Dressing Up Your Pet for Halloween
Oct 24th, 2009 by Ealeal
I’ll start off with a giant disclaimer, as All Hallows’ Eve is looming around the corner — if you’re either creeped out by pets decked out in style, or your pet seems creeped out by your uncontrollable desire to dress them up, please lay off the costume scheming and skip this post. For your own good, as well as your pet’s safety.
For those of you who are still here, leash in hand, listen up: sure, there is nothing cuter than a lovable pup dressed up as a pirate, or cats with miscellaneous objects placed on their heads for the sake of LOLZ and entertainment, but there are rules even to randomness. Namely, rules meant to keep both you and your four-legged friends safe, healthy and happy.
While a few years ago I would not have considered taking any canines with me to a ghoulish Halloween party, since adopting the cutest bulldog on the planet (forgive me for my brutal and biased honesty, Taurus and Fondue), I can hardly think of going anywhere without Gus, least of all anything as fun as a costume party.
If you are considering letting your pet tag along with you on your costumed activities, you should do your best to make sure your pet is safe and comfortable throughout the evening. If your dog barely allows you to casually slip a collar on him, they may not be too thrilled about having their vision clouded by a sequin-adorned mask or a pirate hat. While Gus may look tough, I know there are certain safety guidelines to stick to, as should you – which is why we decided to bring you our top 5 Halloween safety tips for pets:
1. Don’t leave your costumed pet unattended: Pet costumes and accessories can snag or get stuck on something, leaving your pet panicked and in danger. Keep in mind that your pet is probably not as accustomed to being clothed as you are, and that they may try to wiggle out or chew their way out of their costumes, which can lead to choking or suffocation. Keep your canine pal near you at all times when donning a costume, in order to ensure a safe and happy Halloween.
2. Comfort before costumes: While an extravagant costume may win you a lot of attention while walking your dog, be sure that whatever costume you choose does not limit your pet’s ability to see, move freely, breathe, or drink water as needed. Be sure to avoid any flammable materials that may be hazardous in case of fire or an emergency. Ditch any costumes or accessories that may put pressure on your pet’s delicate parts, constrain their movement or make breathing difficult – it’s just not worth it, no matter how cute the pics you’ll be snapping.
3. Keep the candy out of reach: While you may have a sweet tooth and your dentist to take care of any collateral damages as a result of Halloween, remember that your dog was not really intended to live on a diet of candy corn and chocolate bars. Chocolate contains an alkaloid called theobromine, which causes an adverse reaction in dogs, and can be fatal if consumed in even relatively small amounts.
4. Identification is key: with the constant flow of party-goers and Trick-or-Treaters, your dog may become stressed and try to bolt, or may be tempted to run away when the door is left open. Be sure to keep an eye on your pet at all times, particularly if they are not used to such commotion, and be sure to attach proper identification to their collar in case they do make a run for it. Remember that unknown visitors may disturb your dog’s sense of comfort and lead him outside – if your dog is not accustomed to people dropping by, perhaps it’s best to put them in a part of the house where they will remain undisturbed for the evening.
5. Take out the trash and extinguish fires: Curious as they are, dogs will usually hurry to explore, sniff and even try and eat any leftovers from the holiday festivities. Be sure to properly store away or dispose of any streamers, hazardous decoration, electrical lighting wires, candy wrappers and alcohol containers, as none of these items are good news for an over-excited dog. Remember to put any lit candles out of reach, especially if your dog has a tail which can knock these over and accidentally start a fire in your home.
Happy Halloween from the 5min Team!
