Updated: 14/10/24
For many people, Halloween can be a fun time of year with costumes, games, fun food and scary films.
However, for some of our pets this time of year can be a time of confusion, stress or even potential danger.
To keep your pets safe at Halloween, we have put together a list of top tips to help you navigate any challenges this time might bring:
1. Keep chocolate, sweets and other foods out of reach of cats and dogs
Chocolate and certain sweets may prove toxic to our pets if eaten.
Any treats containing raisins may cause serious damage to dogs’ kidneys, sweeteners can cause low blood sugar and liver damage, while wrappers, skewers and other packaging may cause digestive blockages.
Great care should be taken to ensure Halloween treats are kept out of reach. You should also dispose of pumpkins promptly once they start to go mouldy, as these can make pets poorly if eaten.
If your pet does eat something silly, the best course of action is to contact your vet as soon as possible for advice.
In certain circumstances we can make a pet sick, which can help to reduce the amount of toxic substance absorbed by the body and remove some small items which may cause blockages.
2. Be cautious with costumes for pets
Pets all have different personalities, and while some dogs and cats are happy to participate in the festivities by wearing costumes, for others this will cause a great deal of stress.
As our pets cannot tell us how they feel, if there is any doubt in your mind whether a costume will upset your pet then it is safer to avoid it completely.
Human Halloween costumes can also prove scary for pets, who may not realise that it is simply their owner dressed up.
3. Provide somewhere safe for your cat or dog to hide
During any celebration or time of change, it is sensible to ensure our pets have a safe place in which they can hide.
Examples include allowing cats to hide under a bed or up high, wherever they usually feel safe, in an igloo bed or cardboard box, and for dogs creating a den by placing a blanket over their crate.
The main thing is to ensure that pets have a quiet place they can take themselves off to, which allows them to feel secure and where they won’t be disturbed.
4. Prevent any accidental escapees!
With Trick or Treaters doing the rounds, you may find that the doorbell is going more than normal, and this can be triggering for some pets, particularly dogs.
Having visitors at the door, wearing costumes can also provoke unexpected fear or aggression, so the safest option is to pop dogs into another room to avoid this.
Frequently opening the front door can also increase the risk of pets making a hasty getaway, so care should be taken to avoid this.
Legally cats and dogs must all be microchipped, but it also brings peace of mind that pets can be traced back to you should they escape. Where appropriate, wearing an ID tag on their collar also helps.
5. Fireworks aren’t fun for cats and dogs
Fireworks can prove very scary to our pets. It’s sensible to keep cats in after dark and close windows and curtains.
Where possible, keep the lights on and create some background noise by playing music or having the television on.
Pets will often benefit from having a safe place to hide, and stressed pets should not be left home alone.
Some dogs may benefit from distractions, such as puzzle feeders or treat stuffed chew toys.
Pheromone plug-ins may also help. Pets who are very anxious will often benefit from desensitisation training throughout the year, and you should contact your vet or a registered pet behaviourist for further support with this.
It’s also important not to forget outdoor pets such as rabbits and Guinea pigs.
Where possible, these small furries can be brought inside, or alternatively their housing should be covered and deep bedding provided so they have somewhere to hide.
6. Beware of unexpected fire hazards
Tea lights inside Jacko lanterns and candles are often used at Halloween, but also create a fire risk for our pets.
Any flames should be on a stable surface and well out of reach of pets to avoid the risk of burns.
9. Glow sticks don’t make good chew toys
Glow sticks are a popular choice at Halloween. However, if chewed by our pets they have a nasty, bitter taste and can be irritant, resulting in signs such as drooling, distress, pawing at the mouth and in some cases vomiting.
Larger glowsticks may also contain an inner glass vial, the fragments of which can be dangerous if eaten, so it is best to keep them well out of reach of our furry friends.
8. Keep pets safe with Halloween decorations
Although Halloween decorations help to set the scene, certain decorations may pose a risk to our pets.
For example, plastic spiders etc can be sharp if chewed up and stringy decorations such as faux cobwebs can entice cats but cause digestive blockages if eaten.
It’s sensible to supervise pets around these types of decorations or if needed, keep them completely away until the decorations are taken down.
We hope this guide has been helpful. If you have any concerns about your pet’s health or are concerned that your pet may have eaten something harmful over Halloween, please contact your vet as soon as possible for further advice.