Almost everybody loves the spooky season – whether it be the candy, trick-or-treating with your kids, horror movies, or fall in general. Unfortunately, your pets may not love this time of year nearly as much as you do. Many things about the Halloween season can trigger your pet or be downright dangerous, so it’s important to stay vigilant.
It’s important to learn all you can about Halloween pet safety, so you know how to help your animals through the spookiest time of year.
Doorbell Anxiety
If your dogs love to greet visitors at the door, this season will drive them crazy; consistent doorbell ringing from trick-or-treaters is the culprit behind doorbell anxiety. Many animals feel unsafe or overly excited when the doorbell rings, so Halloween may be a confusing time for them. One of the best ways to reduce doorbell anxiety is to give them a safe place to relax where it’s quiet and familiar.
Unrecognizable Costumes
Another Halloween danger for dogs and potentially people is the unfamiliarity of people in costumes. If your animal is sweet at heart but has anxiety with strangers, these costumes can cause a very big disturbance in their peace. It also increases the risk of someone accidentally getting hurt, so if you know your dog has problems with strangers, it’s best to keep them in a stress-free environment as much as possible.
Candy Dangers
We all know candy is people food, not animal food, but accidents happen; pets can find their way into the stash and get into toxic Halloween candy. Chocolate is one of the biggest dangers for cats and dogs, along with many other sugary treats. Part of Halloween pet safety is keeping all treats out of reach so they don’t get sick or accidentally ingest candy wrappers.
How to Keep Them Comfortable
Keeping your animals comfortable on holidays, when there are a lot of overstimulating events happening, is a key part of caring for them during these times of year. Keep them away from the front door, in an area where they are most relaxed and comfortable. Sometimes background noise in the room can help, and having toys to keep them distracted is a great idea. You know your pets best, so do what works for them!
Maintain Their Routine
Pets, especially dogs, need a schedule to thrive day to day; maintaining this routine around the Halloween season is a great way to do that. Feed them at the same time, still take them for a walk, maybe earlier in the day, and limit being around too many crowds. Halloween disruptions can throw off their whole day, so routine is key to keeping them happy.
Other Tricks and Tips
We have many other tips and tricks to help your pets stay as calm and comfortable during the biggest spooky night of the year. You should be able to go out and enjoy the spooky season without concern; these will certainly help give you ease of mind that your pet is safe. Old Dominion Veterinary Clinic prioritizes Halloween pet safety in Virginia – if you have any other questions, give us a call!
