Tips for keeping your pet safe and happy while celebrating “Halloweekend”

While Halloween can be a ghoulish good time for families, there are a number of potential dangers and sources of stress pet owners should be mindful of this season.

Denise Petryk, DVM, Trupanion’s director of veterinary services, provides the following tips for keeping your pet safe and happy while celebrating “Halloweekend” this year:

--Candy & treats: Many pet owners know that dogs shouldn’t eat chocolate, but year after year Trupanion sees a 71% increase in chocolate toxicity during Halloween compared to the previous six months of the year. Consider scouting out alternative treats, such as Homemade pumpkin treats so they can indulge in something other than chocolate.

--Costumes:Costumes aren’t for every pet. If you do plan to dress your pet up, make sure your pet’s costume is comfortable, non-restricting, and doesn’t have any loose pieces they might try to swallow

--Trick-or-Treating: Remember to keep your pet’s identification on them at all times. A startled pet may dart out the door when the doorbell rings with trick-or-treaters. Consider keeping them in their crate or in a different area of the house.

--Decorations: Lights, cords, paper decorations, fake spider webs, maize, candy wrappers, and other fall décor can be tempting for pets and dangerous if consumed. Always keep smaller chewable items out of reach.