Halloween Can Be Scary for Dogs, Here Are Some Safety Tips From a Veterinarian

Halloween night is fast approaching, but the spooky fun can be scary for dogs.

Groups of strangers at your door—in costume—and constant doorbell ringing can spell a long night of stress for pets, an American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (ASPCA) veterinary expert tells Newsweek.

So what's the best thing to do when trick-or-treating gets underway?

"All but the most social dogs and cats should be kept in a separate room away from the front door during peak trick-or-treating hours," Dr. Lori Bierbrier, DVM, Senior Medical Director, ASPCA Community Medicine tells Newsweek.

"To distract from a frenzy of trick-or-treaters or if you're hosting guests, you can set your cat or dog up with their favorite toys (such as a delicious chew or food puzzle toy for dogs, and interactive toys for cats) away from all the chaos," she said. "This tactic can soothe energetic pets and those who are anxious around crowds of people or children."

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Weather permitting, consider standing outside your door during the trick-or-treat rush to minimize doorbell ringing and door knocking. If your dog is with you as you're handing out candy, be careful they don't dart outside and are microchipped before the big night.

Candy is another concern for dogs around Halloween. Two types of candy to especially watch out for are chocolate and xylitol, found in sugar-free candy. Both can be very dangerous for pets. Make sure candy is out of your dog's reach and don't forget about the stash in children's rooms.

"Kids love to stash candy in their rooms, but a dog's keen sense of smell will lead them to even the most cleverly hidden treasure," Bierbrier said.

Why is chocolate bad for dogs?

Chocolate contains caffeine and a chemical called theobromine, which acts like caffeine. If dogs ingest theobromine, it can cause hyperactivity or agitation, an increase in heart rate, muscle tremors and seizures.

Chocolate in all forms, but especially dark or baking chocolate, can be very dangerous. There is generally more theobromine in darker chocolate and nearly none found in white chocolate. The smaller your dog, the less chocolate it takes to cause an issue.

Signs of chocolate toxicity include: Vomiting, diarrhea, excessive thirst and urination, restlessness, high heart rate and seizures– a severe symptom that requires immediate attention.

If you suspect your dog has eaten something potentially toxic, contact your veterinarian immediately. You can also use this calculator to determine the level of toxicity based on the type of chocolate, amount consumed and dog's weight.