10/31/2025
Happy Halloween from New Horizons! 🦇🧙♀️
Today is a fun holiday, and costume-clad dogs can be very cute, but some of what makes Halloween so fun can also end up being scary for our pets.
Halloween Dangers
•Candy/Treats 🍫– Chocolate is the main culprit found in tonight’s delicious candy, but xylitol is a common sugar substitute that is highly toxic for our dogs. Make sure any treats are dog safe!
•Glow sticks 🧪– While it may look fun to chew on, ingesting these is obviously not safe. Although the liquid is less likely to cause issues, we don’t want a blockage from swallowing pieces.
•Jack-o-lanterns and candles 🎃 – An open flame and animals is probably self-explanatory but also make sure that dogs don’t have access to tasty pumpkins because even a small snack can upset their stomach. They’ll survive it, but your rugs might not!
•Anxiety 😨– The costumes, decorations, and influx of people can be startling for animals! Holidays like this see higher rates of lost pets after they’ve dashed out of the house or yard to escape the commotion. That’s something no one wants; however, as service dog trainers we also have to watch that our dogs aren’t feeling “only overwhelmed” but developing a fear that could affect their placement. Don’t force them to interact with anything they’re unsure about!
We hope everyone has a fun but safe time tonight with family and friends! Feel free to share any pet costumes, if you've gone that route, in the comments below. 🥸🤡🤠
