With Halloween just around the corner, Petmania, Ireland’s leading specialist retailer store are urging pet parents to make this time of year better for their pets. Here are some practical top tips for looking after pets during this explosive holiday!
1. The safest place for pets is indoors, in a quiet, calm space, away from the doorbell and visiting trick-or-treaters. When a firework is set off it only takes one for pets to run away with fear. A lot of pets go missing at this time of year.
2. Combine fashion and function and dress your pet in a comfortable and reflective costume. However, if your pet looks unhappy, don’t persist. They can also be kept visible with reflective collars and leads.
3. Keep the sweets and chocolate for the trick-or-treaters. They can be fatal to your pet so consider this while dishing them out.
4. Candles and lanterns can easily get knocked over by an excited pet. Keep them out of reach or choose a battery-operated version instead.
5. Trick-or-treaters on Halloween night can scare pets, so ensure that they don’t have free access to the door while it’s open. Using a baby gate ensures that your pet cannot escape when the door is answered.
6. “Dogs are very noise sensitive and this time of year can be very traumatic for them. A fully trained behaviourist can assist with positive counter-conditioning and desensitisation which will help dogs to deal with noise sensitivity. However, this takes time and should not be started close to Halloween” - Dawn Greer, Agility Trainer.
There are also a range of products available to make the fireworks period a little easier and safer for pets:
1. Check ID tags to make sure they are secure and correct. This helps missing pets to be brought home safely if they get spooked and run away.
2. Pheromone plug ins and collars such as Adaptil have helped many pets to become calmer when stressed. However, it is not a miracle cure.
3. Thunder shirt or Karma Wrap will work on pressure points on a dog which simulates a hug and has a reassuring effect on the dog.
4. An unlocked, quiet, comfortable, and dark dog crate with a crate cover provides dogs with a safe place to go if they become stressed.
5. Toys stuffed with food or playing with dogs is often a helpful distraction.
Petmania are Ireland’s leading pet experts with 12 stores nationwide. See www.petmania.ie for more information.
