8 Ways To Keep Your Pet Safe This Halloween
As the mid-term break draws near, families are busy carving pumpkins, choosing costumes and planning spooky activities for this year’s Halloween. What fun…for humans!
It is important to keep our pets safe this Halloween, and we urge pet owners to remember Halloween is a time of great disruption for our four legged family members. To manage this, we have compiled our top tips to minimise the impact on pets through this stressful period.
1.Keep Chocolate Away
Many sweet treats — especially chocolate — are toxic to dogs and cats. Problems may range from a mild upset tummy to vomiting and diarrhea, or even death. If you have any concerns at all, consult with a veterinarian immediately. If you want to keep your pet safe, make certain that sweets, including their wrappers, are kept well away from them.
2. A Safe Place
There can be major noise disturbances at Halloween such as the noisy doorbell of trick-or-treaters and fireworks. Keep your pet feeling safe by creating a covered crate and comfortable bed in a safety den where your pet can sleep soundly throughout this spooky night.
3. Costumes
Costumes are optional – make sure that any pet costume is comfy and if your pet looks unhappy, don’t persist. Halloween is to be a fun event for the entire family. If your pet does enjoy a good dress-up, check out our range of stylish and spooky costumes!
4. Keep Calm
Pheromone Diffusers and natural calming tools such as Pet Remedy, Adaptil, Hemp Heros or Feliway ranges are available in Petmania and will stop your pet from feel any distress.
5. Stay Indoors
Even if your garden is fenced or if you have an outdoor cat, bring your pet inside where it is safe. If your pet is usually kept outside, bring them in a few times before the big night to get them used to being indoors. Your pet may be used to strangers, but so many little ghouls and goblins running about may be too much. For dogs, remember also that it is a natural instinct for them to protect the family from strangers, and on Halloween there will be no shortage of strangers.
6. Check ID Tags/Microchip
Check ID Tags to make sure that they are secure and the details correct. If your pet gets spooked and runs away, it will be easier to get him/her home safely, especially if they are microchipped too.
7. Protect from candles and pumpkins
Excited or agitated pets can easily knock over a lit candle or pumpkin. Be sure those items are away from your pet’s reach, or consider a battery-powered candle that does not burn. Also keep in mind that edible decorations like corn or pumpkins can cause stomach trouble if your pets nibble on them.
8. Keep Them Busy
It’s inevitable that your doorbell will be going off more than normal on Halloween night, so plan ahead. Stick to your dog/cat’s routine and pre-empt people knocking by preparing lots of things to keep your pet busy, quiet and happy like a long-lasting chew or a catnip toy. Separate them from the entrance to your home using a stair gate if this is what would suit them better and they are used to it.
