Designate a Safe Space. Pets should be kept inside during Halloween, if trick-or-treating is happening in your community. Use caution when answering the door so your cat or dog doesn’t dart outside. If the extra door knocking or doorbell ringing stresses out your pets, put them in a quiet room away from the noise.

Keep it Current. Make sure your pets have current ID tags and that microchip info is up to date, just in case they do escape. (See Sure Petcare’s Animo GPS Collar in our Featured Products below.)

Hide the Loot. Candy is for kids, not dogs and cats. Chocolate can be very toxic to our furry friends. Candy containing xylitol (artificial sweetener) can also be dangerous. Keep any stashes of candy out of pets’ reach. Signs of chocolate toxicity can include vomiting, diarrhea, elevated heart rate and seizures. Also, chocolate is more dangerous for a smaller dog because they don’t have to ingest as much as a larger dog to cause toxicity. Pet owners should also keep treats containing the sugar substitute xylitol away from their pets. Xylitol causes a very low blood sugar that can result in weakness, collapse and seizures.

Keep Decorations Out of Reach. Candles may bring an extra glow to that jack-o-lantern, but make sure they are not in reach of your dogs and cats. Flames can easily find wagging tails and curious noses, or if knocked over, potentially start a fire. Plus, wires and cords that light up your holiday decorations can be deadly if chewed on, so keep them well out of reach of curious kitties and doggos.

Opt For Pet-Friendly Costumes. If you do decide to dress up your pet, make sure the costume is not annoying and is safe for your pet. Costumes should not constrict movement, breathing, or vision. Small dangling pieces can be choking hazards. Ill-fitting costumes can get twisted and caught on external objects and hurt your pet. Costumes that make noises or have noisy components such as bells can be scary, so try to avoid them. And, just like people, not all pets are excited to wear a costume. You know your pet best, so checking to ensure they’re having fun too is a good thing!

Leave Trick Or Treating to the Kiddos, Not the Doggos. Most dogs would prefer not to go trick or treating, or participate in Halloween parades or scavenger hunts. The chaos and costumes and excited kids can be frightening to even the friendliest of dogs and cause them to act differently than normal.

Tricks or Treats. You can make the holiday fun and special for your pets by buying or making them treats or toys that are healthy and safe and just for them! Watch this fun video to see if tricks or treats are more popular with these four-legged ghouls and goblins — then check out the yummy treats below!