Sign In
Skip to Main Content
  • Sacramento County
  • Live/Visit |
  • Business |
  • Government |
  • Search

SACCOUNTY NEWS

  • Twitter - Sacramento County
  • Facebook - Sacramento County
  • Instagram - Sacramento County
  • More News
      • 2023 Stories
      • 2022 Stories
      • 2021 Stories
      • 2020 Stories
      • 2019 Stories
      • 2018 Stories
      • 2017 Stories
      • 2016 Stories
      • 2015 Stories
  • Events
      • Countywide Calendar
      • Sacramento365
  • Photo / Video
      • Video Galleries
      • Photo Galleries
  • Public Information
      • Public Information Office
      • County Press Releases
      • Public Records Act Requests
      • Contact Us

Halloween Safety Tips for Pet Owners

10/26/2021
Animals/Pets/Insects

Page Image
Halloween Safety Tips for Pet Owners - Photo of silly/adorable dog wearing a big witches hat  and a spooky halloween tie.
Image Caption
Evernote
 
 

Article Date: Tuesday, October 26, 2021

Page Content
Are you passing out candy to trick-or-treaters this year? How about dressing your pet up in a costume? From decorating to celebrating, you and your pet can enjoy a stress-free Halloween by following a few simple safety precautions.

Candy is for "ghouls and goblins," not the household pet
  • All chocolate can be very dangerous for dogs and cats. Symptoms of significant chocolate ingestion may include vomiting, diarrhea, hyperactivity, increased thirst, urination and heart rate, and seizures.
  • Candies containing the artificial sweetener xylitol can be poisonous and deadly to dogs. Even small amounts of xylitol sweetener can cause a sudden drop in blood sugar, which leads to depression, lack of coordination and seizures.
  • Ingesting tin foil and cellophane candy wrappers can pose a choking hazard or cause intestinal blockage.

Decorate Accordingly
  • Pumpkins and decorative corn used for decorations are considered to be relatively non-toxic, but they can produce gastrointestinal upset in pets if eaten. 
  • Keep wires and cords from electric lights and other decorations out of reach of your pets to reduce chances of injury or electrocution.

Jack-O-Lantern Safety
  • Pets can easily knock a lit pumpkin over and cause a fire. Curious kittens especially run the risk of getting burned or singed by candle flames.

Dressing Your Pet for the Holiday
  • Don't put your dog or cat in a costume unless you know they love it. For a pet not used to dressing up, wearing a costume can cause it undue stress.
  • If you do dress up your pet, make sure the costume isn't annoying or unsafe. It should not constrict the animal's movement or hearing, or impede his/her ability to breathe, bark or meow. Also try on costumes before the big night. If your pet seems distressed, allergic or shows abnormal behavior, it’s time to take the costume off.
  • Make sure the costume fits your pet correctly, that it does not have small, dangling or easily chewed-off pieces that they could choke on. 

Keep Your Pets in a Quiet Environment
  • Dogs and cats should be kept in a separate room away from the front door during peak trick-or-treat visiting hours. When opening the door for trick-or-treaters, take care that your cat or dog doesn't dart outside.

IDs, please - Always make sure your dog or cat has proper identification. If for any reason your pet escapes and becomes lost, a collar and tags and/or a microchip can increase the chances that they will be returned to you. If you pet already has a microchip, please check that it is updated with your current contact information. 

A Word about Black Cats - This time of year especially, black cats get a bad reputation because of silly superstitions, and because of that, sometimes they can be targets for cruelty. Consider adopting a black cat from the Bradshaw Animal shelter, as they are just as wonderful a pet and are only half as likely to find forever homes. 

For more Halloween safety tips, visit the Bradshaw Animal Shelter website or view the printable pet safety brochure. 

Contact Info:

SC Contact Information

​​ALLISON HARRIS​, SACRAMENTO COUNTY PUBLIC INFORMATION OFFICE, 916-874-3525​​

Latest Headlines

  • Help the County Coroner ID an Unidentified Man
  • Sacramento County Recognizes Meth Awareness Day
  • SacCounty Health Center Earns Three Quality Awards
  • First Installment of Property Taxes Due Dec. 11
  • Public Invited to Virtual Budget Workshop

Categories

  • Animals/Pets/Insects
  • Art & Things To Do
  • County Governance, Operations, Policy
  • Economic Development, Community Planning, Agriculture
  • Emergency/Preparedness
  • Green & Technology
  • Health & Social Services
  • Homelessness
  • Law/Justice
  • Media Releases / Advisories
  • Parks/Recreation
  • Taxes & Voting
  • Transportation & Airports
  • Utility & Residential Services

News Archive

  • 2022
  • 2021
  • 2020
  • 2019
  • 2018
  • 2017
  • 2016
  • 2015
  • 2014

Photo Gallery
Check out our photo galleries showcasing the beauty of Sac County and our work to ensure it.
Photo Gallery
Video Gallery
Check out our videos about SacCounty Services.
Video Gallery
Sacramento365
A website designed to serve as the all-inclusive arts and entertainment resource for Sacramento County.
Sacramento365
More News
2023 Stories
2022 Stories
2021 Stories
2020 Stories
2019 Stories
2018 Stories
2017 Stories
2016 Stories
2015 Stories
Events
Countywide Calendar
Sacramento365
Galleries
Video Gallery
Photo Gallery
Public Information
Public Information Office
County Press Releases (2016-2010)
Public Records Act Requests
Contact Us

SACCOUNTY NEWS

Connect with us
Sign-up for news updates
Sign Up >
  • Twitter
  • Facebook
  • Pinterest
  • YouTube
  • Email
  • Sacramento Alert
  • LinkedIn
  • Flickr
  • News
  • Metro Cable
  • Instagram
© Copyright by SACCOUNTY NEWS
Website Policies Use | Contact Us | Report a Problem | Connect with Us | Website Feedback Form
Search