Fraidy cats and scaredy dogs: Keep pets safe on Halloween

You’d think dozens of cat toys would keep Ozzie and Freddie busy, but no. Like most kittens, they’d much rather make their own fun. That means jumping up on the kitchen counter and batting tomatoes and cherry peppers off the windowsill. It’s bad enough that the cats are on the counter where they’re not allowed, but their last expedition got so lively that they pushed the screen out, tripped the burglar alarm, and got a visit from the police.

If two kittens and some veggies can cause so much trouble, imagine the potential of your own pet and a lit candle. As critical as it is to keep kids safe on Halloween, it’s equally important to recognize the dangers that abound for pets, and in turn for their owners, around this time of year.

Candy can be toxic to pets. Chocolate in all forms—especially dark or baking chocolate—can be very dangerous for dogs and cats. Symptoms of significant chocolate ingestion may include vomiting, diarrhea, hyperactivity, increased thirst, urination and heart rate—and even seizures. Candies containing the artificial sweetener xylitol can be poisonous to dogs. Even small amounts of xylitol sweetener can cause a sudden drop in blood sugar, which leads to depression, lack of coordination and seizures.

And cute as it might seem to dress your feline friend or canine companion in a costume, bear in mind that a frightened dog in a cape is nobody’s idea of fun (especially not the dog’s). Here are some guidelines from the Humane Society of the U.S.  (including a video) and the ASPCA  for keeping pets and the people around them safe at Halloween.

• Keep your pet in a quiet place, away from trick-or-treaters and other Halloween activities.  Dogs and cats could become frightened or agitated by the unaccustomed sights and sounds of costumed visitors.
• Cats—black ones in particular—often fall victim to pranksters. Keep them safely indoors.
• Place live flame decorations like candles and jack-o'-lanterns out of your pet's reach. Curious cats or rambunctious dogs can easily knock over a candle with a paw or a wagging tail.
• Don't leave the litter. Ingesting tin foil and cellophane candy wrappers can pose a choking hazard or cause intestinal blockage.
• Don't let the family dog accompany the kids on their trick-or-treat outing. Children may have a difficult time handling a pet during the festivities and your pooch could get loose, especially if she is spooked by neighborhood goblins.
• Keep decorations that pets could chew on—like streamers and fake spider webs—and wires and cords from electric decorations out of reach. If pets chomp on Halloween decorations they could choke or become ill and, if they chew on electrical cords, they risk a potentially deadly electrical shock.
• IDs, please! Always make sure your dog or cat has proper identification. If for any reason your pet escapes and becomes lost, a collar and tags and/or a microchip can increase the chances that he or she will be returned to you.