We look forward to the spooky thrills and spine-tingling chills that come with Halloween, but for pets, the whole holiday can be downright scary. Creepy masks and shrieking trick-or-treaters, big bowls of toxic (for pets!) candy and eerie glowing pumpkins can all present stressful or even dangerous obstacles for your furry friends to overcome.
Keep them calm and safe with these tips:
Consider your decorations
Most holidays come with new décor that could spark your pet’s curiosity. Bright strings of lights, ghoulish sound effects and glowing pumpkins won’t likely go unnoticed! Keep your pets and family safe by avoiding candles in your jack-o’-lanterns — go for LED lights instead — and keep any wires, webs or batteries well out of reach.
Dress them up, but keep an eye out
You might be planning to dress up your dog or cat for the holiday, and we don’t blame you — pet costumes are adorable and fun! But they do require human supervision to keep your furry friend safe. If a costume seems to be causing your pet undue stress or they can’t stop pawing at it, consider trading the costume for a festive collar or chew toy instead.
Give them treats, but not the candy kind
It’s typical to keep a big candy bowl by the front door for trick-or-treaters but be sure it’s out of reach of pets. Dogs, especially, won’t know when to quit if they get a taste of the sweet stuff, and the wrong candy or chocolate can make them seriously sick. Instead, distract them with a treat you know they’ll love — and will be able to digest.
Offer them a safe, quiet place to hide
Most pets get overexcited or even a little anxious when guests come knocking, so imagine how they feel with a constant stream of trick-or-treaters ringing your doorbell all Halloween night. One spooky mask or excited shriek too many might send your pet over the edge. If they have a bed or crate, stash it in an out-of-the-way room and offer them a bit of solace during peak Halloween hours. A big bed will also help them feel cozy and that can help them relax in certain situations.
After all the commotion, pamper them with Scentsy Pets!
Treat your doggie or cat to a soothing spa day on Nov. 1: Take extra time to massage pet-safe shampoo into their fur, use a fragrant detangling spray to brush out tangles or matts on your pup and finish them off with a spritz of lasting fragrance.
To all dogs, cats and every pet in between, Happy Howl-oween!
To shop Scentsy Pets, reach out to your Scentsy Consultant or visit their website. Don’t have a Consultant? Find one at scentsy.com.
