Halloween Safety Tips for Pets

For most people, Halloween is a fun holiday. Like many holidays, it can be more stressful than celebratory. Here are some helpful tips to keep your pets from getting spooked, nervous, sick, or even from going missing?

• Know how your pet expresses anxiety. When you know your pets’ signs of stress, you can help by removing them from the action for a while.
• Anticipate that it might get loud. It seems that at almost every holiday, someone wants to shoot off fireworks. On Halloween, a night when tricks accompany the treats, it’s likely that someone will make a sudden loud noise. If your pet is already on edge, this can be extremely stressful.
• Sometimes, even the doorbell can be too loud. Does your dog go nuts every time someone comes to the door? A night of constant knocking and doorbell ringing may be overwhelming. The strange creatures at the door can be frightening, too, so it may be best to keep your furry friends in another room for the evening.
• Mind what your pets eat. Always keep the candy out of reach, but be aware of other treats, too. Sweets aren’t good for pets. Keep keep them out of reach or they are likely to get into them.
• Make sure your pet’s tag is up to date. A frightened animal can bolt on Halloween, so make sure your pet is able to get identified if lost. Take special care to keep your dark-colored pets inside. With so many people out on Halloween night, there’s a higher risk of dark pets being hit by cars. Additionally, black cats are in danger of harm from not-so-nice people.
• Understand that costumes aren’t always as much fun for your pet as they are for you. Sure, Fido looks adorable all dressed up, but if he can’t see or hear properly, the costume is likely to be upsetting. Some poorly-made costumes can be choking hazards.
• Be careful about decorations. It’s fun to decorate for Halloween, but decorations can be hazardous for pets. Jack-o-lanterns within reach are fire hazards, plus some decorations can be choking hazards.

We know you’ll do your best to keep your pets safe on Halloween, but if any mishaps occur you can trust Reed Animal Hospital. We treat your pets as if they were our own. Our goal is to help you and your pet enjoys a healthy, fulfilling life together. In pursuit of that goal, our extraordinary team offers a wide range of services. We have veterinarians, technicians, assistants, and receptionists, all prepared to help you and your pet.  We even offer referrals to specialty surgeons, many of whom travel to our office for a consultation with your pet. For more information or to make an appointment, call us in Campbell at 408-369-1788, in Saratoga at 408-647-2906, or contact us through our website.