Halloween is a spook-tacular day that many of us enjoy and can celebrate by dressing up, hosting parties, and trick or treating.
However, for our pets, there are some dangers that we must be mindful of. There are many changes that occur during this holiday season which our pets will not be used to. On top of this, there are also plenty of toxic foods around this time of year they might accidently get hold of that can cause them harm.
Dangerous foods for cats and dogs
Halloween brings with it lots of tasty treats which can prove hazardous for our pets. Chocolate is particularly dangerous due to two of its main ingredients – caffeine and Xylitol.
Xylitol is a carbohydrate that can be found in birch trees and several types of fruit. It is used as a sweetener in many foods including peanut butter, sweets, and chocolate.
Peanut butter is a popular treat for dogs and can be used for enrichment items such as, Kongs and Lickimats, however, it is always important to check Xylitol is not on the ingredients list or buy dog peanut butter instead from your local pet shop. It may also be listed as wood sugar, birch sugar, and birch bark extract.
Xylitol poisoning can lead to low blood sugar, seizures, liver failure, and in some cases even death. Although not advisory for any of our pets, it appears to effect dogs the most.
Chocolate also has the toxic ingredient cocoa, which contains caffeine. Cocoa is highly hazardous and can poison our pets. The effect it has depends on how small they are, the breed and age of the dog/cat, and how much they have ingested.
Signs that your dog or cat has eaten cocoa
- Vomiting and/or diarrhoea
- Nausea
- Increased heart rate
- Increased blood pressure
- Agitation
- Restlessness
- Excessive thirst
- Excessive urination
- Fast breathing
- Panting (cats) – this is not usual behaviour for cats who rarely pant so can be an indication that something is wrong.
- Tremors – shaking
- Seizures
If your pet has eaten anything that contains Xylitol, cocoa, or caffeine it is important to contact your veterinary practice straight away.
As well as being toxic, sweets and chocolate also pose a choking hazard and can lead to potential blockages or bowel obstructions. It is important that you keep any sweets and chocolate – including any wrappers- where your pet can’t get to them.
If your pet eats a food wrapper, or any object that is not intended for them to ingest you should ring your veterinary practice.
Other foods to avoid
Dogs
Cats
Rabbits
- Onions
- Garlic
- Chives
- Macadamia nuts
- Corn on the cob
- Avocado
- Alcohol
- Grapes
- Raisins
- Bones
- Alcohol
- Grapes
- Raisins
- Milk and cheese – cats are lactose intolerant!
- Garlic
- Onions
- Leek
- Uncooked tomatoes
- Uncooked potatoes
- Raw meat, fish, and eggs
- Drinks such as, tea, coffee, energy drinks
- Avocado
- Kidney beans
- Soybeans
- Cabbage
- Grapes
- Iceberg lettuce
- Rhubarb
- Raw onions, leeks, and garlic
- Fruit seeds/pits
This is not an exhaustive list of dangerous foods and there are other foods that are toxic to your pets. Always ring your veterinary practice for advice if you think your pet may have eaten something they shouldn’t.
What to do if your pet has eaten any dangerous foods?
Both dogs and cats are opportunists, and if your pet eats any hazardous food, even a small amount can still be fatal, so it is crucial to seek veterinary advice immediately. It is important to remain as calm as possible as our pets can pick up if we are stressed.
Your vet will physically examine your pet and may induce vomiting to stop to toxins entering your pet’s body, but your vet will talk you through the best course of treatment.
Other ‘tricks’ for our pets at Halloween
Food is not the only danger at Halloween so we must be mindful of other hazards around our homes this time of year.
Glow sticks
Pets, in particular cats, love to chew and play with glow sticks so it is important to ensure they are not left lying around your home. If the liquid in the middle is eaten it can cause pain and irritation to the mouth, leading to excessive drooling, foaming of the mouth, gagging, and retching.
Costumes
Depending on your pet’s personality and what they have been exposed to in early life they may find all the Halloween costumes scary.
It is also important to be aware that although our pets look cute in costumes, they may not like it. If you do dress your pet in a costume, they should be fully comfortable around their handling. The costume should not impair their vision and allow them to be able to move and act as normal. Costumes with small parts should also be avoided due to being a choking hazard.
