Halloween Pet Safety

Halloween isn’t the most pet friendly holiday. The doorbell is blaring on and on all night, there are tasty-smelling goodies everywhere that could potentially be toxic to them, and worst of all, there are strangers in scary costumes everywhere they turn.
But that doesn’t mean you have to cancel Halloween to keep your pets happy. You can make spooky season more fun for your cat or dog with these tips.

What’s Your Pet’s Halloween Costume?
Pets generally do not like costumes, especially if they’re introduced to them at the last minute. You can prep your pet for Halloween night by trying their costume on for a few minutes at time in the weeks leading up to the holiday. For some, though, it can be impossible to tolerate an itchy costume or annoying hat.
If your pet dislikes costumes, you can still help them celebrate with a festive bandana or collar clip-on. Add a hang-tag to their collar to turn them into a “stuffed animal.” Or, attach some bat, angel, or butterfly wings, or even a shark fin, to their most comfortable harness.

Tricks And Treats For Good Boys And Ghouls
Your pets may not be able to share in your family’s trick-or-treating haul, but there are a few fall-time goodies you can share with them.
If you go apple picking, you can use up extra apples by sharing them with your dog. Just make sure you remove the stem and seeds before serving. Some dogs may find the skin difficult to digest, so you may want to peel it for them. You can boil and mash the apples to make unsweetened applesauce - a spoonful makes a great topper for their food.
Cooked, pure pumpkin puree, either canned or homemade, also makes a yummy, healthy snack or meal topper. It’s full of both soluble and insoluble fiber, meaning it can help relieve diarrhea and constipation, but it’s also good as an anytime treat.
Remember that chocolate and raisins are toxic to pets. Sugar-free candies that contain xylitol as a sugar substitute are fatal to cats and dogs, even in small amounts.
Don’t forget to make or buy some tasty treats for a pet-friendly treat bowl. Some of your neighborhood trick-or-treaters might bring their four-legged companions along for the walk.

It’s Okay To Be A Party Pooper
If your pet is friendly and laid-back, they might not mind greeting trick-or-treaters with you. But not all pets are okay with frequent guests, especially those who are wearing creepy costumes.
Your pet might prefer to stay behind a baby gate or in a quiet room, listening to calming music to drown out the doorbell. If they’re really stressed, a calming treat like Treatibles and a pheromone product like Adaptil can help relieve their heebie-jeebies.