For nearly 14 years, my Scottie and Westie, Dugan and Barclay, celebrated Halloween along with our family. Either in my neighborhood, or my mother’s in Pennsylvania, the ‘boys’ - and their cousin, Jake (a Shih Tzu) - have waited outside, usually in costumes themselves, for the little neighborhood ghouls and goblins.
​
Over the years, we felt that when it was possible to wait outdoors with the dogs, that simple act eliminated the repetition of the door bell ringing or incessant knocking, which would send them into a barking frenzy.
​
Throughout the years, my two terriers would become excited when we pulled a simple bandana from their bin -- so much so, they would wait in line for us to tie them on. To be fair, I cannot objectively state that they enjoyed the costumes as much as the excitement of a new bandana, but they always demonstrated a positive ‘pet-itude’ along the way.
​
WARNING: Not all dogs possess the same temperament - even within the same breed. With people towering over them in scary costumes, frantic gestures from kids, door bells ringing consistently and candy tempting them - Halloween could be a time intimidating enough to end up in our favorite four-leggeds running away.
​
Furocious wants to share some annual tips to help you trouble-shoot potential issues and avoid painful issue for both you and your pet.
​
• Pet costumes can compromise the natural instincts and defense mechanisms of our companion animals; monitor your pet’s stress level and ability to function in any costume that might make them fearful or even aggressive.”
• Loud or incessant noise such as constant doorbell ringing and door knocking may stress your pets. Find a quiet room in the house with food, water, litter box or crate and bring them out after it’s all over
• Candy and candy wrappers can be toxic to pets. NEVER leave candy unattended, or within reach, of your cat or dog. Chocolate is toxic to pets and foil and Cellophane wrappers, if ingested, will cause havoc on the animal’s digestive tract which could result in surgery or death.
• Xylitol is a sweetener used in many sugar-free gums, mints, and candies. If ingested by a pet, it can cause a rapid decrease in blood sugar (hypoglycemia) and lead to liver failure in dogs, depending on the amount ingested. The amount of xylitol in products varies greatly depending on the brand and even the flavor. Check labels closely and keep xylitol out of your pet’s reach.
• Animal cruelty increases every Halloween. Leading up to Halloween, and Halloween itself, keep your pets – especially your black cats (white cats, too) – indoors to reduce the possibility of harmful pranks or acts of animal cruelty
• Jack-O-Lanterns and other decorations with flames are dangerous around unpredictable pets. Cats and dogs have been known to knock over lighted candles which have resulted in home fires. Consider flameless candles as part of your décor and try to eliminate as many electrical chords as possible to prevent chewing
• Leash your animals if they will be outdoors to prevent them from running in front of cars or running away and make sure they are properly tagged and micro-chipped if they do get away • Animal costumes can restrict a pet’s vision, movement and/or hearing – make sure it does none of those
• Running, chasing, quick movements by trick-or-treaters toward animals, or their owners, may be perceived as an aggressive action by a pet. Discourage children from conducting themselves in this manner to avoid an altercation – better yet, if your dog appears to be agitated, keep your pet inside and away from children.
The Pet Poison Hotline (http://www.petpoisonhelpline.com/) had an increase in calls in 2011 by 21%, many of which were related to chocolate consumption by pets. If your pet ingests candy, or other toxic substances, consult your veterinarian, local Animal Emergency Hospital or call the Pet Poison Helpline at 800-213-6680 which operates 24/7. There is a $39 per incident fee that covers the consultation and follow-up calls.
​
If you choose to take your dog(s) with you while out Trick-or-Treating with children, please make sure they are secure, have reflective tape on them somewhere and that they will not be tempted to bite anyone if they are frightened by gestures or quick movements.
​
More than 30 million people will spend an estimated $480 million treating their pets to costumes this Halloween, more than double the $220 million spend on pet Halloween costumes in 2010 when the National Retail Federation began tracking pet costumes. Pet costumes represent 15% of the $3.2 billion spent on all costume sales.