Goblins and ghouls, black cats and werewolves are materializing this month! Halloween might look a bit terrifying due changes in the appearance of people and places, but one thing that doesn't change is how we can support our pets (and ourselves) so we can enjoy the boo-tiful holiday. I know I'm still puzzling out how we're going to do Halloween with the twins, but one worry I can cross off my list is taking care of my pets during the excitement. I'm here to help you scare that worry off your list as well!
No Cryptic Collars - Make Sure Your Pet is ID'd
It doesn't matter if you and your pet will be menacing the streets as monsters or haunting your home quietly together. Make sure that your pet has an ID tag on their collar, is microchipped or has a clearly visible tattoo. Update your contact information with your veterinarian, tattoo and microchip registry. Even the calmest, most socialized pet can startle away from you, slip their collar and get lost. Pets can sneak out the door amidst the trick-or-treaters unseen, and they can be so frightened they may not come when called. Making sure your pet is clearly identified is the first step to ensuring they can get home to you if the nightmare of your pet going missing occurs.
Devilishly Safe Decorating
The skeletons are coming out of the closet, literally! Make sure that all of your decorations are safe for your pet to be around.
🎃 Keep in mind that skeleton hands, and ghostly strands are easy to chew, swallow and can cause issues in your pet’s stomach and intestines.
🎃 Keep light strands and cords out of reach so they can't be chewed on.
🎃 Fake spider webs can tangle wild birds and pets, so use these against fences and walls, instead of across open air spaces.
🎃Ensure that pumpkins and candles can't be tipped over and become a fire hazard as a pet goes past them.
Be Aware of the Scare!
Be aware that the scary sounds and sudden movements of decorations designed to terrify and delight your trick-or-treaters may also scare your pets and the pets in the neighbourhood. We know and understand the season and what is going on when the zombie springs up from behind the decorative tombstone. We can laugh it off, after our heart rate slows and we've stopped screaming. Our pets may not tolerate it as well. It may startle them, cause them to dart away, or they may feel protective and attack the decoration in your defense! If you know your pet doesn't enjoy loud noises, or startles easily, choose walking paths and times less sinister.
You can build up your dog's ability to tolerate these scary situations - something to work on for next year! This can be done by:
👻 Playing the scary sounds quietly, when your pet is calm. Reward them for staying calm, and slowly increase the volume over a period of weeks to months. Take this slowly!
👻Allow your pet to interact with the "scary" decorations at their pace. Don't force them to go close! Reward them for every curious sniff and glance, and then move on.
👻 Build up your pet's ability to be calm by playing games from the "12 Games of Calm" series in the member platform. You can watch the short (90 second) videos on your favourite social media platform (Facebook or Instagram), or join the Toes and Tails Wellness Portal for free access!
Creative, not Cruel, Costumes
The stores are full of pet costumes but keep in mind that not all of them are safe for your pet! It's one more thing that could overwhelm their senses, or startle them. If you are costuming your pet, ensure the following:
🎃Your pet is comfortable. They have to be able to move freely and easily. Ensure that there is nothing that they can get tangled in, step on or trip over. It shouldn't be restrictively tight, or awkwardly large to move in.
👻Your pet is able to do their usual body functions. They need to be able to see, sniff, lick as normal. Also, you do not want to clean poop and pee from a pet costume!
🦇There are no startling noises, excessive flashing lights, or moving parts that could cause excessive stress, startle them, or be chewed or swallowed.
Pinterest is oozing with ideas for using pet safe paint to decorate your pet's furry haircoat, magically creating a comfortable costume so your pet can join in the festivities. Glow in the dark skeletons, camo colours, zebra stripes... the list is terrifyingly endless! Just make sure to choose paints that are safe to ingest, as it will intrigue your pet and most likely cause them to lick or scratch at it! Think of how your face paint looks by the end of the night, and how itchy you can get from it.
Some of our pets will happily accept a costume, for others it’s torture! If your pet is incredibly unhappy in a costume, please don't make them wear it! Respect your pet's preference and let them haunt the events costume-free.
Hoard your Halloween Candy
The monstrous piles of goodies gathered while trick or treating are not usually pet friendly. Wrappers, foils, sticks and hard candies can cause blockages if swallowed. Chocolate and xylitol, ingredients in many of our sweet treats, are toxic to your pets. Also keep in mind that some adult candies (special brownies, marijuana gummies, etc) can cause even more toxicities in your pet's system. Just like we check our kids candies, check any treats your pets are given, or only accept them from people you know.
Keep your candies for yourself and your kids, and treat your pet to a petrifyingly pet-specific treat that they can enjoy at home on their own. Most pet stores have a sweet selection of halloween treats available for purchase.
Haunt at Home
If this weekend could be woefully unnerving for your pet, it’s best to give them a safe, secure space to relax away from all of the excitement. Offer them a den of safety, with the lights off, a shirt that smells like you, and food and water that can be easily reached. If necessary, play some music to mute the sounds of the door and any ghoulish guests that might be visiting. Cover the windows to block out any flashing lights, or mysterious movements that might startle them. Add a calming essential oil blend to your diffuser to help everyone relax. If you're not sure which one to choose or want to learn more about safe essential oil use for you and your pets, please get in touch with me so we can chat!
Halloween may look different to varying degrees this year, but we can still enjoy the festivities with our pets. I hope this list helps keep you and the toes and tails in your home spook-tacularly safe this halloween!
Happy Halloween from Toes and Tails Wellness!
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