Halloween is upon us, and while the children get excited to dress up and gorge themselves on enough sweets to give them a 10-year sugar high, we need to spend some time thinking about our furry friends.
With Halloween becoming a more significant event every year, it's a fun and exciting time for families. Still, for pets, the spooky season can come with hidden dangers. Whether you have dogs, cats, or rabbits, it's essential to be prepared and make sure their little paws are safe and sound.
Halloween can be overwhelming and sometimes dangerous for your furry friends, from strange costumes to the constant doorbell ringing. Here's your guide to keeping pets safe and stress-free this Halloween.
Halloween Dangers and Decorations for Pets
Halloween wouldn’t be Halloween without some decorations. But for all the fake cobwebs and plastic spiders, but you need to look out for your pet or you may end up in a Vet’s surgery. Everypaw’s Dr Anna has helped us out with her list of the top dangers and decorations to avoid:
- Beware ingestion of decorations leading to gastrointestinal upset, toxicity or obstruction
- Watch out for injury from decorations, many come with lights which if chewed can lead to an electric shock
- Be careful with costumes, if your pet is not comfortable, they can cause themselves an injury or even death struggling to get out of costume
- Increasing anxiety in animals due to Halloween being a ‘spooky’ time of the year which can be frightening your pets. Many decorations are based around scary characters and pets can become frightened by these decorations in their homes, which they consider a safe space
- Pet owners being injured because they’re forcing their pet to do something they don’t want to do, like dressing up, and the pet lashes out with aggressive behaviours
- Animals, particularly dogs, becoming lost through being taken trick or treating
- All Halloween decorations, particularly those that may be mistaken for toys or food items. Dogs may try to chew on fake bones for example!
- Fake cobwebs should be avoided as they are a massive danger to wildlife, and even small cats and dogs. Birds, mice, squirrels etc. can become entrapped in the net-like cobwebs, and as they are synthetic they do not break down or loosen, leading to injuries or even death.
- In small quantities, pumpkin is fine for a dog and cat to ingest, however as they are commonly left outside as decorations, there is the risk of a pet eating large amounts of flesh and developing vomiting or diarrhoea. There is also the risk of burns from any candles put inside.
Keep Your Pets Indoors
The number one tip for all pets, cats, dogs and rabbits, is to keep them indoors as much as possible. With people out in costume and pranksters playing tricks, being outdoors is not a safe place for pets.
If you have children who love to dress up, ease your pet into this. It might be cute for your little one to dress up in full costume, but your pet may not recognise them, and they could become anxious or, worse, aggressive. So take your time and keep the make-up and masks to the last minute.
Dr Anna says, "Don't let an animal get distressed in the first place – prevention is by far the best, through proper preparation… and don't ignore low-level stress and allow it to progress to high-level stress." It's at those moments where your pet may lash out.
For rabbits that live outside, consider moving their hutch indoors or into a garage or shed for the night. This helps reduce exposure to noise and people, which can stress them out.
Creating a Safe Space for Your Pets
The hustle and bustle of Halloween, including trick-or-treaters knocking at your door, can be anxiety-inducing for animals. Create a safe, quiet space for your pets to retreat and feel secure.
Also, have a playlist, podcast or audiobook ready; this can help mask the sounds of knocking and doorbells. Ideally, you should be looking for calming music, ideally classical music, but perhaps not the Ride of the Valkyries. A smoothly spoken podcast or audiobook can also help.
- Dogs: Set up a cosy den with their favourite bed or blankets in a room away from the front door.
- Cats: Cats are usually good at hiding when stressed, so make sure they have access to their favourite hiding places.
- Rabbits: Rabbits are sensitive to loud noises, so keep their enclosure in a quiet, dimly lit area to help reduce their stress levels.
Make sure their hidey-hole is just for them, and don't interfere with them while they're hiding away. Dr Anna says, "They may become territorial due to fear and show signs of aggression."
Beware the Halloween Treats
Halloween sweets and chocolates are everywhere during this time of year, but many goodies are toxic to pets. Chocolate, sweets with xylitol and raisins are harmful to dogs and cats. Even small amounts can cause serious health issues like vomiting, seizures, and in severe cases, death.
Make sure all sweets are kept well out of your pets' reach. This includes discarded wrappers, which can be a choking hazard or cause digestive blockages if eaten.
