Halloween Pet Safety: 9 Tips to Keep Dogs and Cats Safe This Year

Halloween is fun for people and stressful, sometimes dangerous, for pets. Candy bowls, costumes, candles and a nonstop doorbell all add up. Here are nine simple ways to keep your dog or cat safe, based on guidance from the ASPCA.

1. Lock Up the Candy

Chocolate is toxic to dogs and cats, and dark and baking chocolate are the most dangerous. It can cause vomiting, diarrhea, a racing heart, tremors and seizures. Dogs will sniff out candy almost anywhere, so keep the bowl and the kids' trick-or-treat haul up high or behind a closed door.

2. Watch for Xylitol

Many sugar-free candies and gums contain xylitol, an artificial sweetener that can drop a dog's blood sugar dangerously low and may damage the liver. Even small amounts can be an emergency.

3. Don't Forget the Wrappers

Pets that swallow candy wrappers can end up with a blockage in their gut, which can need surgery. Watch for vomiting, a sore belly or straining.

4. Keep Raisins Away

Some trick-or-treat bags include little boxes of raisins. Grapes and raisins can cause kidney damage in dogs.

5. Glow Sticks

Cats especially love chewing glow sticks. Most are labeled non-toxic, but the liquid tastes extremely bitter and can make a pet drool and panic. A small treat or a little water usually helps clear the taste.

6. Candles and Jack-o'-Lanterns

A wagging tail or a curious cat can knock over a lit pumpkin. Use battery-powered candles where pets can reach.

7. Costumes Only If They Enjoy It

A costume should never limit your pet's movement, hearing, sight or breathing, and should have no small dangling pieces they could chew off and choke on. Try it on before the big night. If your pet freezes, hides or tries to get out of it, skip it.

8. Make a Quiet Room for Trick-or-Treat Hours

Strangers in masks and a constant doorbell can scare even calm pets, and an open door is an easy escape route. Put your pet in a quiet room with water, a bed and a toy while trick-or-treaters are out.

9. Check ID Tags and Microchips

If your pet does slip out, an up-to-date ID tag and microchip are the fastest way back home. Check that your phone number is current before Halloween night.

Frequently Asked Questions

What should I do if my dog eats chocolate?

Call your vet or the ASPCA Animal Poison Control Center at (888) 426-4435 right away. Have the type and amount of chocolate ready.

Are glow sticks poisonous to cats?

Most are labeled non-toxic, but the liquid is very bitter and can cause drooling and distress.

Should I put my pet in a costume?

Only if your pet is comfortable in it and it does not limit movement, sight, hearing or breathing.

This guide is general information, not veterinary advice. If your pet eats something worrying, call your vet or the ASPCA Animal Poison Control Center at (888) 426-4435 (a fee may apply).

Related Stories

• Can Dogs Eat Pumpkin? Puree, Pie, Seeds and Pumpkin Spice Explained
• Halloween Pet Names: 85 Spooky and Sweet Names for Dogs and Cats
• Pickles: The Dog Who Found the Stolen World Cup

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Sources

• ASPCA: Halloween safety tips: chocolate, xylitol, wrappers, glow sticks and costumes
• ASPCA: People foods to avoid feeding your pets: chocolate, xylitol and raisins

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Cover photo: Can Kamiloğlu via Wikimedia Commons, public domain.