What is the worry with Halloween?
With the constant door knocks, spooky decorations, scary costumes, flashing lights and lots of screaming Halloween may be enjoyable for some, but for others, it is a time of fear or risk. The team at RFFDMSUK have created this guide to help you to safely navigate the yearly spooktacular event with your dog.
Anxiety is a common occurrence
If you are planning to go out and leave your dog home alone, you will need to consider their anxiety. Have they been used to being alone at night? Are they going to lose their normal routine?
There are things you can do to help including giving them a safe space, some calming music, and completing some test runs prior to the main event.
Although many online forums mention using chews or enrichment to entertain your dog whilst you are out, RFFDMSUK do not recommend doing this as it does pose a choking risk. Your dog should be exercised, calmed, fed, toileted and settled before you leave the house.
Fear can be deadly
Halloween can bring about fear for many dogs, with noises ranging from screaming running children to loud voiced adults, to constant doorbells, to even fireworks.
On top of this, change can be fear inducing for dogs so seeing strange costumes or hearing strange noises may induce a fear incident for your dog,
If your dog is not able to be desensitised to these situations, you can try implementing support such as those available from Dorwest Herbs, Proflax, Nutravet, a holistic vet, or even a conventional may be needed in some cases for medical intervention.
Create a Safe Space
Whether you are in or out, home alone or entertaining, it is crucial that your dog is given a space to retreat to should they need to. For many dogs, this is a crate, for others it is under a desk, or in a certain room.
The space should be known throughout the household, including to visitors, as being off limits to humans as this is where your dog goes to escape and feel safe.
The space should be large enough for them to stand up and turn around easily, they should be able to access water still as and when they wish to, and it should be comforting with bedding and a cover potentially too to help drown outside noises away.
Trick or Treat
If your dog is going with you to trick or treat, ensure they have their microchip information up to date, and are on a lead in case they become spooked and try to run. As Halloween is in the winter, your dog should be wearing reflective items to ensure they are visible to traffic, and their tag containing your up to date contact information.
The RRFDMSUK team do not judge whether you dress your dog up or not, this is your decision, however if you do, please do bear in mind that your dog's health, safety & welfare is paramount so they should not wear anything restrictive around any part of the body, constant checks should be made to ensure they are not showing signs of pain, discomfort or distress, and they should be gently desensitised to the articles of clothing over a good few weeks before the event.
Food
Of course, it wouldn't be an event if there wasn't food involved! Be sure to take your own treats with you if trick or treating with your dog so that you can control what they get and avoid unwanted stomach issues.
It is also crucial to highlight that chocolate is toxic to dogs and should never be fed! Punch bowls, pastries, cakes, sweets - all of them can be a danger so take care if entertaining with your dog or if you take your dog elsewhere. If your dog consumes a food that is toxic, contact your vet or out of hours vet for assistance.
Decorations
Take care around decorations too if you have a dog. Candles can easily be caught with a tail or knocked over in passing so should be kept away from your dog at all times if using them. Other decorative items may be a risk if eaten by your dog so please do be cautious and if your dog consumes decorative items, contact your vet or even out of hours vet.
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