Corner Brook -
While being spooked out is expected and accepted as a fun part of Halloween for humans, the occasion can cause real fear and unpredictable behaviour in some pets.
Making Halloween enjoyable for your pet shouldn't be too tricky, according to LeeAnn O'Reilly of Corner Brook.
The president of the Dog Legislation Council of Canada said poorly socialized dogs, for instance, can feel threatened and exhibit aggression when they have to unexpectedly contend with the steady flow of wildly dressed and excited kids which epitomizes the Halloween experience.
"Think about it - dark clothes, clothes which add bulk to the human and a huge bag swung on the shoulder can all be intimidating," said O'Reilly. "For territorial aggression issues, the entrance of people or other animals not known by the dog can be a threat. It's the same premise with kids dressed as scary monsters or dainty fairies - they are, to a dog, bizarre and unknown. The bag of treats is much like the mail carrier's bag - only this time, the bag is thrust towards the owner, generally in the dark."
Dogs which have been properly trained and socialized with children are more apt to be desensitized to the heightened activity on Halloween night, but O'Reilly said even the most sociable of dogs can become overwhelmed by the onslaught of "intruders."
Aggression isn't the only issue to beware of. Overwhelmed dogs may also experience physical ailments like bloat if they are fed too early before or too soon after a busy trick-or-treating period.
"Gastric torsion, or bloat, is a life-threatening condition where the stomach actually flips over onto itself and stops all blood flow into the gut," explained O'Reilly. "Many factors can lead to bloat- stress, heavy exercise, fear can all be contributing factors. The general rule of thumb is no food for at least an hour after heavy exercise or stressful events or two hours before."
Another way to avoid stress is to exercise the dog during daylight hours, so it doesn't have to be concerned with the legions of ghosts and goblins gallivanting around in the dark.
Some people go the extra step and actually dress up their pets in costume. Besides supervising costumed animals at all times to ensure they are comfortable, O'Reilly said there are other things to consider beforehand. She urged owners to watch out for materials which might be toxic if ingested, or which could be choked on or cause bowel blockages.
"Many costumes have ties which, if caught in fences or accidentally twisted, can injure a dog quite easily," said O'Reilly. "You should look for Velcro closures on costumes and avoid ties of any sort.
"Also, the cute wings we attach or the devil horns all can be frightening to the dog that has not come to know them as their own body parts and can cause the dog to be frightened or uncertain."
Halloween tips:
- Avoid costumes made for humans. Pet-specific costumes are readily available and generally provide safer alternatives which are just as fun.
- Practice putting the costume on to observe the pet's comfort level and the durability of the costume.
- Supervise your pet at all times when a costume is on.
- Now is not the time for introducing your dog to kids. Kindly discourage any meet and greets.
- Avoid off leash romping since small children can behave unexpectedly in their pursuit of goodies.
- Make sure your dog is safely contained away from open doors or windows. After all, food is being handed out to small children your dog may not know and a quick escape is always possible.
- Make sure your goody bowl isn't easily accessed by your pet. Many treats pose a threat to choking or are toxic when ingested.
Source: Dog Legislation Council of Canada
