With Halloween right around the corner, time is growing short to plan for the festivities on this popular holiday. We may be planning a Halloween bash, the best neighborhood trick-or-treating route to take, how to set up the perfect scary scene in our house or front yard, or working on the perfect pet costume for our furry companion.

Along with all this preparation, pets safety should be top priority. Keep reading for common sense ideas for pet costumes and decor from Shiloh Veterinary Hospital.

Pet Costumes Common Sense

Everyone loves the picture of the dachshund dressed as a hot dog, but are costumes right for your pet? With some time, praise, and patience, your pet may grow accustomed to wearing a costume, but don’t be too disappointed if it doesn’t work out.

Here are some pet costumes precautions:

• Avoid masks or anything that impairs vision
• Costumes should not have dangling parts, like bells or ribbon
• Don’t restrict breathing
• If your pet is biting or chewing at the costume, remove it right away
• Remove the costume if your pet tries to wriggle out of it or seems uncomfortable
• Monitor your pet’s temperature throughout the night to make sure she’s not overheating
• Offer fresh drinking water often throughout the festivities

Dangerous Decor

On fright night, we may enjoy animatronic outdoor witches, goblins hanging from trees, spider webs, and light up spooky decorations. But pets can be scared and stressed by the outdoor and indoor decorations alike. Not only that, but Halloween decor can pose certain health risks to pets that pet owners should be aware of. 

Jack-o-lanterns. It wouldn’t be Halloween without a carved pumpkin or two. But curious pets can easily knock over a lit jack-o-lantern and start a fire. Singed whiskers and tails are also a risk. Keep carved pumpkins outdoors, and consider LED lighting instead of a real flame.

Animatronic decorations. Animatronic decorations can thoroughly scare your pet. Introduce the character to your pet during the day, and let her sniff and examine it without turning on the sound or movement at first. You may need to entice her with treats, and give lots of praise, letting her know she’s safe. Even with these precautions, your pets may never fully appreciate these decorations, so consider either skipping them, or keeping your pet away from the Halloween festivities with a room of her own. 

Electrical wires. Power cords and electrical wires are dangerous due to the risk of electrocution if chewed – curious kittens are especially known for this. And any pet, if wires are left hanging, can become entangled and injured. Keep all wires away from pets.

Other decor. Decorative corn and pumpkins are relatively non-toxic, but if you pets eats them, they can definitely cause GI upset, diarrhea, and vomiting. Corn cobs could become lodged in your pet’s intestine, causing a foreign body obstruction that could require emergency surgery to remove. Ingesting some cooked pumpkin is okay, but eating a lot of the raw stuff would cause GI upset and diarrhea. 

Halloween Common Sense for Pet Owners 

In order to have a spooktacular holiday with your pets, a little common sense and preparation goes a long way. Survey your home for the items we mentioned and make sure your pets can’t access them. Keep a close eye on your pet’s comfort and well being, and make adjustments throughout the night. 

We also recommend keeping all pets indoors from prior to dusk and throughout the night. Cats, especially black cats, can become the targets of senseless holiday pranks. 

We hope you enjoy a safe and happy Halloween with your pets. If you have questions about pet costumes, decor, or other health and safety precautions for pets, please give us a call. 

The post More Halloween! Common Sense Pet Costumes and Decor appeared first on Veterinary Blog for Los Angeles - Shiloh Veterinary Hospital.

Fright Night is almost here, and many of us are preparing our costumes, planning a spooktacular Halloween bash, or looking forward to the neighborhood trick-or-treat jaunt. Many of us like to include our pets on this day, but is that what’s best for them? 

Many pets can greet trick-or-treaters all night or wear their costume with relish. But unfortunately, there are also several pet emergencies that are common on and around Halloween. Keep reading to find out how to keep your pet safe this Halloween.

Tricks and Treats

As with most things, a little advance preparation and awareness can go a long way towards Halloween pet safety. Here are some things to know:

• Treats. You may be thinking that all candy is bad for pets, and you’d be right. Chocolate in particular is toxic to pets and can cause GI upset, diarrhea, muscle tremors, and seizures. Sugar free candy often contains Xylitol, which can cause liver failure. And even candy wrappers like cellophane and aluminum foil can result in a painful intestinal blockage that may require emergency surgery to remove. In addition, other common Halloween treats and rich foods can cause painful pancreatitis. Keep all Halloween treats far away from pets.
  
• Decorations. The Halloween tricks of scary decorations in and around your house can be fun, but are also dangerous to pets. Electrical cords can cause electrocution if chewed by a curious bunny. Light up or moving decor can scare pets, and string spider webs can cause GI problems if ingested. 
  
• Jack-o-lanterns. It wouldn’t be Halloween without a carved pumpkin or two, but curious pets can knock them over, causing a fire hazard. Birds can be especially sensitive to flames and candles. Keep these outdoors and away from pets, and consider LED lights inside instead of a live flame.
  
• Costumes. Many people love pet costumes, but do our pets? Never force your pet to wear a costume, and take it off immediately if she is chewing or pawing at it or trying to wriggle out. Avoid masks and hanging pieces, and monitor your pet’s breathing and temperature throughout the evening to make sure she doesn’t overheat. Costumes should never restrict breathing or vision.
  

Chips and Tags

The constant opening of the front door, the noise, and the general commotion of the holiday creates a real possibility of your pet getting lost. Make sure your pet has a collar and current tags on. 

A microchip is your pet’s best chance of being reunited with you should she become lost. Make sure it is registered with your current contact information. 

Best Practices for Halloween Pet Safety

If your pet has a hard time with noise, crowds, the constantly ringing doorbell, or scary costumes, consider letting her sit Halloween out. 

Create a safe space in your home for her (a back bedroom or a laundry room can work well). Include her bed, toys, a food puzzle, and a white noise machine or soft music. Check on her often and offer lots of praise and snuggles. Some exercise before the festivities begin with help keep her calmer. She’ll be happy to be far from the commotion, and you’ll relax knowing she is away from Halloween dangers. 

Please let us know if you have any questions or concerns about Halloween pet safety. Shiloh Mobile Veterinary Hospital is here to help! 

The post Avoid A Cauldron Of Hot Water: How To Practice Halloween Pet Safety appeared first on Veterinary Blog for Los Angeles - Shiloh Veterinary Hospital.