Halloween Tips for Pet Owners

With Halloween on its way, we want to wish you a safe and exciting holiday. During this time of year, you can catch our staff dressing up the pets for photos, hanging up spooky decorations and consuming lots of chocolates/candy. Because Halloween can be stressful for your pet, we are providing you with some helpful tips to ensure a safe Halloween for you and your furry friends. 

1. Dressing up your pet – putting a costume on your pet can be a stressful thing if the animal is not accustomed to it. It is best to do this overtime while offering positive reinforcement (treats and praise) until your pet is comfortable. Don’t put a whole costume on if your pet is stressed, and do not leave a costume on when your pet is unattended. Avoid covering the eyes and ears as this can add stress to a confused dog/cat.
2. Keep the sweets away from your pet. Every year, animal urgent care hospitals across the nation see an influx of pets because they consumed chocolate or sweets that contain xylitol. These are toxic to your pet and can cause internal or neurological damage. 
3. Having people constantly knock on your door can be stressful for your pet, especially when everyone is in costume. They may even bite if they feel threatened. Understand your pet and know its limit. A crate in a room with the least amount of noise can be a safe haven for a pet.  
4. If you take your dog out to any events, ensure you are following the leash law. Maintain a leash no more than six feet and hold it firmly. Startled dogs can have a flight response and will run till they feel safe but then become lost. 
5. Identification is important. Even if you are just staying home, ensure your dog is wearing a collar with his license tag. If there are alternative tags, ensure the phone number and address are current. Check to make sure that microchips are registered and the information is current.  
6. Know who to call in the event of an emergency. To report a lost or found pet, call the Mission Viejo Animal Services Center at 949-470-3045. For assistance with a pet medical emergency, Animal Urgent Care in Mission Viejo can be reached at 949-364 6228. 

For additional information, call 949-470 3045. Happy Halloween!