As Halloween approaches, our thoughts drift to ghosts and ghouls, spooky decorations, lots of treats and fun times. Sadly, for our pets it can be a frightening time. There could be hazards in our homes, from toxic foods to dangerous decorations. We are reminding you to be aware of the dangers Halloween poses to all animals and to take extra measures to safeguard the safety of not only domestic pets but farm animals and wildlife too.
Our small animal veterinary team has pulled together a Halloween survival guide to help keep pets happy.
Hide the treats
The sweets bowl is for trick-or-treaters, not our furry friends. Several popular Halloween treats are toxic to pets. Chocolate in all forms and sugar-free candies containing the sugar substitute xylitol can cause serious problems in pets. If your pet does ingest something toxic, contact your vet immediately.
Halloween decorations out of pets’ reach
Many cats and dogs love to play with dangly decorations. However, they could end up chewing and swallowing something harmful, leading to serious problems such as a gut blockage. Its important to keep pets away from wires and candles. Also, swallowing foil or plastic wrappers can lead to digestive problems and may require surgery.
Don’t dress up pets
Some pets may find wearing Halloween costumes stressful. Consider a festive themed bandana instead which will be less restrictive. If you do choose to put your pet in a costume, make sure it does not limit the animal’s movement, vision, ability to breathe or behave normally.
Fireworks
The sound of fireworks can cause a lot of distress for pets. It is important to ensure pets are kept safe in a secure area where they cannot dart out an open door from the noise. Keeping the lights low and playing a radio or television in the background can help drown out some of the noise outside. Close the curtains and windows if there’s lots of noise outside.
Be home before dark
Trick-or-treaters in costume and loud music from parties can be scary for our pets, so it’s best to be at home with them before Halloween activities start. To avoid stress in dogs, take them for walks before it gets dark. For cats, encourage them to come home earlier by moving their dinner time to before it gets dark outside.
Outdoor Pets and Wildlife
Horses, ponies and donkeys should be securely stabled to prevent them from escaping or hurting themselves if they live in areas with a considerable amount of Halloween-related noise. It is important you check under all wood piles before lighting any bonfires to ensure there is no wildlife hibernating. Some outdoor decorations such as fake spider webs can snare wild animals, so be careful if hanging them and ensure they are removed after the festivities.
Unfortunately stray animals can fall victim to abuse or cruel Halloween pranks. If you witness any animal cruelty, please contact your local Garda station immediately.