No Tricks, Just Treats! Keep Your Pets Safe This Halloween

With Halloween approaching and your shopping cart quickly filling up with adorable pet costumes and treats, here are 5 steps you can take to keep your furry friends safe on the spookiest night of the year!

Tip 1: Save the Halloween Candy for Humans

If you’re handing out candy this year, remember to keep the candy bowl away from your four-legged friends! The only treats you should be giving your pups on Halloween are our yummy Pumpkin Spice Latte Biscuits.

As you collect your Halloween treats, be mindful of where you place both the candy and the wrappers. If consumed, chocolate can be extremely harmful to your pet’s health. We recommend placing your candy on a high shelf or tucked away, so there is minimal risk of your dog consuming it.

If you suspect your pet has consumed something toxic, please call your veterinarian immediately.

Tip 2: Keep Pets Away From the Door

While handing out candy, attempt to keep your pet away from the front door, as it will be opening and closing more frequently, creating a greater risk for your dog or cat to dart outside. If your pet does escape outside, a collar with proper ID tags can be a lifesaver for a lost pet.

In addition, the increased number of visitors, doorbell rings, knocking, etc., can elevate your pet’s anxiety and stress levels. To avoid this, we recommend you put your pet in a different location away from the front door to help your pet feel more relaxed.

Tip 3: Be Mindful of Your Pet’s Costume

While there’s nothing cuter than a pet in a costume, it is important to make sure your furry friends feel comfortable. For some, wearing a costume can create distress or abnormal behavior. As a general rule, your pet’s costume should not restrict their usual movements, sight, or ability to breathe, bark or meow. If your pet is comfortable in a costume, check it carefully so there are no parts that could be easily chewed off and become a potential choking hazard.

Lastly, make sure the costume fits purr-fectly to avoid any injuries. If you plan on dressing up your pet this year, feel free to send us a photo on Facebook, we’d love to see!

Tip 4: Avoid Dangerous Decorations

Halloween is meant to be spooky, but no one wants things to get really scary! While a carved jack-o-lantern is a spooky Halloween decoration, pets can accidentally knock it over. Not only can this lead to a potential fire, but can also be harmful to your four-legged family members. Curious kittens or puppies are especially at risk for getting burned from a lit pumpkin, so best to keep a close eye on them. While festive pumpkins and gourds are typically non-toxic to pets, taking a bite may cause mild digestive discomfort.

In addition to pumpkin decor, you should also be watchful when your pet is around decorations with wires. It is easy for our furry friends to become accidentally entangled in long chords. It’s important to keep an eye on your pet around Halloween decorations to avoid a trip to the vet.

Tip 5: Keep Your Distance From Fellow Trick-or-Treaters

Although your pet is highly adorable and incredibly friendly, it is safer and more polite to keep you and your pet six feet apart from others. Luckily six feet is the common length of most leashes, so you shouldn’t have a problem social distancing. Doing so will keep you and your family safe and ensure that your pet is not being constantly touched by strangers. Be sure to give your furry friend some extra belly rubs and behind-the-ear scratches when you get home!

To make the trick-or-treating adventures even more exciting for your pets, be sure to bring their favorite treats along. Some houses may even offer dog-friendly treats for furry trick-or-treaters!