The biggest Halloween risks for pets are in the candy bowl and at the front door. Chocolate, sugar-free sweets made with xylitol, and raisins can all poison dogs, while a stream of costumed strangers can frighten pets or give them a chance to slip outside. A little planning before the evening covers most of it.
The treat bag: what is dangerous
- Chocolate. The darker and more bitter it is, the more dangerous. Baking chocolate and dark chocolate contain the most theobromine, and a small amount can be serious for a small dog. Mini bars add up quickly.
- Xylitol. This sweetener is used in sugar-free gum, mints and some candies, and it may be listed as birch sugar. In dogs it can cause a sudden drop in blood sugar and, depending on the amount, liver damage.
- Raisins. Small boxes of raisins are a common “healthy” handout. Grapes and raisins can cause sudden kidney failure in dogs, and there is no known safe amount.
- Macadamia nuts in cookies and candy bars can cause weakness and tremors.
- Wrappers, foil and lollipop sticks. Dogs often eat candy wrappers and all. These do not digest and can cause a blockage.
Keep treat bags off the floor and out of reach, and tell children why it matters, since a bag left by the couch is the usual way dogs get in. Store the leftover candy in a closed cupboard, not a bowl on the coffee table. For foods to check in detail, see our food safety guide.
If your pet eats candy
Call your veterinarian or an emergency animal hospital right away, even if your pet seems fine. Signs of chocolate or xylitol poisoning can take hours to show, and raisin poisoning may show nothing at first.
- Note what was eaten, roughly how much, and when. Keep the wrappers, which show the type of chocolate and whether the product contains xylitol.
- Know your pet’s weight. Vets work out the risk from the amount eaten for the pet’s size.
- Do not try to make your pet vomit unless a veterinarian tells you to.
Our pet first aid guide lists the signs that mean you should go straight to a vet.
Glow sticks and glow jewelry
Cats in particular love to chew glow sticks. The liquid inside, commonly dibutyl phthalate, tastes extremely bitter. A pet that bites into one usually starts drooling heavily, foaming at the mouth, retching or vomiting straight away, which looks alarming. The liquid can also sting and hurt if it gets in the eyes, and swallowed pieces of plastic can cause a blockage.
If your pet bites a glow stick, wipe the liquid off its fur and mouth with a damp cloth. If any got in an eye, flush it gently with plenty of water. Then call your vet for advice. Keep glow sticks on children, not on pets, and pick up used ones afterward.
Jack-o’-lanterns, candles and decorations
- Lit pumpkins and candles. A wagging tail or a curious cat can knock over a candle and start a fire, and kittens can be singed by the flame. Battery-powered candles are a safer choice around pets.
- Old jack-o’-lanterns. Carved pumpkins start to rot within days. Moldy food can make pets ill, so throw out old pumpkins before your dog finds them.
- Cords and lights. Keep electrical cords from decorations out of reach, and do not leave them plugged in while you are out.
- Fake cobwebs, string and tinsel. Cats are drawn to string-like decorations, and swallowed string can cause serious intestinal damage.
- Fall bouquets. Autumn flower arrangements sometimes contain lilies, which can cause kidney failure in cats. Check our plant safety guide before bringing flowers home.
Costumes: comfort first
Some pets tolerate a costume and many do not. If you dress up your pet:
- Make sure it can move, see, hear, breathe, and bark or meow freely.
- Check for small pieces, buttons or elastic that could be chewed off and swallowed.
- Try it on a few days early, for a short time, with treats. Take it off if your pet freezes, tucks its tail, flattens its ears, hides or tries to rub it off.
- Never leave a pet alone in a costume.
A festive bandana or collar is often a better fit for pets that dislike being dressed. Human costume accessories, such as masks, wigs and small props, can also be a choking hazard if they end up on the floor.
Trick-or-treat night: the front door
The doorbell ringing all evening, strangers in masks and the door opening again and again can be very stressful, and every open door is a chance to bolt.
- Set up a quiet room away from the front door before trick-or-treaters arrive, with water, a bed, a toy or long-lasting chew, and the radio or TV on for background noise.
- Use a gate, a crate your pet is used to, or a leash if your pet stays near the door.
- Consider handing out candy outside, or turning off the doorbell and watching for visitors instead.
- Walk dogs before dark, and use a reflective collar and a secure leash if you go out during trick-or-treating.
- Keep cats indoors for the whole evening.
If your dog is generally afraid of noise, strangers or sudden sounds, our guide to fireworks and thunder fear has calming ideas that also help on busy nights.
ID tags and microchips
Before the evening, check that your pet wears a collar with an ID tag showing a current phone number, and that its microchip is registered with your up-to-date contact details. Have a recent photo on your phone. A frightened pet that slips out can run a long way, and ID is the fastest way to get it home.
A note on black cats
Black cats have a long association with Halloween and superstition, and stories about them being at special risk this time of year are widely shared. Whatever the truth behind them, the practical advice is the same for a cat of any color: keep it indoors on Halloween night, when there is more traffic, noise and activity outside. A black cat is just as good a companion as any other.
Sources
- ASPCA, Halloween Safety Tips
- ASPCA Animal Poison Control Center, People Foods to Avoid Feeding Your Pets
- Pet Poison Helpline, glow jewelry and glow sticks
- Merck Veterinary Manual, Xylitol Toxicosis in Dogs
- U.S. Food and Drug Administration, Paws Off Xylitol; It’s Dangerous for Dogs
This guide is general information and not a substitute for veterinary advice.