How to Help Your Pets Have a Safe and Not-too-Spooky Halloween

Is the air in your neck of the woods taking a slight turn for the chilly? Bivvy pet parents nationwide, we hope you and your furry friends lived your dog days of summer to the full and are excited for crispy autumnal adventures with your pets, including Halloween. Here are some Halloween safety tips!

Costumes

You’re a bright and compassionate pet parent, so this goes without saying, but do remember to prioritize your pet’s comfort over cuteness when considering whether to costume them. If you are costuming them, consider leaving the costume on just long enough to take a selfie rather than leaving it on all evening. Or opt for a festive bandana or collar rather than a costume.

If you are costuming, never put anything on your pet that interferes with his sight, hearing, breathing, or mouth, impedes his movement, or is tight on his neck. And don’t leave him unmonitored. And keep an eye out for overheating.

Here are some DIY couples costume ideas for you and your little sweetie:

• They’re a shark (fashion them a makeshift dorsal fin), you’re a surfer (wear beach gear and create a chewed-up surfboard)
• Mother of Dragons—you’re Daenerys Targaryen; make or get your pet some tiny wings and boom—they’re a dragon
• They’re Yoda (make or get a little cap that’s just the ears; you can be another Star Wars character of your choosing)

Watch Your Decor

Are candles part of the planned décor for your big All Hallows’ Eve bash? Be careful—your pets can be susceptible to not only burns from wicks and wax, but toxins in the oil and fragrances like phthalates and naphthalene can aggravate respiratory illnesses. Soy, coconut, and vegetable-based wax candles are best. Just keep them away from your curious pets.

Be mindful too of lit jack-o-lanterns. Cats in particular can be curious about poking their noses into intriguing lit spectacles like these and candles. Consider using electric candles or lights instead. But careful there too—conceal electrical cables to prevent chewing and tripping—think under rugs, or in cord wraps.

And if your outdoor game is on point too, with perfectly stylized piles of leaves rounding out the décor, depending how long they’ve been there, they could contain mold, so keep an eye out as your curious little hound roots around.

Keep the Candy to Yourself

On Halloween night, you need to think about:

• Keeping your pet from getting into treats and bowls of candy you’ve prepared for people coming to your house
• AND from getting into the candy haul your kids may bring home and leave sitting around

We all know chocolate is bad for pets, but why? Well, the caffeine it contains, and a chemical called theobromine. Neither dogs nor cats can metabolize either of these as well as humans can. If your pet eats chocolate, call the Pet Poison Helpline (855-764-7661) or the ASPCA Animal Poison Control Center Hotline (888-426-4435) or your veterinarian ASAP.

And xylitol, that infamous sweetener in some candy, is bad for dogs too, as it causes a sudden release of insulin leading to low blood sugar. It can also cause liver damage.

Beware Spooky Sights and Sounds

Much like the 4^th of July, depending on where you live, there could be lots of noise outside on Halloween night. Prepare your pet—think about whether your cat is a flight risk or if your dog is super reactive to people at the door. If so, consider putting them in an interior room, or give them something fun and interactive to occupy them.

Stressed and sensory-overloaded animals can act out—running away, biting or scratching. To mitigate this, consider keeping a bowl of candy outside where trick or treaters can help themselves, so the doorbell’s not constantly ringing and noisy kids aren’t coming right up to your door. If there’s any chance your pet could get outside, make sure they’re microchipped. And collars with tags (with your updated contact info) help too.

If you have a cat that roams outside, keep them inside that night to avoid any mischief done to them, or them becoming startled or disoriented and not coming home.

Bivvy insures cats and dogs at any age. Toss in cat insurance or dog insurance for less than $1/day. Unlike some insurers, Bivvy doesn’t require a recent veterinary exam to sign up. You can apply in five minutes and find out if you’re approved immediately.

Stay safe with your little critters on Halloween, and happy haunting!