The spooky holiday brings many dangers for your pet: here’s what to look out for on Halloween night

On Halloween, many people dress up in costumes as well as decorating, and trick-or-treating is also popular. But it's not all harmless for dogs.

Although Halloween can be a lot of fun for humans, especially children, it is not without its dangers for dogs. So if you’re one to celebrate, take the following advice!

1) Halloween decorations can be dangerous for your dog

The most common custom is pumpkin carving. But these showy figures, often with candles, are risky for dogs in two ways! For one, not all pumpkins are edible: plain pumpkins are edible, while the classic Halloween pumpkins and decorative pumpkins used to carve pumpkins are poisonous! So if you put the latter out, make sure your pet can’t get to it!

On the other hand, if you put a candle inside the pumpkin, you have to take into account the risk of burns and fire damage. And if you choose an LED candle, your four-legged friend can chew it, which is extremely dangerous because of the battery inside: it can be fatal if swallowed, causing bite wounds!

Because of the risk of chewing and choking, it is best to avoid small decorations, which are also very popular at this time of year. In addition to the risk of choking, they can also cause intestinal obstruction, which is also life-threatening.

2) Keep your dog away from Halloween sweets

Besides the spookiness, the other big bang of Halloween is the abundance of special sweets: spider-shaped gumdrops, eyeball-shaped chocolate balls, ghost lickers and more. Most children will be ecstatic to see all the extravagant treats – and so do the dogs! In their case, it’s not the look, but the tempting smell that can be the source of temptation.

But careful owners know that their pets have no need for sugar, especially chocolate, which is poisonous to them. That’s why you need to make sure your pal doesn’t have access to any Halloween treats. It’s also worth talking to your little ones about it, so they don’t offer it to their furry friend as a treat. Don’t let your little party animals scatter the wrappers of the chocolates either, lest they be eaten by your greedy doggie (with the aforementioned risk of intestinal blockage.)

3) Have an emergency plan

If, despite all precautions, an accident has happened and your dog has eaten a treat or swallowed one of the decorations, it makes a big difference if you know where to turn. So find out before the holiday where the emergency services are, or ask your doctor if you can see him.

Write down the phone numbers and save the address of the hospital so you don’t waste time looking for it.

A few minutes can make a big difference!

4) A Halloween costume can be torture for your dog

There are already many more complicated costumes for four-legged friends – but are they really necessary? The obvious answer is no! On the one hand, most dogs hate being dressed up, especially if they are given a costume with all sorts of kittens, logos, antlers/antlers/horns. Apart from the general feeling of discomfort, these costumes are also extremely dangerous! The animal can get caught in them, overheat and even cause skin irritation if the material composition is not right.

It cannot be said enough that a dog is not a child or a toy, so it should not be treated as such! Clothes should be worn when the weather warrants, and even then they should be comfortable and practical. If you want your pet to look the part, buy him a patterned collar or harness.

5) Overstimulation

Halloween is all hustle, bustle and noise, especially if you’re celebrating with children. Make sure your four-legged friend isn’t uncomfortable. Overstimulation can trigger a range of unexpected reactions, from anxiety to aggression.

6.) Don’t take it with you to do “trick or treat”

If you’re going to do the “trick or treat” routine of going door-to-door to collect treats, it’s best to keep the dog at home during this time! Many dogs don’t like crowds, and fear that unusual surroundings – bright lights, flashing decorations, loud people in masks – will make them flee.

7) Respect your pet’s boundaries!

This point is a summary of the previous two, but it bears repeating: if you’re a dog person and you’re organising a Halloween party, you need to consider the needs of the animal. Be flexible, and if you see that the dog is upset or visibly uncomfortable and wants to escape, change the programme!

Another solution is to let them the dog to a quiet part of the house. You can also ask the children to leave the dog alone for a while. Or you can also remove distracting or frightening accessories from the dog’s sight, and it can help to calm him down if you just spend some time with him.