The most fur-ightful time of the year is here again! That means getting in the “spirit” of the season with your favorite little pumpkin.
As fun as trick-or-treating can be, it’s also a difficult time for many pets. We asked the experts at Nationwide VetHelpline®, powered by FirstVet, for advice to help keep pets happy and healthy on Halloween.
Human treats should be kept up high, locked away in cupboards and well out of paw’s reach. Why? Many candies, cookies, cupcakes and other human treats contain toxic ingredients like raisins, cocoa and xylitol, a sugar substitute that is very dangerous for pets.
Halloween masks and decor can be surprising and unsettling for pets. Sometimes, pets will react out of fright in uncharacteristic ways like panicking, running away or nipping at presumed “threats.” If your pet seems nervous around a ghoul or goblin in costume, bring them to a safe, comforting place where they can relax and unwind.
Similarly, if your pet gets overexcited when someone’s at the door, offer a quiet, safe space with the radio, TV or a fan on to distract them from trick-or-treaters. If you leave the house on Halloween night, keep pets at home and turn the lights off to discourage doorbell ringing.
Finally, potentially dangerous ingestion of parts from decorations and pet costumes are common this time of year. Keep your pets away from all decorations to be safe, and check pet (and people) costumes for parts that can be plucked off and swallowed.
Not everything about Halloween is scary for pets! There are so many pet-friendly ways to get excited.
Some of our favorites include these tasty and healthy DIY pumpkin and ginger cookies, which go perfectly with our DIY pet costume ideas—we’re especially partial to the ch-ch-ch-Chia Pet costume!
Of course, the best treat of all is peace of mind from things that go boop in the night. Download the Nationwide VetHelpline® app to connect 24/7 with licensed veterinary professionals to get trusted answers to your questions without a costly trip to the veterinarian. Best of all, it’s included with all Nationwide pet insurance policies.