Halloween might be a season of spooky fun and frolics for us humans but it’s often a different story for our pets.
Excessive Noise
With bangers and fireworks often released in the weeks leading up to Halloween, it’s important to make sure that your pet isn’t left outside at night.
The noise and excitement can be distressing for them so the best thing to do is bring them to a quiet part of the house where they won’t be disturbed.
Turning on the TV or radio is also a good idea as it will further disguise any outdoor commotion!
Halloween Chocolate
If you have children, Halloween is probably the one night of the year where there will be more chocolate than ever in the house!
However, if you have a cat or dog, it’s vital to make sure it’s kept well out of their paws.
All forms of chocolate — especially baking or dark chocolate — can be dangerous, or even lethal, for dogs and cats.
Symptoms of chocolate poisoning may include vomiting, diarrhea, increased heart rate and seizures.
Open Doors
You might think your pet is safe and sound but on Halloween, the front door is opens a lot more than usual.
With all the fuss of trick-or-treating, it can be easy for them to become distressed by the stream of bizarrely dressed strangers at their home or even slip out unnoticed.
Depending on their personality, it might be wise to keep them in a secure crate or inside room until the majority of the trick-or-treating has ended.
Fireworks and bonfires
Keep pets away from any dangerous or flammable items including candles, bonfires and fireworks.
However, if you’re worried about their reactions to the noise, steps can be taken to minimise their stress by training them in the run up to Halloween.
This can involve playing sounds of fireworks at lower volumes and rewarding your pet for calm behaviour, slowly increasing the volume leading up to Halloween.
Increased Anxiety
If your pet is showing signs of fear during Halloween do not react or make a fuss as this will make matters worse.
Stress in the animal can be reduced by altering meal times. Feeding later in the evening will encourage the animal to eat during what are anxiety creating periods.
You can also keep your dog busy with interactive toys such as those that can be stuffed with treats or play a game with them to distract from what’s happening outside.
