Many of us love celebrating the spookier things in life by throwing parties, going trick-or-treating, or decorating the house. But there are some things that could be a danger to our pets that you may not have considered before.
So, here is our guide on how to have a safe and happy Halloween with your pets.
Should you dress your pets up for Halloween?
One of the best parts of Halloween is dressing up, and a lot of people like to get the whole family involved – including the pets. You may be wondering if it is it ok to dress up my pet?
It may be tempting to have a matching costume with your pet, but Halloween costumes for pets do more harm than good to our furry friends. It’s important to remember that pet Halloween costumes are for our enjoyment, and that pets would never wear them if given the choice. In fact, costumes can cause harm to the pet wearing them.
Some outfits can just be uncomfortable, but others may stop your pet from doing their normal and essential behaviours, such as going to the toilet, grooming themselves, and controlling their body temperature. It can also stop them from displaying important body language signals to other people and animals. This can put pets at risk of not being understood by others, which can result in conflict, fear or injury.
For that reason, we advise not dressing your pets up for Halloween or any time of year – unless it’s for practical reasons like to keep them warm or safe in the dark. If you do want your pets to follow a Halloween theme, we suggest picking up themed collars or leads for your dog, or some Halloween-themed beds and pet safe toys for your cats and small pets.
What Halloween treats can my pet have?
Just like Christmas and Easter, you must be extra vigilant at Halloween when it comes to pets and eating things that they shouldn’t. All the sweets, costumes, and decorations lying around, as well as lots of people coming and going, can potentially increase the chances of your pets getting their paws on something harmful.
As a rule, you should keep anything dangerous out of the way of your pets. As most pet owners will know though, this sometimes doesn’t stop an especially determined cat or dog from getting hold of something they shouldn’t. If your dog has eaten something harmful or your cat has eaten something harmful, you should contact your vet right away as it could be poisonous or cause a blockage – both can be fatal if left untreated.
Some owners may even be wondering if pets can eat sweets. You should never give your pets any sweets as they may include the sweetener xylitol (aka birch sugar). Xylitol is extremely dangerous for pets if they eat it and can very quickly become life threatening. If you think your pets may have eaten Xylitol or birch sugar, don’t wait for symptoms to appear and seek help from your vet right away.
We also must not forget to mention the more widely recognised risk around chocolate poisoning – again, if eaten in toxic amounts, pets will need urgent veterinary treatment. This doesn’t mean that your pets can’t have their own Halloween treat though! Read on to find out some pet-safe treats you can make for your four-legged friends.
Pet safe Halloween treats
Our pets may not be able to eat the Halloween treats we enjoy, but they can certainly have their own versions. We’ve got several recipes for homemade treats, including our ghoulish gourmet pumpkin dog treats as well as our pumpkin cookies which both dogs and cats can enjoy, and apple chips for rabbits – just remember to introduce new foods slowly and in small amounts so as not to upset your pets’ tummies.
Both rabbits and guinea pigs can also have a small amount of pumpkin flesh and skin as a treat, under supervision. It’s not something they should be fed all the time though, as it can cause health issues in larger amounts. You should also make sure that you’re not feeding your small pets the pumpkin’s seeds, as these can be high in fat and protein (which causes weight gain) and calcium, which can lead to health issues such as urinary problems. Find out more about feeding your rabbits and your guinea pigs’ diet.
Give your pets somewhere to rest during Halloween
Like a lot of other celebrations, things can become hectic at home during Halloween. It can be especially stressful and overwhelming for cats and dogs at Halloween with all the parties, excited children, strange creatures wandering around (people dressed up in costume) and knocking at the door throughout the evening and into the night.
One way to limit the number of visitors you get on Halloween night is to leave a bowl of sweets outside for trick-or-treaters, with a note for them to help themselves – just make sure it’s out of reach from other neighbourhood pets. Another way to keep pets calm is by closing the curtains, using a plug-in pheromone diffuser and having some calm background noise on (like the radio or TV) so they don’t notice everything going on outside.
You can also help your pet during a potentially difficult time by giving them somewhere quiet to retreat to when it gets too much. We suggest a calm room that’s away from all the activity which may block out some of the noise. You could also make a safe space for them by making a den for your pet. If your pet is particularly anxious at this time of year, we suggest staying in to comfort them rather than leaving them alone.
Halloween pet crafts
You can’t think of Halloween without thinking about pumpkins! So why not honour your pet by carving their silhouette into a pumpkin this year or go down the simple route and just try a pawprint or their name.
If pumpkin carving isn’t really your thing, you could try your hand at decorating your small pets’ enclosure with a Halloween theme. Throughout October, keep an eye out for orange, purple, black, or white fleece, hides, tunnels, toys, bowls, and more. Just make sure that you’re only providing items made of pet-safe materials.
After Halloween, Bonfire Night isn’t far behind – get prepared with our pets and fireworks guide.