Most of us want to involve our pets in all of the action and
excitement of our lives; but it’s not always so great for our pets.
Consider Halloween. Consider it from a pet’s perspective, to be
specific: the doorbell ringing repeatedly; a parade of yelling
sugar-fueled “creatures” behind the door; toxic chocolate to find;
decorations to get tangled up in; and how about the dreaded pet costume?
(OK, I understand that not all pets are shamed by costumes, but I just
keep thinking of my daughters’ dog Winky and his look of abject misery
when the doggie witch costume comes out of the closet.)
It’s important to keep your pets safe this Halloween by thinking
around the holiday excitement, and being aware of the little
catastrophes lurking in the night. Here’s a round-up of tips from animal
protection groups compiled by consumeraffairs.org:

• Don’t give Halloween candy to dogs and cats. Candy can be harmful to
  pets and chocolate is toxic to dogs, cats, and ferrets. Candies that
  have the artificial sweetener xylitol can also be poisonous to dogs–even
  small amounts can cause a sudden drop in blood sugar and lead to
  depression, lack of coordination and seizures. Symptoms of chocolate
  ingestion can include vomiting, diarrhea, hyperactivity, and increased
  thirst, urination and heart rate, and even seizures. See 10 Foods Poisonous to Pets for more information.

• Avoid putting costumes on pets. Many dogs and cats don’t like
  costumes, and some can confine or restrict their movements. If you do
  dress up your pet, make sure the costume doesn’t impair their movement,
  hearing, sight or ability to breathe or bark. Also check the costume for
  any choking hazards. A safer alternative is a simple Halloween
  bandanna.