As Halloween approaches and you prepare for the arrival of those neighborhood ghosts and goblins, you need to give a little thought to your pet’s well being, too. By taking the following steps, you can ensure that everyone, including your four-footed family members, have a fun and safe holiday.
- More likely than not, you’ll have lots of goodies around for the trick or treaters. Keep the candy out of your pet’s reach. Chocolate, which contains theobromine, can be particularly toxic to our four-footed friends.
- Lit candles in jack-o-lanterns can singe curious noses and paws, so keep them away from your pets.
- Trick or treaters will be coming to your door and that means you’ll be opening your door more often. It’s a good idea to keep Fluffy and Fido away from the commotion, so they won’t run out and get lost.
- Speaking of those little ghosts and goblins visiting your home, their scary costumes and masks may make your usually mellow pet turn into “Cujo!” After all, Halloween only comes around once a year, and Fluffy and Fido may not have a clue as to what’s going on. Again, it’s a good idea to keep your pets away from the excitement.
- Unfortunately, Halloween is a night when many pranks are played. Sadly, our pets are often the targets of this mischief (especially if your pet is a black cat). It’s a good idea to keep Fluffy and Fido safely indoors that night.
Warren Eckstein, host of The Pet Show, is an internationally known pet and animal expert. Warren has devoted over thirty years to teaching both pets and their people to live happily together through his unique “Hugs and Kisses” approach to animal behavior, care and training.
Warren has worked with more than 40,000 pets including those of many well-known celebrities. David Letterman, Cheryl Tiegs, Lily Tomlin, Geraldine Ferraro, Al Pacino, Rodney Dangerfield, and Phylicia Rashad are just a few of many whom Warren has helped with pet problems.