Halloween has become a treat not only in the US, but globally. However, for our pets, Halloween can be a scary time. FOUR PAWS gives tips on how to make it less stressful for your pet.

Treats that are not healthy

Trick-or-treating is one of the best things about Halloween. But beware, many of these treats are a serious risk to pets. Chocolate, even small amounts, can be deadly for dogs and cats. Candy should be kept out of reach for pets at all times. 

Deadly Decor

Cats are especially sensitive to any changes when it comes to their home and may either shy away, investigate or play with some items that may be hazardous. Halloween decorations, such as candles, pumpkins and ghostly decor when ingested or played with could pose a danger to pets in the home. 

A solution would be to choose wisely what to put inside your house where your pets have access. Also placing decor high may keep it out of the reach of playful paws. Or perhaps keep your pets out of room where you decide to fully decorate. 

Door Dash

When Halloween night comes around, the constant ringing of doorbells are disturbing to most pets, especially for dogs. A door constantly opening and closing could be an opportunity for a pet to run outside. You can try keeping your pets in a secluded room, where less noise reaches them. Keeping the visual contact low also has benefits. It can be helpful to have music on in the room your pets are in and at a low volume; to cover up some of the outside noise.

Costumes for pets? Not a good idea

We all know that a dog looks adorable dressed up as a teddy bear! Unfortunately, there are harmful accessories for pets. It is strongly discouraged to dress up dogs and other animals. Depending on the costume, not only is the freedom of movement of the animals restricted, but the communication of body language is also prevented. Dogs communicate their feelings through the position of their ears, the position of their tail, their posture and their eyes. If these means of communication are concealed by costumes, our companions are deprived of any possibility of species-appropriate communication. The costume can also cause stress in the animals, especially if there are parts of the disguise that flutter around, for example.  

Dog clothing can also cause skin problems because the materials can rub against the animals' skin. The most common disease that causes this is atopic dermatitis, a skin disease that can be caused by allergic reactions.

For this recipe, two foods highly beneficial to cats are included: carrot and pumpkin. These homemade goodies are also perfect for cats that usually consume a lot of meat and a lower percentage of fruits and vegetables.

Ingredients

• 2 cups of brown rice flour
• 1/2 cup of uncooked oatmeal
• 4.5- 5 ounces of canned pumpkin
• 1/2 cup of grated carrots
• 1/2 cup of unsweetened plain applesauce
• 1/2 cup of brown rice flour for rolling

Preparation

1. Preheat oven to 350°F.
2. Blend pumpkin, applesauce, and carrots in food processor until smooth.
3. Mix brown rice flour and oatmeal in a bowl.
4. Add wet ingredients to the dry and mix by hand until dough forms.
5. On a floured counter-top or cutting board, roll dough to thin layer.
6. Use cookie cutter to form cute shapes or cut into small squares.
7. Bake for 7 minutes. Flip treats over and bake for another 5 minutes.
8. Remove from oven and cool thoroughly.