5 Tips to Keep Pets Safe During Spooky Season
Halloween will be coming up soon, and if you celebrate this holiday, follow these tips to keep all your family members happy and safe!
Costumes
Some pets love dressing up in costumes and prancing in their new look around the house or out in the neighborhood. You can purchase pet costumes for your furry friend at pet stores, online, or you can make your own if you’re crafty. If interested in designing your own spook-tackular costume, click here to find out how. Don’t forget to use pet friendly, non-toxic materials if you choose to make your own. Make sure the costume fits properly so it does not interfere with their ability to breathe, move, go to the bathroom, see or hear. Also, ensure that they cannot chew or injure themselves with any part of the costume. On the off chance that your pet does not seem to be a fan of their costume, never force them to wear one as this may increase anxiety. If your dog has neighborhood buddies and you have spare time, you can throw a neighborhood pet costume contest either on the street or on video chat. If your pet doesn’t get along with other animals, give them their own personal photoshoot in your house, yard, a nearby park, or travel up north for an Autumn ambiance. If your pet isn’t fond of costumes, they can still take part in the fun with spooky Snapchat filters, click the link for further details.
Healthy Treats for the Holiday
Most Halloween candy is bad for animals because it contains large amounts of fat or sugar and may contain toxins, such as xylitol or chocolate. It is important to keep human treats out of your pet’s reach. Instead offer healthy, fun edible snacks like seedless apples, seedless pears, blueberries, or strawberries. Make sure the treats are small enough to prevent choking in case your dog gobbles things up quickly. If your pet eats too many, they may develop an upset stomach or diarrhea, so treat responsibly. If you want to give your pup a seasonal treat, we sell delicious Pumpkin Spice biscuits from Bocce’s Bakery, or you can make your own doggie pumpkin treats with these recipes.
Decorations
Halloween decorations can bring an atmosphere of festivity to any home! Here are a few tips that will help your pets enjoy the spooky season as much as you do: Keep decorations out of your pet’s reach, and avoid decorations that resemble humans or other animals if your pet is timid. Decorations that light up or move may frighten your pet, so unless your pet is unusually fearless, these should probably be placed outside. It is important to keep your pets safe while decorating your home during the holidays because they may chew on cords, knock over lit candles or swallow small knickknacks. If your pet does not destroy toys, Halloween-themed pet toys can keep them occupied while keeping your home festive.
Halloween Evening
Pets can be more stressed than usual during Halloween because there’s often more excitement and activity. If your pet isn’t particularly social, keep them safely secured away from the door if you plan to hand out snacks to trick-or-treaters. Place a baby gate in a doorway to have your pet close by and safe in a different room, or have your pet leashed before you open the door so they can’t escape easily. If you don’t plan to hand out candy, turn your front lights off so hungry children don’t knock on your door and scare your pet. If your pet isn’t microchipped yet, now is a perfect time to have our veterinary staff chip them. This chip can save their life and reduce your stress levels in case of an escape. If you know your pet is going to be stressed during this season, make an appointment with our veterinary team to discuss the safest and most appropriate sedative for your pet.
Halloween Activities
Halloween activities are a bit harder this year due to COVID-19, but there are still plenty of options to celebrate the holiday with your pet! Besides costumes and neighborhood costume contests, local farms in the valley are still holding pet-friendly pumpkin patches, you can find more information from https://arizonapumpkinpatch.org/ or https://vertucciofarms.com/fall-festival/. Traveling up north to play in falling leaves can be just as much fun for your dogs as it can be for children, but be sure to keep your pets well-observed and on a leash at all times. Bobbing for treats is another great activity for dogs, fill a bowl or bucket with water then toss a few treats into the water and watch the fun begin. Avoid their ears becoming wet because it can cause an ear infection.
