume does not limit his or her movement, sight or ability to breathe, bark or meow. Check the costume carefully for small, dangling or easily chewed-off pieces that could present a choking hazard. Ill-fitting outfits can get twisted on external objects or your pet, leading to injury. Be sure to have your pet try on the costume before the big night. If he or she seems distressed or shows abnormal behaviour, consider letting your pet wear his or her “birthday suit” or don a festive bandana instead.

Keep Pets Calm and Easily Identifiable

A dog’s natural instinct is to protect their home or to alert you that a stranger has arrived. Cats typically prefer a quiet environment with their family. Trick-or-treaters continually knocking on the door or ringing the bell can be very stressful to both dogs and cats. All but the most social dogs and cats should be kept in a separate room away from the front door during peak trick-or-treating hours. While opening the door for guests, be sure that your dog or cat doesn’t dart outside. And always make sure your pet it wearing proper identification—if for any reason he or she does escape, a collar with ID tags and/or a microchip can be a lifesaver for a lost pet.

There will be more people out than normal after dark, and dark or black pets can be especially at risk of being run over. What’s even scarier is that a significant number of black cats disappear every year on Halloween –due to some not so nice people. Don’t take any risks, keep them indoors!

You can also consider medication to keep your pet calm – either scheduled drugs prescribed by your vet or OTC medications, like catnip, pheromones (e.g. Feliway), supplements (e.g. Calmeze) or CBD oil.

Another option is music – Hendel seems to be a favourite with cats, while dogs like reggae, soft rock and classical music. For clinically tested calming music, try streaming iCalmDog and iCalmCat. White noise also works well.