Halloween has become an experience not only in the USA, but worldwide. Children especially enjoy the opportunity to dress up in scary costumes and go from house to house asking for candy. However, Halloween can be a scary time for our pets. gives tips on how to make things less stressful for your pet.
Changes in the environment, such as seasonal decorations, can cause stress in pets and can also be harmful. Cats are particularly sensitive to changes in their home: they are routine creatures and like things to stay the same. Halloween decorations, such as candles, pumpkins, and ghostly decorations, can pose a hazard to household pets if swallowed or played with.
As Halloween night approaches, the constant ringing of the doorbell is annoying to most pets, especially dogs. Strangers coming into homes in strange outfits can be scary for dogs. Placing your pets in a secluded space where less noise can reach them is a good option. It also helps to keep the view range low. It can also be helpful to play soft music in the room your pets are in to mask some of the outside noise.
Trick or treating is one of the best things about Halloween. But beware, many of these treats pose a serious risk to pets. Chocolate, even in small amounts, can be fatal to dogs and cats. Sweets should definitely be kept out of the reach of pets.
Of course, it can be fun to use the celebrations to do something nice for your pet, like baked goods made with pumpkin or oats. Below are some healthy recipes.
As soon as it gets dark on Halloween, little witches and vampires roam the streets. To avoid the crowds, plan your dog walk during the day. This way you avoid awkward encounters where your dog may react differently than usual because of the costumed people. Your cats’ roaming around should also be limited to the day. After sunset they should be kept indoors.
Unfortunately, there are harmful pet accessories and even costumes for our four-legged friends. Dressing up dogs and other animals is strongly discouraged. Depending on the costume, not only is the animal’s freedom of movement restricted, but body language communication is also prevented. Dogs communicate their feelings through the position of their ears, the position of their tail, their posture, and their eyes. If these means of communication are covered by costumes, our companions are deprived of any opportunity for species-appropriate communication. The costume can also cause stress for the animals, especially if there are parts of the costume that are flapping around, for example.
Dog clothing can also cause skin problems as the materials can rub against the animals’ skin. The most common disease that causes this is atopic dermatitis, a skin condition that can be caused by allergic reactions.