Halloween is just days away, and while it is a fun-filled holiday, there are some precautions your should take for your four legged friends so the festivities are enjoyable for them too!
Just because you have animals does not mean that you have to forgo the holiday, it just means that you need to be proactive to ensure that the fun doesn't turn in to a horror!
Decorations:
Decorating for any holiday is a family event in our house! Whatever the holiday, we do it up BIG! However we are cautious where we display decorations. With both cats and dogs in our household, we make sure to keep strings & plastic (including fake spider webs, costume pieces, candy wrappers, etc.), electrical cords, and small dangling objects out of reach of our pets. These objects could cause an intestinal blockage or an electrical shock - and that's not any fun!
Costumes:
If you follow us on Facebook, you know that we LOVE dressing the dogs up in costumes for photos! But costumes on strange humans that ring our doorbell once a year can be scary to most family pets - even if the dog knows the child. Many costumes obscure facial features, making it difficult for a dog to realize that the "monster" at the door is really just a child.
And many young children are afraid of dogs - especially a barking dog that is spooked by the stranger at the door...
So be respectful of your dogs (and cats!) - give them dinner a little early and settle them in for an early bedtime. Give them refuge in a room away from the front door and turn on a radio, tv, or fan to muffle the noise at your door.
Candy:
All I can say is YUM!!! - if you are a human. While most chocolate candy contains very little Theobromine (the substance in chocolate that is toxic to dogs), eating chocolate can still make your dog sick - and no one wants that. Even candy that does not contain chocolate can upset your pet's stomach (causing gas, intestinal upset, or vomiting). So keep your candy stash out of reach of prying mouths! And if you live in a house with both cats & dogs like us, make sure that the cats cannot knock the candy on the floor for the dogs to eat!
Candles:
I may seems strange, but candles can also be a hazard to your pet - and your home! Many pets are intrigued by a candle flame and if they get too close, they can singe their whiskers - or worse. Wagging tails or curious cats have also been known to knock over ignited flames, starting a fire. So it is best to keep candles up high where no animals can reach them.
These few tips will help your entire household have a fun and spooky Halloween! So decorate, dress-up, eat candy, and have a ghoulish time!
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