HAPPY HALLOWEEN FROM K9 SPORT SACK!!
For most, Halloween is a fun and exciting time of year that presents us with the opportunity to dress up as our favorite superheroes, princesses, or monsters. For our dogs, it’s a completely different experience. All of the excitement and commotion can create dangers and other challenges for them.
In this article, we’ve provided you with five of the most important tips to help you and your pups have the happiest of Halloweens.
First and foremost, you’ll need to decide whether you’ll be taking your dog out door-to-door or if they’ll be kept at home.
If you decide to take your doggo out with you to trick-or-treat, it’s crucial that you have a sturdy leash attached to a quality collar or harness. Even if your dog is well trained to be off-leash, you never know when they might run off. After-all, there will be lots of children running around with spooky masks and costumes that might scare, excite, or make your dog anxious. It’s better to be safe than sorry!
Another great idea to keep your dog safe on Halloween night is to keep them comfortable and secure in a K9 Sport Sack. There’s no better way to keep your pup from danger than by carrying them up high on your back and off of the ground.
Even if you decide to keep your dog inside all night, there are still some dangers and other things to look out for to keep them, and others safe. Because trick-or-treaters may be ringing the doorbell and opening your door constantly, you might want to consider closing your dog completely off from the entryway or keep them somewhere safe in the house and as far away as possible.
Again, the children in unusual costumes and masks can make your dog anxious or fearful. It’s best to take precautions and prevent your pup from potentially dashing out the door.
Although the chances of your pup running off or escaping out the front door might be low, you should still be prepared. Always make sure your dog is wearing identification such as a collar with I.D. tags or has a microchip. This can prevent a lot of worry and heartache by increasing the chances of them being returned safely back to you.
Remember, your dog may have never run off before, but dogs on Halloween can be unpredictable. The easier they are to identify, the easier it will be to get them back home safely.
Another very important thing to do is keep candy out of reach. There are a lot of Halloween candies that are particularly toxic for them to eat. The more obvious candies are anything with chocolate. Chocolate can be very dangerous for a dog or even a cat to consume and should definitely be stashed away to prevent your pup from eating them.
Just because your furry friend didn’t get into the chocolate, that doesn’t mean they’re completely in the clear. Xylitol, a sugar substitute, can also cause serious problems for your dog and should be avoided at all costs. Some symptoms of chocolate ingestion and possible toxicity include: vomiting, panting, diarrhea, agitation, increased thirst, and in severe cases, seizures.
If you do find that your pup has consumed a dangerous amount of chocolate or other sugary candy, call your vet immediately. The smartest thing you can do is prevent the chances of this happening by simply keeping all candy out of reach from the dog.
We all know how cute putting a dog in a costume can be! Whether you decide to make something homemade or throw something on your pup you bought from the store, it’s important to be mindful of your dog’s safety.
Questions to ask yourself:
Does my dog enjoy wearing a costume? Are there any choking hazards? Can my dog move freely? Does the costume restrict breathing? Is the costume too heavy? Can they see and hear properly?
Run through these questions to quickly make sure dressing your dog up for Halloween is a good idea. If you think a costume might jeopardize your dog’s safety or impair their senses, it might not be worth the trouble.
Halloween is and should always be an exciting, stress-free experience, but owning a dog can make it a little tricky. Because they’re a part of the family, it’s important for you to make sure they’re safe and happy, just like you would your own children. Following these 5 tips can drastically increase the likelihood of everyone staying safe and having a Happy Halloween!
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