The fall is full of change and with it comes one of the most fun holidays, Halloween. Not only do we get to dress up in costumes, but we get to gorge on candy, carve pumpkins, and watch scary movies! But while 148 million people will be partaking in spooky activities this year, many of our pets may not be so excited about the frightful fun. For pets, Halloween can be terrifying or dangerous if we aren’t careful.

Here are some things to consider for keeping your pet safe during Halloween.

1 – Keep candy stored away

Halloween is filled with a wide variety of candy, many of which can be toxic or hazardous to pets. Be sure to keep your candy stored safely away from your pets, in a container that they are unable to open. Some of the candies that 

pose the most threat to your pets are:

• Sugar-free gum – This is the most dangerous type of candy for pets. Sugar free gum often contains a sugar substitute called Xylitol. While safe for humans, in cats and dogs it can be fatal. Within minutes of ingestion, pets can be seen to become lethargic, unable to walk, or start having seizures. If they survive the initial symptoms, pets often have severe liver damage or potentially liver failure.
• Chocolate covered raisins – These contain two potentially dangerous ingredients. Chocolate can lead to 

  severe vomiting, diarrhea, and even seizures. Raisins and other grape products can lead to severe kidney failure. Talk about a terrible combination. Be sure to take your pet to a veterinarian right away if they ingest chocolate covered raisins.

• Candy corn and other high sugar candies – Pure sugar candies can lead to gas and diarrhea.
• Candy with wrappers – If your pet gets into your candy stash, it’s unlikely that they are going to differentiate between wrappers and candy. Its not uncommon for pets to ingest wrappers when they get into candy. Wrappers can cause irritation of the digestive tract or, even worse, an obstruction.
• Bite size hard candies – A potential choking hazard, be sure to keep these far away from your pets!

2 – Confine your pet in a safe, comfortable area.

On Halloween, we constantly open and close our doors for trick-or-treaters. Every time your door opens, there is an opportunity for your animal to escape. Confine your pet to a safe and comfortable area for them. If they are comfortable in a kennel or a back bedroom, put them there.

Make sure the doors to the area you confine them too are securely closed, but don’t lock them in case there is an emergency. It’s also a good idea to make sure that they are not confined in an area where people besides yourself have access. Pets may be let loose on accident or the disruption of different people may make your pet uncomfortable. If your pet is nervous about being alone or has separation anxiety, you might consider our Independence formula.

3 – Make sure your pet has identification

Just in case your pet does escape during Halloween, make sure that they have identification. At the very least, your pet should have on a collar with a tag containing a current phone number. Some people don’t like having dangling tags on their pets so a plate on their collar works as well. Even better is to make sure that they have permanent ID, such as a microchip.

4 – Give them anxiety relief if they’re scared or over excited

While many of us might find it fun to dress up in costumes, pets often find it terrifying to see people dressed up. Masks, hats, and all sorts of crazy costumes can send your pets anxiety over the edge. Knocking on doors or ringing doorbells can also over excite animals. Consider helping them relax with natural anxiety relief. We recommend using one of our Botanical Animal Flower Essences. We have three formulas that can help with fear in particular – Mellow Out, Panic Attack, or Ego Builder.

• Mellow Out is great for over excited or anxious pets 
• Panic Attack is the best for pets who exhibit extreme fear/hysteria episodes when they get scared
• Ego Builder is ideal for pets that have a lack of confidence, or are timid or shy

5 – Be careful with dressing your pets up

Not all pets enjoy getting dressed up. Some pets find wearing costumes scary or confining. If your pet is ok with 

costumes, be sure that what ever you dress them up in does not restrict their breathing or ability to go to the bathroom.

Halloween is so much fun and with a little thoughtful planning, we can ensure that our pets enjoy it as much as we do. If you have another suggestion for how to keep your pet safe on Halloween, let us know! Or if you need help selecting the right Botanical Animal Flower Essences for your pet, contact us at service@naturalselectionproducts.com or 866-298-3613.

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