Happy Howloween! Halloween is a time for spooky costumes and delicious treats, but it may not be fun for your pets. Many pets get anxious on Halloween due to constant doorbell ringing/knocking, fear of strangers, loud noises, etc. We wish to remind all pet parents to keep their Halloween festivities supervised and safe by following these tips.
1. PREEMPTIVE EXERCISE
Go for a long walk before Trick-or-Treaters start their night so your pet has lots of exercise and doesn’t have pent-up stress later on in the evening.
2. POSITIVE REINFORCEMENT OF TRIGGERS
Initiate positive reinforcement every time the doorbell rings. We recommend practicing this the week leading up to the holiday for the best results.
3. CREATE A PRIVATE SPACE
Find a quiet room for them to stay in during the festivities. Make sure they have their favorite treats, blankets, or toys. You can also play calming music in the room. You can find great pet-specific playlists on Youtube or wherever you stream music.
4. USE CALMING AIDS
Use a calming collar, Thundershirt, or Thunderease calming spray to help keep their environment comfortable. You can find these at your local pet store or common online retailers.
5. DON’T FORCE COSTUMES
Never force your pet to wear a costume. As cute as it may seem, it’s not worth the photo-op if they are anxious or uncomfortable.*
6. BE CAUTIOUS OF DECORATIONS
Beware of any decorations that can cause stress or harm to your pets. (i.e. loud noises, pointy objects, objects that move unexpectedly, etc.)
7. KEEP PAWS OFF TREATS
Be mindful of where you’re storing the treats so that your furry friends can’t get their paws on them. Consider keeping your treats in a container that can close when not in use, and keep them above paw level before, during, and after trick-or-treating.
We hope you have a safe Howloween with your families and pets! If you have any concerns about your pets during the festivities, please give our office a call. We will be open until 7:00 PM on Halloween night, and available via our telemedicine app Medici for any after-hours questions. In case of emergency, please contact Metropolitan Veterinary Associates at 610-666-1050.
*All of the photos used in this blog are stock photo images of pets in costumes. We cannot speak to these pets’ specific comfortability with these costumes.
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