MYTH. Halloween costumes are fun for everyone. Even some humans find costumes creepy, so it’s no surprise some dogs do, too. Costumes can be frightening or stressful for your pooch. It’s not a bad idea to keep your dog safely inside and away from the trick-or-treaters on Halloween night.
MYTH. Raw pumpkin is always good for pets. Pumpkin can be used to treat diarrhea or constipation with your vet’s guidance, but keep your dog away from your old, moldy Halloween pumpkins or chunks of pumpkin that may cause blockages. Fresh, raw pumpkin can be hard to digest, so a few tablespoons of cooked or canned pumpkin puree is a better option. Never give pumpkin pie filling, which is full of salt and sweeteners.
MYTH. Black cats and dogs are bad luck. Black cats and black dogs appear in a number of historical myths as bad omens, which may have led to this baseless superstition. In October its much harder to adopt out a black cat or black dog. So if you see one up for adoption share that precious babies profile so someone out there that isn’t superstitious can gain a wonderful new fur baby
MYTH – MAYBE? Dogs and cats see ghosts. Sure, your pet can pick up sounds and smells that you can’t. But until science agrees that ghosts exist, we can’t assume our pets are seeing them. Dogs and cats do have incredible senses, however. Dogs can be trained to detect the early signs of seizures, and can detect cancer and even COVID-19.
MYTH. All pets like to be dressed up for holidays. This one we need to call out as false, since individual cats and dogs have unique personalities and temperaments. Make sure costumes are comfortable, safe, and supervised. Keep them on your pet ONLY if they are relaxed and seem to enjoy them.
MYTH. A howling dog means death is near. Dogs howl for lots of reasons. They want to say Hi! or get your attention or even tell you they’re anxious. Howling dogs can add a spooky feel to Halloween night, but they are NOT summoning the Grim Reaper.
