Nothing About Halloween Is Fun For Your Dog

October means Halloween is upon us. While this can be a fun holiday for the humans, it can be downright terrifying for our dogs. The food, the costumes, the strangers showing up at the door at night – it’s all wrong to a pet. A few things to remember to keep your dog safe and happy during this time:

No candy. Chocolate in all forms—especially dark or baking chocolate—can be very dangerous for dogs. Candies containing the artificial sweetener xylitol can also cause problems. If you do suspect your pet has ingested something toxic, please call your veterinarian or the ASPCA Animal Poison Control Center at (888) 426-4435.
Very few animals want to dress up in a costume. So unless you know your dog doesn’t mind, this can cause a lot of stress. And make sure the costume isn’t too tight or has loose pieces that could be chewed off and ingested.
All but the most social dogs will find the parade of strangers showing up at the front door very stressful. Best bet is to keep them safely in a separate, quiet room. A spooked dog can dart out the front door. (Please make sure you have proper identification on your dog).