Halloween Pet Safety

Halloween Dog Pet Tee

This article on Halloween Pet Safety will help ensure your Miniature Schnauzer stays safe and calm through the night.

Halloween conjures up thoughts of kids, costumes, lots of candy, wild decorations and all around fun-filled family times. But it may not be so much fun for your Miniature Schnauzer who might just get stressed out or frightened over all the ghosts and goblins that come-a-knockin at your door.

And a real frightening Halloween night is ending up in the Animal Hospital emergency room. So to be sure that scenario doesn't play out for you, we've put together a list of Halloween Safety tips for Pets to help keep your celebration safe and fun for everyone.

Halloween Pet Safety Tips

1. Decorations: Schnauzers are naturally curious and decorations can pose a huge threat to your dog and/or your home. According to the National Fire Protection Association, an estimated 1,000 house fires per year are accidentally started by pets.

In fact, using no-flame candles to decorate is a better choice in practicing Halloween pet safety.

So keep all decorations out of your Schnauzers reach. This includes: streamers, glitter, glues and adhesives, glow sticks and jewelry, costume parts, silly string, electrical cords, jack-o-lanterns, and all the props from skeletons and skulls to spiderwebs and candles.

2. No Candy: Especially Chocolate! This is a very important Halloween pet safety tip as chocolate contains the stimulant theobromine from cacao beans. Chocolate can cause seizures, coma and death if consumed by dogs. And the darker the chocolate, the more lethal the dose. Also, sugar-free candy containing Xylitol can cause liver failure and death.

All the children of your home should clearly understand how important it is to never share any of their candy with your Miniature Schnauzer. Be sure they have a designated safe place to store their treat bags, as well.

3. Candy Wrappers: The lure of sweet smells left behind on candy wrappers and Lollipop sticks can be a problem, too. Empty wrappers can cause choking or intestinal obstruction. All candy wrappers should be properly disposed of into secure trash bins.

4. Bring Pets Indoors: Unfortunately, there are some who think teasing, hurting, or even stealing a pet on Halloween night is just a mischievous trick. Please keep your Miniature Schnauzer indoors (even a few days before Halloween). Even when your Schnauzer has to go outside to potty, stay with him the entire time and then bring him back inside. Don't allow vicious pranksters the opportunity to harm your Miniature Schnauzer.

5. Pet Costumes: If you are dressing your Schnauzer up in a pet costume, be sure he is okay and comfortable wearing one. Make sure it fits properly and comfortably and not at all binding. Also, there should be no small costume pieces he can chew off and ingest and be sure the costume in no way interferes with your dog's ability to see, hear, and breathe.

Even though people love to dress their pets up most pets don't enjoy it. If your Schnauzer shows any resistance at all, please don’t force him to wear a costume. You can have him wear a festive Halloween pet bandana instead and he will still be adorable.

6. Pet ID: Be sure your Schnauzer is wearing proper identification with up-to-date info just in case an escape does occur. A lost dog wearing proper ID or one that has been microchipped has the best chances of being reunited with his owner.

7. Exercise: Take your Miniature Schnauzer out for a brisk walk before the kids begin to trick-or-treat. This will help tire him out and make him less anxious.

8. Block off Entry Way or Foyer: Use a baby gate to block off the entry area of your front door to prevent your dog from escaping or taking a nip at a trick-or-treater. After all, your Schnauzer might see all those approaching as strangers try to protect his family and home.

9. Secure & Safe: If necessary, confine your Schnauzer in a separate safe room during the trick-or-treat hours. If you did exercise him before hand, he should be nice and tired. So give him some food and water, leave some of his favorite toys in the room, turn on a TV or play some relaxing music to help drown out the outside noises, and you can also use calming aids like herbal treatments for anxiety or Comfort Zone W/D.A.P. Diffuser.

10. Reflective Gear: If you do decide to take your Miniature Schnauzer out during dark hours of the night use reflective dog gear, collars, harnesses, and dog leashes so cars and people can see you approaching.

11. After Halloween Pet Safety: Especially the first few days after Halloween, while walking your dog, pay special close attention to what remnants have been left behind. Candy, candy wrappers, and other reminders of the previous nights festivities may be on the sidewalks and streets still posing threats to your Mini Schnauzer.

Final Halloween Pet Safety Tips

Pet Poisoning: Know the warning signs of poisoning which include vomiting, diarrhea, stomach upset, rapid breathing, seizures, lethargy.

Prepare for Worst Case Scenario: It's a good idea to be prepared for the worst case scenario. Double check the items in your pet's first aid kit, have the telephone number to animal poison control programmed into your phone (888) 426-4435, and review how to perform CPR on your dog.

Have a Happy & Safe Halloween

Be sure to share your Schnauzer Halloween Photos with us! Just look how adorable 5 year old Schnauzer sisters, Sammy & Sara are as little pumpkins!

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Related Topics:
★ Pet Costumes
★ Free Holiday Ecards
★ Make a Schnauz-o-lantern