Halloween!!

Halloween is drawing eerily close and it is worth considering how the old traditions such as dressing in scary costumes, lighting lanterns, and knocking on doors to ‘trick or treat’ can prove frightening and somewhat dangerous to our dogs. Here are a few common sense ideas to make sure that things run smoothly.
 
Dogs have a natural tendency to fear novel things, so it is understandable that seeing strangers dressed as ghouls and ghosts may alarm them, especially if they invade the dog’s territory. It is also important to remember that dogs can act aggressively, in order to protect themselves, if they feel under threat. The most sensible thing to do, regardless of whether or not you think your dog is likely to act anxiously, is to provide a safe haven in another room and keep your dog away from the front door when people come over to ‘trick or treat’.
 
If you prepare a bowl of offerings for your ‘trick or treaters’, make sure that you keep it out of reach from your dog, as consuming products such as chocolates, raisins or xylitol (found in chewing gum, sugar free sweets, etc.) can prove to be fatal for any dog. If you suspect that your dog has consumed any of these items, contact your vet immediately. Another serious safety precaution is to ensure that all lit lanterns are kept well away from your dog, to prevent them from being knocked over.
 
If you decide to dress your dog up in a Halloween costume, please consider whether or not your dog will enjoy the experience and ensure that it does not reduce your dog’s ability to walk, see or breathe normally. Also, if you intend on leaving your dog home alone, consideration should be made to how your dog will react to regular knocks at the door throughout the evening, by placing them in a room away from the front of the house and providing a food stuffed Kong.
 
A full list of poisonous substances to dogs can be found on the DogsTrust website. Happy Halloween!