If you celebrate Halloween, decorating your home will inevitably be one of your priorities. However, if you are the owner of a darling dog, you will need to think about how your choice of decorations affect your furbaby before you let your imagination run wild. Although you may not realize it, some types of Halloween decoration can pose a risk to the safety of your pet.
To help you and your furbaby enjoy a spooktacular but safe Halloween, here are our tips for decorating your home.
Avoid decorations made from candy
Candy treats form a huge part of Halloween celebrations, and many people choose to incorporate them into their decorations. Centerpieces made from candied apples, lollipops and gummy eyes are especially popular. However, these aren’t only tempting to human visitors, they look just as appealing to your canine pal. Unfortunately, most candies and chocolate contain an ingredient called Xylitol, which is extremely toxic to animals, including your dog. It is also very fast acting, and your furbaby only needs to consume a little to become seriously ill. If you suspect your pet may have swallowed something containing Xylitol, you should seek the advice of your vet immediately.
Don’t leave your dog alone in an area with lit candles or pumpkins
Pumpkin carving is one of the key activities that people participate in over the Halloween season. Once you have created your masterpiece, many people choose to place a lit candle inside so that the full effect of the carving comes to life. While this may look creeptastic, any open flame poses a serious risk, not only to the wellbeing of your canine pal, but also to other people and your property itself.
Even the smartest dog in the world doesn’t really understand the danger posed by open flames, and with all the excitement that Halloween can bring, a candle or pumpkin containing a candle can easily be knocked over by an eager paw or a wagging tail. You should never leave your dog unattended in a room containing a candle – at Halloween or any other time.
Skip the balloons and stringy decorations
Some types of Halloween decoration may look incredible, but at the same time pose a serious risk to the safety of your dog. This is largely because your canine companion will not understand how dangerous they can be. One of the main types of decoration that you should avoid are those which imitate spiderwebs. It is not unheard of for animals including dogs to get caught up in these decorations and fall over, or worse, end up with them wrapped around their neck, technically strangling them. In some instances, dogs might also decide that this type of decoration looks great fun to chew on. If this happens, it could become lodged in her airway and stomach, and cause life-threatening complications.
Balloons are another common Halloween decoration that should be avoided by owners of animals. Even if you think your balloons are out of reach, they can easily pop and fall to the ground, where their colorful appearance makes them look like a tasty treat that is ideal for your furbaby.
If you are planning your Halloween celebrations and would like more advice on the safest way to decorate your home with your dog in mind, our dedicated team would be happy to help. Please contact our Orlando, FL offices for more information.
