Howl-o-ween

Halloween is just around the corner - a night filled with candy fueled ghouls and goblins. As we prepare by carving pumpkins, hanging spiderwebs, and readying costumes, it's important to keep our pets in mind as well. While loads of fun for us, Halloween can be overwhelming for our pets, and maybe even a little scary. Keep the following in mind, though, and you can have a safe and spooktacular night!

• Keep an eye on those spooky decorations. Those dangling spiderwebs may be tempting to kitty cats, and maybe even some dogs. Be sure that all decorations are out of reach of four legged friends so they can't become entangled or ingest anything. Be sure to watch out for candle too!



• Make sure jack-o-lanterns aren't accessible. Some dogs may be tempted to chew on your carved pumpkin, and while pumpkin itself is fine, large chunks of gourds can potentially cause an intestinal blockage.



• Keep all sweet treats out of reach. Chocolate is poisonous to dogs, and some candies have artificial sweeteners in them which are also toxic. Wrappers are a big no-no as well, so be sure that all little goblins and ghosts clean up after themselves. Allow your pet to join in the fun by getting them a special dog or cat treat.



• Keep pets inside on Halloween night. There's bound to be a lot more activity than normal, and that, combined with freaky costumes, can really spook your pet - they may become frightened and run off. To prevent this, keep them safe and indoors.



• Be sure that your pets are safe during trick or treating. No matter how friendly your critter may be, the constant ringing of the doorbell and groups of costumed kids may stress them out. Keep pets confined during trick or treating hours so they can't bolt out the front door if they become frightened. Give them a special treat to keep them occupied and happy.

Have a safe and spooktacular Howl-o-ween!