1. Trick-or-treat candies are not for pets. All forms of chocolate—especially baking or dark chocolate—can be dangerous, even lethal, for dogs and cats.
2. Don't leave pets out in the yard on Halloween. Vicious pranksters have been known to tease, injure, steal, and even kill pets on Halloween night. Black cats are especially at risk.
3. Keep pets confined and away from the door. Your door will be constantly opening and closing, and strangers will be on your doorstep dressed in unusual costumes. Putting your dog or cat in a secure crate or room away from the front door will reduce stress and prevent them from darting outside.
4. Keep glow sticks away from pets. If a pet chews on a glow stick the liquid inside is non-toxic, but it does taste awful. Pets may drool, paw at their mouth, become agitated, and sometimes even vomit.
5. Keep Halloween plants such as pumpkins and corn out of reach. While small amounts of corn and pumpkin can be fed safely to many pets, ingesting uncooked, potentially moldy Halloween pumpkins or corn displays can cause big problems and upset tummies.
6. Don't keep lit pumpkins and candles near pets. If you are using candles to light your jack-o-lanterns or other Halloween decorations, make sure to place them well out of reach of your pets. Should they get too close, they run the risk of burning themselves or causing a fire.
7. Keep electric and battery-powered Halloween decorations out of reach. Electric and battery-powered Halloween decorations are certainly safer than open candles, but they still can present a risk to pets. Pets who chew on electrical cords can receive a possibly life-threatening electrical shock or burn.
8. Don't dress your pet in a costume unless you know they'll love it. If you do decide that Fido or Kitty needs a costume, make sure it isn't dangerous or simply annoying to your pet. Costumes should not restrict movement, hearing, eyesight, or the ability to breathe.
9. Try on pet costumes before the big night. Any time you want to introduce your pet to something new, it’s best to go slowly. Make it a positive experience by offering lots of praise and treats.
10. ID and Microchip your pets! Halloween is the 2nd most common day pets get lost. Collars and tags are ideal if a Good Samaritan is able to collect your wayward pet, but microchips offer permanent identification should the collar or tag fall off.