Halloween Safety for Dogs and Cats: What to Keep Out of Reach

Every year around this time I start reminding myself to move the candy bowl up higher. Halloween is a fun night, but for dogs and cats it's a strange one. The house smells like chocolate, people in masks keep showing up at the door, and the doorbell rings more in three hours than it does the rest of the month.

A little planning goes a long way when it comes to Halloween safety for dogs and cats. Here’s what I keep out of reach, how I help our animals stay calm, and what I give them instead so they don’t feel left out of the fun.

Halloween safety for dogs and cats: what to keep out of reach

Most Halloween emergencies at the vet come from the same handful of things. If your dog or cat could get into any of these, move them somewhere they truly can't reach, not just "probably can't."

• Chocolate. The darker the chocolate, the more dangerous it is. Baking chocolate and dark chocolate are the biggest concern, but milk chocolate isn't safe either, especially for smaller dogs.
• Sugar-free candy and gum. Many contain xylitol, a sweetener that is toxic to dogs even in small amounts. It also shows up in some peanut butters, so check the label before you use any for a treat.
• Raisins and grapes. Easy to forget about, but they turn up in trail mix and chocolate-covered raisins, and they can be very harmful to dogs.
• Wrappers and lollipop sticks. A dog who finds a stash of candy usually eats the wrappers too. Foil, plastic and sticks can cause blockages.
• Glow sticks and candles. Cats love to bat at glow sticks, and a lit pumpkin at tail height is an accident waiting to happen. Battery tea lights are a much safer swap.

If you think your pet ate something they shouldn't have, call your vet or an emergency clinic right away. Don't wait to see if symptoms show up. Knowing roughly what and how much they ate helps a lot. If you can’t reach your vet, Pet Poison Helpline offers 24/7 help across Canada at 1-855-764-7661 (a fee applies).

The doorbell problem

For a lot of dogs, Halloween isn't really about the candy. It's the doorbell. Every ring means a stranger, and by the twentieth one, even a laid-back dog can be wound up tight.

A few things that help at our place:

• Set up a quiet room before trick-or-treaters start. A bedroom or back room with their bed, some water and the radio or TV on low to soften the noise from the front door.
• Give them something to work on in that room. A longer-lasting treat like our Rabbit Feet gives a dog something to focus on besides the door. It's a lot easier to settle when you have a job to do. If you're new to them, I wrote about whether rabbit feet are good for dogs.
• Reward calm, not just quiet. If your dog is with you near the door, keep a pocket full of tiny pieces and reward them every time they stay settled. Our Freeze Dried Bison Liver is a high-value reward that breaks into small pieces easily. I talk more about this in our post on training with single-ingredient treats.
• Costumes are optional. Some dogs genuinely don't mind a bandana or a light costume. Others hate it. If your dog is freezing, tucking their tail or trying to rub it off, take it off. The photo isn't worth a miserable dog.

Don't forget the cats

Cats are often the ones who slip out the door when it's opening every two minutes. Keep cats in a closed room for the evening if you can, and make sure their ID or microchip info is up to date just in case.

A few pieces of a treat they love can make the room feel less like a punishment. Our Rabbit Cat Treats are small, single-ingredient pieces sized for cats. If you have a picky one, I wrote a whole post on what cats actually want from a treat.

Give them their own treat bag

The kids get a pillowcase full of candy. Your dog or cat can have their own stash too, just one that's actually safe for them. These are the ones I'd reach for on Halloween night:

Halloween is the start of the season

Once the pumpkins go out, the holidays come fast. If you've been thinking about our Dog Advent Calendar or Cat Advent Calendar, now is a good time to grab one. We make them by hand in limited quantities, and they ship November 15 to 30 so they arrive fresh for December 1.

Have a safe, happy Halloween, and give your animals an extra scratch behind the ears after the last trick-or-treater leaves. They earned it.

Shop all our single-ingredient treats at indigenoustreats.ca. Free shipping on orders over $100.

---

This post is general information, not veterinary advice. If your pet has eaten something toxic or is acting unwell, contact your vet or nearest emergency clinic right away.