From Halloween candy and ill-fitting costumes to glow sticks and ringing doorbells, Oct. 31 can quickly turn into a nightmare for dogs if we aren't prepared
How to Keep Your Dog Safe on Halloween
Published on Oct. 24, 2024
Halloween means spooky good fun for humans, but it can be frightfully dangerous for dogs. I hadn’t given it much thought until my dog Rio’s first Halloween, when I dressed him in a Spider-Man costume and took him trick-or-treating with my best friend and her little kids. Rio seemed delighted by all the children stopping to pet him or pose for photos with him. Neighbors in one house even offered him a dog treat.
But our festive outing almost morphed into a horror film when Rio lunged for a half-eaten chocolate bar on the sidewalk. I yanked him back in time, but I suddenly felt claustrophobic about the crush of kids with candy. Some houses had bowls of Halloween candy on the porch that my dog could easily reach. I decided to take Rio home before it got too dark to see—and avoid—other sugary contraband that might send him to the ER.
Because I went on to become a pet journalist, I now know that Rio isn’t the only dog to turn a tad devilish on Halloween. Each year on Oct. 31, calls to the ASPCA’s Animal Poison Control Center (APCC) spike, according to Laura Stern, DVM, DAVBT, DABT, associate medical director at the APCC.
“Fortunately, some of these calls can be handled safely at home,” Dr. Stern says. “For example, glow sticks are very important to keep trick-or-treaters safe at night. However, because these glow sticks are in our pets’ environment on Halloween, we see [a more than] 1,000% increase in calls about pets biting into glow sticks and glow jewelry.”
Eating things they shouldn’t is a common dog behavior, and it isn’t the only trouble Halloween can scare up for dogs. To learn about potential pitfalls and how to keep dogs safe on Halloween, read on.
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What are the biggest dangers to dogs on Halloween?
Many dogs wind up in the emergency room on Halloween or the day after due to holiday hazards. But there are things we can do to avoid this, according to Melissa Magnuson, DVM, owner and medical director of Canobie Lake Veterinary Hospital, a New Hampshire practice that was recently named 2024 AAHA-Accredited Practice of the Year by the American Animal Hospital Association.
The following items pose the greatest risk to pups on the spookiest night of the year.
Halloween candy
Ingesting lots of sugar can cause vomiting and diarrhea in dogs. “Because candy is very rich, it can sometimes cause an inflammation of the pancreas in dogs as well,” says Dr. Stern. “Be sure to keep the bowl of candy for trick-or-treaters out of reach of pets, and ensure that kids’ candy stashes after a full night of fun are out of reach. This might be a good excuse to put candy up and away to help prevent upset tummies in kids too.”
Sugar isn’t the only issue for dogs, Dr. Magnuson points out. Remember, our four-legged friends can’t open packages to get to the good stuff; they’ll scarf down the entire thing, wrappers and all. “If they happen to eat a lot of candy, the candy wrappers can cause an issue like a GI obstruction,” she warns.
Chocolate
When it comes to foods dogs can’t eat, chocolate is high on the list. “If chocolate is ingested at the right amount, it can cause toxicity,” says Dr. Magnuson, adding that dark chocolate is the most dangerous.
While it’s common for pets to get into chocolate at any time of year, the APCC sees a 300% increase in hotline calls about pets eating chocolate on Halloween, according to Dr. Stern. “If enough chocolate is eaten, we can see stomach upset, high heart rate, hyperactivity and seizures,” she says.
Xylitol
The sugar substitute xylitol, found in sugar-free candy and gum, is highly toxic to dogs. “Just one stick of gum containing xylitol can kill an 85-pound Lab,” Dr. Magnuson cautions.
Because xylitol causes liver failure, she recommends being very careful about checking labels to make sure a dog has not ingested a product with xylitol. If it has, head to an emergency animal hospital immediately.
Raisins
Raisins also rank high on the list of dangerous items dogs shouldn’t eat. As kids, my brother and I didn’t exactly rejoice when well-meaning neighbors gave boxes of raisins to trick-or-treaters as a healthy alternative to candy. We’d typically pull them out of our cherished candy bags as soon as possible. But make sure they wind up in a cupboard and not your dog’s stomach.
“Raisins are very toxic to dogs,” cautions Dr. Magnuson. “Just a handful can be deadly.”
Glow sticks
Glow sticks contain a substance called dibutyl phthalate, which sounds scary but isn’t expected to cause serious health issues for dogs, according to Dr. Stern. The most serious symptoms are drooling and stomach upset due to the bitter taste.
“Giving pets a small treat, like a spoonful of canned food, takes care of the bad taste and resolves the signs,” she says. “One fun tip, if your dog does bite into a glow stick, is to take them into a dark room and wipe down any areas that glow with a damp cloth to prevent them from licking this off and starting the taste reaction all over again.”
Pet costumes
It’s hard for me to resist dressing my dogs in Halloween costumes. This year, my little black dog, Tux, will wear a tiny alien spaceship on his back, seemingly suspended in space. It will last for about five minutes to amuse the neighbors and myself, while I take photos to send to friends and family.
But dogs should never be left unattended in costumes because they can chew off metal snaps or other tiny details. We also need to be sure they can breathe, see and move in their Halloween outfits, warns Dr. Magnuson, who is not a fan of pet costumes because of her experiences as a veterinarian.
