Dogs and the
Dangers of Halloween

Fall has arrived and with it the Dangers of Halloween. I love Halloween and look forward to helping my girls picking out costumes every year. However, each year I worry about my dog safety and the dangers of Halloween that I know can go along with this holiday. Unfortunately there are unscrupulous people out there who will go as far as to hurt your dog on purpose and then there are the dangers of candy poisoning, wrapper choking, escapes out the door and the list goes on.

Just as we protect our children on Halloween it is our responsibility to look after our dogs too. So here are a few dog safety reminders of what to look out for so that everybody can have fun this year.

The most obvious danger of Halloween is all of the candy. Let me perfectly clear and say that candy is NOT good for dogs! Many sweets have artificial sweeteners in them that are toxic and for those of you that don't already know, chocolate is major dog toxic food. Another food that people don't usually think about but I have seen the last few years with people getting more health is raisins or grapes. They are also toxic to dogs. Oh, and for you adult trick or drinkers – NO Cocktails for the pooch! Somebody has to drive! Seriously though, dogs cannot tolerate alcohol either.

If you would like to be sure your pup has something special, then buy them their own special treats for that night so they aren't left out. You could even make some homemade dog treats. There are thousands of free recipes online.

One last thing to think about with the candy is the wrappers. Some of those foil wrappers can be super dangerous. They are basically the same as tin foil and can cause damage in your dog's intestinal system.

Halloween costumes for your dog have become a huge trend among dog lovers. If you decide to participate in this new custom, you need to follow a few dog safety precautions and avoid the dangers of Halloween that can plague your pet.

First, make sure you get the correct size outfit for your dog and that it fits them comfortably. The last thing you want is for the costume to be too tight. This can make your dog extremely irritable, not to mention, that it can rub sores into their skin and cut their circulation off.

On the other hand, if the costume is too big, they can trip over it. It might be worth giving the costume a trial run a few days ahead of time to see how they get along.

The simpler the design of the costume the better. What I mean is try to avoid things like sequins, bows, extra buttons, etc. These are things your dog may chew off and swallow and potentially choke or cause an intestinal blockage.

You should think of your dog as a small child in their costume and never leave them unattended. If they continue to struggle in their costume, you should remove it immediately.

Decorating for Halloween is so fun. I love carving pumpkins but adding something new to your house sure does make your dog curious. It never fails, I start setting things out, and Rodeo is the first one on the scene checking it out. Sniffing, licking, chewing – you know the drill. It's all perfectly normal for them to be curious but also dangerous. So do a bit of planning before you put up decorations.

Again, think of it as if you are planning around a toddler. You remember the days when you had to put everything up higher and you had safety protectors around all your cords etc. Well, with a dog you're pretty much in the same situation.

You also need to think about those beautifully carved pumpkins and the lit candles you put inside. Strangely enough your dog will likely try to eat a pumpkin at some point in their life. I know, disgusting right. Well, you should see it the 2nd time around – YUCK! Ok, so probably not super high on the dangers of Halloween list but consider putting your pumpkins up a little higher too.

Consider that when you light those candles too. While they are sniffing around your pumpkin, it doesn't take much to knock over that lit candle and suddenly you have a raging inferno in the living room. Again, another reason to put them up higher. Another alternative that I have seen is that they now have fake candles in the stores to put inside your pumpkins – bonus no real flame!

Last but certainly not least, is what I see as the most heinous dangers of Halloween. It's the importance of keeping your dog inside and protected on Halloween. It seems like every year we hear some horrifying tale of an animal being cruelly beaten or even killed by so called “kids having fun”. There are just some plain cruel people in this world with no soul for animals. So don't take the chance. Keep all of your animals inside or locked up on Halloween and a few days before too.

Another danger of Halloween is what will you do with your dog when trick or treaters come to the door? Do you plan to put them in another room, put up a barricade or let them join in the fun? This is really important to think about ahead of time. How your dog normally reacts to visitors may not be how they'll react to visitors in strange costumes with their faces concealed. Not to mention with kids screaming, yelling, crying and the doorbell ringing, etc.

A normally calm and friendly dog could feel anxious and scared and could even feel cornered and bite someone. That's one of the dangers of Halloween that your dog just doesn't need to worry about. So don't put your dog in that situation. Prepare ahead of time and give them a safe environment that will not put them in a position that they feel like they have to protect themselves. You absolutely do not want to have to worry about defending your dog's behavior in their own home.

One last thought about barricading your dog from the door. With people coming and going, it's plausible that your dog could get over excited or scared and sprint for the open door. With all of the people and excitement catching them would be almost impossible. You do not want you baby running loose on Halloween night knowing the dangers of Halloween they could be facing. You need to make sure that your dog has current name and address information on their collar just in case of an escape.

With a few simple precautions both you and your dog can enjoy Halloween and avoid the dangers of Halloween.

Trick or Treat – Dog Treat that is!

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