Costumes<\/span><\/h1>\n <\/p>\n
Dressing your dog up like a taco, spider, dinosaur, or cowboy may be fun for us to snap a picture to post on social media. But for your dog, this could be uncomfortable and frightening. Here are a few things to be cautious of if you decide to dress your dog up for Halloween.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n <\/p>\n
\n- \u00a0Make sure the costume fits well and allows your dog to move freely without restriction.\u00a0<\/span><\/li>\n
- Watch out for any parts of the costume that could be chewed on and potentially swallowed, which will quickly end your night of fun.\u00a0<\/span><\/li>\n
- Don\u2019t leave your dog unattended with the costume on.\u00a0<\/span><\/li>\n
- If your dog seems uncomfortable or wary of the costume, take it off.\u00a0<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n
<\/p>\n
Here are some signs your dog is uncomfortable or nervous about his Halloween garb.\u00a0<\/b><\/h3>\n
<\/p>\n
\n- Ears folded down or back\u00a0<\/span><\/li>\n
- Tail tucked\u00a0<\/span><\/li>\n
- Whining\u00a0<\/span><\/li>\n
- Pacing\u00a0<\/span><\/li>\n
- Trying to push the costume off.<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n
<\/p>\n
If your dog isn\u2019t into a costume, but you still want him to be festive, consider a simple holiday-themed bandana or a Halloween-themed collar instead of a costume.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n <\/p>\n
Trick-or-Treating<\/b><\/h1>\n
<\/p>\n
Taking your dog trick-or-treating with the family may seem like a good idea- and it might just be if your dog\u2019s temperament is right.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n <\/p>\n
If your dog isn\u2019t a fan of crowds of people, random people coming up trying to pet him, or seems skittish by all the sights and sounds of Halloween night, this could be a disaster. Even if your dog is usually good with crowds of people, the sights and sounds could make him behave differently and more on edge than usual.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n <\/p>\n
Be sure to read your dog\u2019s body language, and don\u2019t pressure him to walk through the neighborhood if he doesn\u2019t seem like he\u2019s into it.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n <\/p>\n
If you take him, make sure he is leashed and has a collar on with identifying tags just in case something spooks him. Providing a lighted collar or a reflective vest is also a great idea if your trick-or-treating occurs in the dark.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n <\/p>\n
Halloween Treats<\/b><\/h1>\n
<\/p>\n
One of the best parts of Halloween is all of the CANDY! Chocolate, upon chocolate, is handed out during this sweet holiday. Keep in mind that many candies are dangerous if dogs eat them. Chocolate and sugar-free candy containing xylitol can be toxic to dogs.\u00a0\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n <\/p>\n
Keep all holiday candy out of reach of your dog\u2019s nose. And if your dog does go trick-or-treating with you, be aware of any discarded candy wrappers on the ground your dog may take an interest in.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n <\/p>\n
If you suspect your dog has ingested any chocolate or candy containing xylitol, contact your local veterinarian or the ASPCA poison control center at (888) 426-4435.<\/span><\/p>\n <\/p>\n
Decorations<\/b><\/h1>\n
<\/p>\n
Aside from costumes and candy, decorating your house and yard with spooky ghosts and scary pumpkins is part of the fun of the holiday. But, decorations may give your dog a fright when he sees them, especially if they make sounds or are motion activated.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n <\/p>\n
Keep decorations out of the reach of your dog so that curiosity or fear doesn\u2019t cause him to \u201cattack\u201d them. Chewing on decorations could lead to swallowing plastic parts or cottony spider webs that get caught in his GI tract and end up in an expensive surgery.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n <\/p>\n
Be wary of any extension cords being used as well. Unsuspecting tails can easily get caught on extension cords and quickly pull what they are connected to the ground.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n <\/p>\n
Jack-O-Lanterns<\/b><\/h1>\n
<\/p>\n
Pumpkin can be great for a dog\u2019s digestive system. However, carved pumpkins with lights or candles inside are not!\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n <\/p>\n
I think we can all agree batteries are not something that should be ingested, and pumpkins with a lit candle can be a huge fire danger.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n <\/p>\n
Keep lit pumpkins off the ground and away from your dog.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n <\/p>\n
Finally, if you know your dog is skittish or isn\u2019t people-friendly, it\u2019s probably best to just keep him inside.\u00a0<\/b><\/h1>\n
<\/p>\n
If you go out trick-or-treating without your dog, leave your dog in a safe place in your house where he can\u2019t get into trouble if he gets scared or nervous from outside noises.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n <\/p>\n
If you\u2019re home handing out candy, keep your dog on a leash or in a room away from the constantly opening door. This will keep him from making a mad dash out the door when it opens.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n <\/p>\n
Alternatively, you can provide your dog with a calm, safe space for him to hang out during Halloween. Keeping him away from anxiety-producing situations will keep him calm, and you will be able to enjoy the night without worrying about your dog.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n <\/p>\n
To recap, Halloween is great fun, but all the noise and the hustle and bustle of the holiday can cause added stress for your dog. Remember to read your dog\u2019s signals and give him what he needs to enjoy the night without distress.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n <\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
Halloween. A time for spooky decorations, costumes, candy, and jack-o-lanterns.\u00a0 While Halloween is a fun-filled, exciting holiday for humans, it can seem strange and unusual and perhaps even frightening to dogs. Their world becomes transformed into a spooky atmosphere of different sights and sounds. And, the humans they love so much look different as…<\/p>\n
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