Keep pets safe while Halloween festivities under way

How do you prepare your pets to meet scary folks like Spiderman, SpongeBob Square Pants or George W at the front door?

While we love the sights, sounds, smells, and yes, tastes of Halloween, many pets get freaked out by doorbells that ring incessantly, scary costumes, screaming kids and an abundance of aromatic candy that seems to be going everywhere except in their mouths.

Halloween can be a great way to build the bond the family shares with a pet and let qualified four-legged family members join in the silly fun.

It’s also a potentially dangerous evening that keeps veterinary emergency rooms full Halloween night, and animal shelters the next day.

Although most of us talk to our pets, realistically it isn’t possible to explain to them that Halloween night is just for fun.

Weird strangers approaching the home will alarm a dog, who usually thinks its primary job is to alert the owners to intruders and protect the home.

And a cat can be easily frightened and could run in front of a car or hide in an unsafe place or pass a highly flammable tail over a candle’s open flame.

While most dogs are fine, there are horror stories that document a pet that suddenly panics and bites a child, or a cat that sees an opening out the front door and bolts for freedom.

In fact, other than the Fourth of July, Halloween is the No. 1 time pets are lost from the home.

People in the animal care community strongly advise pet owners to put household pets in carriers, lock them in the basement or a bedroom, or secure them with a halter and leash during the time when scary trick-or-treaters are appearing at your front door.

DON’T put them in the back yard where they could be teased or given something they shouldn’t be eating.

“Children can be scary to some pets, even when they aren’t decked out for Halloween,” says Dr. Suzanne Hetts, a certified applied animal behaviorist and co-owner of Animal Behavior Associates Inc. in Littleton, Colo.

“If your pet isn’t good with children, it’s probably better not to allow her to greet trick-or-treaters at the door. Your pet will likely enjoy being in a quiet part of your house with a special chewie, treat or toy and won’t be at risk for dashing at the door.”

This is a good reminder to make sure pets have identification, in case one does escape.

Human candy is bad for pets, cautions Dr. Steve Hansen, board-certified veterinary toxicologist and director of the American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals Animal Poison Control Center, Urbana, Ill.

“While it is widely known that chocolate can be toxic to pets, candies and gum that contain significant amounts of the sweetener xylitol can also be potentially harmful.”

Xylitol may produce a sudden drop in blood sugar, resulting in depression, incoordination and even seizures. Additionally, lollypop sticks can get stuck in an animal’s throat or perforate the intestinal tract.

Candy wrappers can irritate the digestive system or even produce an obstruction that requires surgery.

Make sure your kids keep their candy stash in a drawer, closet or in the pantry away from the persistent attempts of dogs with a sweet tooth.

Because most of us consider our pets as family members, increasingly pets are being dressed up for Halloween and accompanying their two-legged brothers and sisters on the quest to fill up candy bags. People who wish to give treats to the pets should have dog biscuits on hand for the dogs.

Owners should always be asked before offering pet treats to dogs, as their pet may have an allergy or intolerance to certain ingredients, Hansen says.

“If you want to dress your pet up for Halloween, first make sure the costume is pet-safe, with no attachments or adornments that your pet could quickly chew off and swallow,” says Hetts, who has lots of information about pet fears and phobias on her Web site, www.animalbehaviorassociates.com. Hetts also advises pet owners to accustom their pets to any costumes a little bit at a time.

“Put just a part of the costume on for a minute or two, while stroking your pet and giving her a tidbit, then take it off,” she says.

Some pets may tolerate costumes, while others don’t want any part of them, regardless of your gentle efforts. Let your pet make the decision for you.

If you do dress your pet up for Halloween, never leave her unsupervised in her costume.

If you burn candles as part of your Halloween decorations, you need to be very careful to keep pets away from them, as it takes only a second for whiskers or tails to go up in flames. Hansen cautions that liquid potpourri can also be potentially dangerous, as exposures could result in severe damage to the mouth, skin and eyes.

Have fun this Halloween, but more importantly, keep your family – two-legged and four-legged – safe.