Halloween is almost here! As you prepare for Halloween, keep these tips in mind, so that both you and your furry friend(s) have a safe and happy Halloween.

1. Keep Pets Inside
If your pet tends to easily get scared, nervous, or becomes protective, it is important to keep them confined safely inside your house during trick or treating hours. Sadly, there is also a disturbing increase in the disappearance of many animals, especially black cats, during Halloween. Keep your pets indoors so that they do not fall prey to pranksters or run away when frightened. Finally, if your pet doesn’t already have a collar with an ID tag and microchip, get these before Halloween in case they manage to escape during the spooky celebration.

2. Keep Pets away from candy
Halloween candy can be very dangerous for pets…especially chocolate and xylitol! As most people know chocolate is toxic to pets and can be fatal. Candy with xylitol, like sugar-free gum, is also vey dangerous to pets. Xylitol causes insulin release leading to low blood sugar levels and can also cause liver failure. Be sure to keep all Halloween candy away from your pets. If your pet manages to steal some candy, immediately call your veterinarian for help or take your pet to a veterinary emergency clinic.

3. Keep Pets away from candles
Jack o lanterns with flickering candles can attract curious pets. Besides possibly burning an inquisitive pet’s nose or paw, candles can start a house fire if accidentally knocked over. Never leave lit candles unattended and always place them out of reach of pets.

4. Watch out for decorations
Blinking lights, stringy webs, and other spooky decorations can be dangerous to your pets. To a curious pet, these decorations are simply irresistible. Strings of twinkling Halloween lights beckon mischievous felines, entangling them, or even electrocuting them if they are tempted to nibble on the cords. In addition, some animals will chew or swallow smaller decorations, which can also cause life-threatening intestinal blockages unless they are promptly removed surgically. To avoid these Halloween hazards, it is always best to keep decorations out of reach of pets.

5. Don’t leave pets in costumes alone
Some people, like me, love to dress their pet up for Halloween. Just be sure you use a costume made especially for pets and never leave them in a costume unattended. Pet costumes are designed to fit your pet comfortably and to come off easily. Even so, you should never leave your pet alone in a costume. Some animals may decide to take their costume off themselves and become entangled, while others may decide to eat the costume in order to ensure they won’t have to wear it again.

As you prepare for Halloween, keep these tips in mind, so that you both you and your pet friends have a safe and happy Halloween.

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