“I have seen dogs and cats be strangled by costumes, and I have also seen dogs ingest their costumes. Please watch your pet closely and make sure they are not stressed or eating their costume so they are not injured,” she says. “If you must dress up your pet, dress them up, take photos and then take off [the costume]. Most don’t like to trick-or-treat anyway.”
Decorations
Decorative spider webs are very dangerous to dogs who eat them because they can cause gastrointestinal issues like an obstruction that must be removed surgically. “Any stringy items are very dangerous because string-like items have a large difficulty passing,” Dr. Magnuson says.
Additionally, if your Halloween decorations involve lights or anything with a cord, be aware that pets might chew on them too.
Jack-o’-lanterns
The first time my husband and I carved pumpkins with our dogs, Rio and Peach, both dogs snuck bites of the raw pumpkin—and decided to chomp on our jack-o’-lanterns whenever they passed by. The cute cat face I’d carved soon looked deformed, so I tossed it in the compost bin.
While pumpkin is not toxic to dogs, raw pumpkin can be an issue because it’s not very digestible and can cause an obstruction if a dog eats a big chunk, according to Dr. Magnuson. Plus, eating a lot of pumpkin can cause diarrhea due to the high fiber content. “Feeding cooked pumpkin is a much better idea,” she says.
And speaking of pumpkins: Lit candles are another hazard, especially if your dog has long fur. “I have seen this too: pets burning due to getting too close to the jack-o’-lantern.” If you’re lighting up your pumpkin creations, make sure they’re out of reach of your pets.
Colorful dyes
Sure, it might be amusing to see photos of yellow Labs dyed with black spots to look like Dalmatians or adorable puppies with bright pink ears and paws. But Dr. Magnuson doesn’t recommend dyeing your dog’s fur because over-the-counter dyes are typically dangerous for pets.
“You may say, ‘I dye my hair, and it’s fine!’ But you do not lick your hair all day long and ingest chemicals,” Dr. Magnuson says. “Some dyes are vegetable based, but you must still be very careful to make sure nothing toxic is in the dye or can bother the eyes, mouth or skin.”
| ♦ Pro tip |
| In a poison-related emergency, call the ASPCA’s Animal Poison Control Center at 888-426-4435. |
How can you keep your dog safe on Halloween?
In addition to avoiding the previously mentioned pitfalls, we can keep our dogs safe on Halloween by recognizing that they can be stressed by the loud music (and screams), flashing lights, frightening costumes and constantly ringing doorbell. Even dogs who aren’t normally escape artists might bolt through an open door or gate on Halloween.
“Repeated doorbells can be very disturbing for your dog, especially if they do not like doorbells normally,” Dr. Magnuson says. “Plan ahead: Move your festivities outside so the doorbell does not need to be used, or put your dog in a safe, quiet place with another family member during this time.”
It’s always smart to make sure our pets are microchipped and that our contact information is up to date with the microchip registry (such as PetLink or AKC Reunite)—particularly before holidays, like Halloween, when pets run away and land in shelters. Last year, the nonprofit Human Animal Support Services analyzed shelter data and found microchipped pets are three times more likely to be reunited with their families.
“ID tags are a good idea too, but keeping your pet somewhere they cannot escape is the best option,” Dr. Magnuson says. “Keeping them with a loved one is ideal.”
Be sure to pay attention to your dog’s facial expressions to make sure it’s not showing any signs of stress. Playing soothing piano music or reggae can help your pup relax too.
What else should you keep in mind about this holiday?
It’s important to remember that dogs don’t typically see their humans—both adults and children—wearing costumes, Dr. Magnuson notes. “This can be very scary for our pets and cause them to be afraid or even bite or snap if startled by a ‘new look,'” she says. So she recommends letting your pet get used to your costume by putting it on repeatedly in the weeks and days leading up to Halloween.
While trick-or-treating as a family can be fun, only take dogs that are used to such stimulating activities. As Dr. Magnuson points out, scary costumes, strangers, loud sounds and bright lights can be overwhelming for most pets, and the stress might lead anxious dogs to bite.
With all the children potentially reaching out to touch dogs’ heads or grab their tails, consider the fact that everyone might be safer—and happier—if your dog spends Halloween at home with a friend or family member. “Staying home avoids almost all of the potential issues and keeps your pocketbook safer too,” she says. “You don’t need to go to the vet.”
Personally, I’m looking forward to spending Oct. 31 snuggling with my dog while my husband and I watch our favorite Halloween movies. However you plan to celebrate, I hope you and your pets have a safe and happy Halloween!
About the experts
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Why trust us
At Reader’s Digest, we’re committed to producing high-quality content by writers with expertise and experience in their field in consultation with relevant, qualified experts. For this piece, Jen Reeder tapped her experience as a longtime pet journalist, the former president of the Dog Writers Association of America and a dog owner. We rely on reputable primary sources, including government and professional organizations and academic institutions as well as our writers’ personal experiences where appropriate. We verify all facts and data, back them with credible sourcing and revisit them over time to ensure they remain accurate and up to date. Read more about our team, our contributors and our editorial policies.
Sources:
- Melissa Magnuson, DVM, owner and medical director of three animal hospitals, including the 2024 AAHA-Accredited Practice of the Year, Canobie Lake Veterinary Hospital in Windham, New Hampshire; email interview, Oct. 19, 2024
- Laura Stern, DVM, DAVBT, DABT, associate medical director of the ASPCA Animal Poison Control Center; email interview, Oct. 18, 2024
- Human Animal Support Services: “Microchipped Pets are Three Times More Likely to Get Home”
