Here are some tips from the Kennel Club to ensure Halloween is a treat, not a trick, for your four-legged friend.
- Hide sweets - If dogs get hold of a large quantity of sweets, such as those being stored for trick or treaters, they can develop an inflammation of the pancreas due to a sizeable ingestion of sugar.
- Be careful of lit pumpkins - Some people like to put candles inside carved pumpkins, and dogs may inadvertently cause a fire or burn themselves if they knock it over with an overzealous nose or wagging tail. Never leave your dog unattended with a lit candle, even when it is inside a pumpkin.
- Beware of trick or treaters - You may be inundated with strangers in costumes knocking on your door or ringing the doorbell; this can be stressful for a dog so ensure he is kept in a quiet and safe place.
- Consider walking your dog at a different time - If your pet is usually walked in the early evening, consider changing the time of the walk on Halloween to make it a bit earlier or later to avoid a rush of trick or treaters, who may scare your dog or cause stress.
- Be aware of children - Your dog is likely to come into contact with lots of children, so it is important that you are aware of his reaction to children and prepare accordingly.
- Be aware of choke hazards - At Halloween there are often more objects around that could obstruct a dog's airway if swallowed, such as sweet wrappers, small parts of costumes or decorations, and hard sweets.
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