MIAMI, Oct. 24, 2012 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Halloween can be a dangerous holiday for pets. Candy lying around, costumes not fitting properly, and the constant opening and closing of the front door are just some of the dangers pet owners need to be aware of. To help protect your pets from these Halloween hazards, petMD.com has pulled together the following list of nine Halloween pet safety tips.
- Halloween Candies can be Toxic: Chocolate and Xylitol are two of the most toxic substances to pets, and both are handed out in plenty on Halloween night. Make sure to store all candy that comes in or out of the house out of your pets' reach.
- Don't Let the Dog or Cat Out: Many "pranksters" find it amusing to taunt, tease, and even injure pets, especially black cats, on Halloween. Keep all pets indoors for the night or close to your side if they do have to go out.
- Don't Let the Pet be the Greeter: Your pet may love greeting people at the door, but loud screams of "trick-or-treat" and scary costumes might put a pet on edge. Keep dogs and cats away from the front door so they don't try to run out after the trick-or-treaters.
- Keep Pets Away from Halloween Fruits and Veggies: Pumpkins and corn stalks are not toxic to pets, but ingestion of either can cause an upset stomach in dogs and cats. Make sure to keep such decorations out of the way of curious pets.
- Jack-O-Lanterns: As you display your carved pumpkins to eager trick-or-treaters on Halloween night, make sure your pets are a safe distance away. Pets that get too close to lit pumpkins can burn themselves, or accidentally knock them over and cause a fire.
- Electric Decorations: Nothing sets the Halloween mood better than ceramic skulls and ghosts that light up; however, decorations that require electrical equipment can be dangerous to have around pets. Make sure wires are kept out of reach, as dogs and cats chewing on wires can lead to a fatal electric shock.
- Find the Right Costume: Some pets love getting dressed up in costumes for Halloween, while others hate it. Don't force a pet to wear a costume she is not comfortable in, and make sure if she is wearing a costume that it does not constrict her ability to move, breathe, hear, and bark or meow.
- Have a Dress Rehearsal: Avoid any complications or excess stressors on Halloween night. Have your pet try on his costume before the big day to help him get used to it and to make sure he's not allergic to the material.
- Identification, Identification, Identification: Prepare for the worst. Excited or scared pets can run away or get lost in the excitement of the night. A pet that has proper identification - a collar with an ID tag, microchip, or QR tag - is more likely to be returned to its owner.
Media Contact: Kelly Lange, 610-234-4114, klange@pet360.com
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petMD.com is the leading online resource focused solely on the health and well-being of pets. The site maintains the world's largest pet health library, written and approved by a network of trusted veterinarians. petMD was founded to inspire pet owners to provide an ever-increasing quality of life for their pets and to connect pet owners with pet experts and other animal lovers. petMD is a subsidiary of the Pet360 family of brands, which also includes www.Pet360.com – a highly personalized & engaged community dedicated to simplifying and enhancing pet parenting, www.PetFoodDirect.com – the most complete pet food and supply retailer online, and www.NationalPetPharmacy.com – a fully certified, full-service pet pharmacy delivering pet meds, vitamins and comprehensive pet health and wellness products.
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