Some people choose to dye their pet’s fur, it is imperative that this is not done as it can result in poisoning, with the risk they ingest the dye when they groom themselves. Even if a dye is labelled as non-toxic for humans, this does not make it safe for our pets. As well as being poisonous, this is uncomfortable for our pets, and it is not good for their coat or skin.
Candles
At this time of year we tend to have candles around our homes. At Halloween we also have them in our pumpkins. Our pets do not always realise that they will be hot and may burn themselves. It is important to be particularly mindful of cats who may accidentally knock over a candle or brush against the flame in error.
When buying candles, it is also important to consider what scented candles and candle wax melts you are getting, as some contain toxic chemicals that can harm our pets.
How to make Halloween safer for your pet
During Halloween, our pet’s may face disruption to their usual routines, and there are extra hazards both in and outside of their home environment. As responsible pet owners it is important for us to implement precautions to keep our pets safe and secure during this busy period.
Dogs
Cats
Small animals
Take your dog for a walk early, before the streets fill with trick-or-treaters in potentially scary costumes that may upset them. This allows them to be safely home before the festivities begin. Extra noise and visitors may stress your dog, so create a safe space for them, such as a favorite spot or a cozy crate with bedding. Adding toys and enrichment items, like lickimats, Kongs, or snuffle mats, can provide comfort. Playing the TV or radio can help mask outside noise—Classical FM or reggae music may be particularly calming.
Calming scents, like Pet Remedy products, can also soothe your dog. Use the spray on blankets or a plug-in diffuser in their space. If hosting a party, ensure your dog has a private, quiet area where they feel comfortable.
Make sure your dog is microchipped and wearing a collar with an ID tag, as it’s required by law. This is especially important around Halloween when dogs may be spooked and try to run away. Keeping their information up-to-date ensures a safe reunion if they get lost.
If your cat goes outside, consider keeping them indoors during Halloween for safety, as long as it doesn’t cause stress. Providing a safe space can help your cat feel secure—this could be a quiet area where they can rest, eat, or retreat when scared. Ensure it’s a space where they can be undisturbed.
Extra noise from the street or visitors may cause anxiety, so playing the TV or radio can help mask outside sounds. Classical FM can be calming. Calming scents like Pet Remedy or Feliway can also help. These products come as sprays for blankets or plug-ins for areas your cat frequents.
As of June 2024, microchipping for cats is required by law, with fines for non-compliance. It’s also advisable to use a quick-release collar for added safety. Since a cat’s instinct is to flee from danger, ensuring they are microchipped and have proper ID is important in case they become frightened and run off, especially during Halloween.
As discussed previously with our pet cats and dogs, many human foods around the house are also toxic to our rabbits, guinea pigs or other rodents (see above list) so you must ensure they are inaccessible to your smaller pets.
During Halloween season it is likely to be colder and more noisy outdoors. Therefore, if possible, bring your small animals indoors where it will be both safe and quiet.
You can also place a blanket over your small animal’s enclosure to make them feel safe and secure.
Small animals are particularly sensitive to loud noises. For our indoor rabbits or rodents, if you are hosting a party, it would be beneficial to ensure your small animal enclosure is in a separate room with enrichment items. This will ensure they are somewhere safe, where there is minimal noise and disruption for them.
‘Treat’ your pet at Halloween
Although there are many dangers you can still choose ‘treat’ and celebrate with your pet by making them a toy or a treat. See the below guides for inspiration!
Did you know that rabbits and some rodents can eat pumpkin?
- Gerbils – can eat pumpkin and seeds
- Rabbits can have both the flesh and skin of the pumpkin
- Rats, mice, and hamsters – can eat pumpkin and seeds
If your pet is one of the above species, why not treat them by giving them some pumpkin? Please note it is important to only give this to them in moderation and a small amount. You should not give your small animal pumpkin if mouldy as this can make them sick.
*Degus, chinchillas, and Guineapigs should NOT be fed any pumpkin or pumpkin seeds! *