If you want your pets to join the treat fun, look for pet-safe treats in pet shops or bake your own. For example, dogs might enjoy homemade pumpkin treats, while you can offer small pieces of greeny veggies like to your rabbits. Carrots are high in sugar, so be careful what you feed your rabbit.
Costumes Are Fun for Us but Not for Pets
Pet costumes might be adorable, but not all pets enjoy wearing them. If your dog or cat shows even the slightest discomfort, do not force them.
Tight or poorly fitted costumes can restrict movement, irritate their skin, be a choking threat and even a fire hazard. If you do dress your pet up, keep the costume simple and non-restrictive, and never leave them unattended while wearing it.
For rabbits, it's best to skip costumes altogether. They're delicate and can quickly become stressed if handled too much or dressed up.
Dr Anna says, “Animals wearing costumes is a controversial topic within the veterinary industry. Although a lot of owners see no harm in animals wearing costumes for Halloween, many show signs of distress that owners are not attuned to. The danger of ignoring an animal showing subtle signs of distress is that they may escalate this behaviour very quickly to aggression if they are being ignored.
Pets can injure themselves trying to get out of clothing, and in severe situations (especially with cats and small pets), if they get extremely distressed, they can suffer a heart attack or other fatal stress related event. There is also the risk that parts of the costume may fall off and be ingested, leading to a gastrointestinal upset, or worse toxicity or obstruction. There is absolutely no need for an animal to dress up at Halloween.
No owner can physically monitor an animal constantly when wearing one, and so the risk of a problem or injury is high. Animals do not enjoy wearing costumes, they are simply used for our benefit only. Follow some of the above recommendations to involve an animal in Halloween rather than dressing them up.”
Watch Out for Decorations and Hazards
Halloween decorations like candles, electric lights, and dangling items can be hazards for pets. Cats, dogs and rabbits may be tempted to chew on wires or knock over candles, which could lead to injury or even house fires.
Opt for battery-operated candles inside pumpkins to avoid fire risks.
Keep decorations like fake cobwebs, small plastic toys, and glow sticks out of reach. Pets can find them interesting to chew, and they could cause blockages or poisoning.
Keep an Eye on the Door
Constant door opening and closing as you greet trick-or-treaters increases the risk of your pets darting outside. Dogs might dash out due to excitement, while cats could slip out unnoticed, putting them at risk of getting lost or injured.
- For dogs, consider using a baby gate or keeping them in a room away from the front door.
- Cats should also be kept in a safe, secure area far from the action.
- For rabbits, this is less of a concern if they're kept in a secure enclosure indoors.
Also, try keeping a keen eye on the door so you can get to it before your trick-or-treaters get to the doorbell. If you want to go one step further, leave a bowl of treats outside for them to help themselves and take the batteries out of your doorbell.
Up-to-Date Microchip and ID Tags
In case your pet does manage to escape, make sure they're wearing a collar with an up-to-date ID tag. Double-check their microchip information is up to date. It's UK law that all dogs must be microchipped; the same goes for cats in England.
While microchipping rabbits isn't as common, it's something to consider if your bunny is prone to hopping off on adventures.
Preparing for Fireworks and Loud Noises
Although Halloween isn't traditionally a night of fireworks, it's not uncommon for fireworks to go off in the lead-up to Bonfire Night and scare pets. The loud noises can be terrifying for pets, especially rabbits and cats.
Dr Anna says, "Even if animals are kept indoors during firework displays, most will become very stressed by the noise of fireworks. This is particularly the case with dogs who already suffer from anxiety."
To help:
- Dogs may benefit from anxiety-reducing jackets, or you can consult your vet about a pheromonal treatment.
- Cats might prefer to hide in their favourite spot, so let them be, but ensure they have a quiet room to retreat to.
- Rabbits: Cover their hutch with a thick blanket to muffle the sound, but make sure there's still proper ventilation. Try to distract them by offering some favourite treats like hay or leafy greens.
Keep a Close Eye on Your Pet's Behaviour
During the Halloween period, monitor your pets closely. If you notice unusual behaviour, such as hiding, pacing, or increased aggression, your pet may feel stressed.
You know your pet better than anyone, so it's good to recognise their cues when stressed and anxious. Remember, it is important to give them space and make their environment as calm as possible.
Halloween is a fun and festive time, but it's also when extra care needs to be taken for your furry family members. By keeping your cats, dogs, cats, and rabbits safe and comfortable, you can make sure everyone enjoys the season without any Halloween scares!
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