Halloween Costumes and Pet Safety

Ahh, Halloween...time to deck out your kiddos in creepy crawly and devilishly delightful Halloween costumes and take the little tykes trick-or-treating. But not all people stop at just the kids- they insist upon dressing up their pets in Halloween costumes as well. In fact, 43% more people will be dressing up their pets in Halloween costumes this year than last year (National Retail Federation)! But remember- pets and Halloween costumes (and clothing in general) can equal a scary situation, so follow some pet safety when it comes to Halloween costumes this year.

First of all, don't put your pet in anything that restricts movement or their ability to see. This means, don't cram your cat in a Halloween costume where they can't bend their legs, and don't put a mask over your dog's face. Also, if your pet panics the second you try to place an article of clothing on them, stop. Forcing your pet into a Halloween costume will only make them anxious, which can lead to them running off somewhere to hide, can make them fidgety, or even cause them to bite or lash out in fear.

If you do have a Halloween costume on your pet, keep them in your sight at all times. You never know if your dog will slip their leg out of one of the costume holes and get tangled up, or if your cat is chewing on his wig. When it comes to pets and Halloween costumes, you need to watch them like a hawk.

Be careful of the type of costume you put on your pet for Halloween. The more material or pieces that are involved, the more difficult it will be to place on your pet, and to keep on your pet safely. Elastic material is a no-no as it can cause your pet to lose circulation without you knowing about it, and masks are off-limits as well. They can make vision difficult on your pet.

If your pet doesn't like a Halloween costume, by all means, don't make them wear one- and even if they don't appear to mind, make sure that you are watching your pet at all times. You never know if your cat will get stuck somewhere because its costume had gotten tangled, and you want Halloween to be a fun occasion for your pets, not a dangerous one.

Sources:

Halloween costumes (hits and misses) with my dog

http://allnaturalpetcare.com/blog/2011/10/02/pet-dog-halloween-costume-safety-tips/