Halloween is a scary time for pets. They can get nervous when people in costumes come to the door to trick-or-treat, and they can become terrified when fireworks go off. Here are a few tips for a happier Halloween with your pets.
Keep animals (dogs and cats) indoors for a few weeks before and after Halloween to shield them from fireworks, especially at night. Their hearing is more sensitive than ours, so what might sound loud to you, sounds deafening to them.
Some dogs and cats will try to scratch or chew their way out of the house to escape loud noises. Keep sensitive pets in the centre of the house. Play music with a good beat at a moderate volume. Feed a large carbohydrate meal (pasta, bread, or rice) about an hour before sundown because carbohydrates will make your pet sleepy. You can also give your dog a toy to keep it occupied.
There are many items available to help calm nervous pets around Halloween time. These products can also be used for other stressful situations, such as moving, travelling, boarding, or a new addition to the household. Most of these products are available through your veterinary surgeon. There is now a special calming food and herbal preparation available for both dogs and cats to cause relaxation. There are pheromone impregnated collars, sprays and diffusers are available to help calm nervous pets. CDs are available to help animals overcome sound phobias, but these must be used for a few months to condition the dog.
On Halloween night, keep your dog away from the front door. Dogs get agitated by strangers coming and going, and may be inclined to bite. And don’t give your dog any Halloween candy because chocolate is toxic to dogs and can make them very sick.
Make sure that your dog or cat has a collar with a legible ID tag in case it does run away. You can also have your pet microchipped, which is particularly useful if the collar comes off. If your pet is already microchipped, please make sure that your contact details are correct. Animal shelters and veterinary surgeons are inundated with phone calls about pets missing around Halloween. Unfortunately, due to lack of identification, people aren’t always reunited with their beloved pets. So be prepared!
For further enquiries, please phone 045 480 478 www.animalsfirst.ie
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