Large, moving, or noisy decorations can be very stressful for some dogs. If yours begins to show signs of stress, limiting these interactions with your dog and making sure you have decorations your furry family members approve of is important! Decorating part of your home and restricting access to these areas, as well as keeping the volume turned down are simple ways to keep your dog happy and calm this Halloween. Small, loose decorations like plastic spiders, squishy eyeballs, or cobwebs can be dangerous for your pet to swallow or a choking hazard, therefore keeping these decorations off and away from the ground is necessary. If your pet reacts particularly anxiously when trick-or-treaters knock on your door, you might want to discuss the steps you can take to aid your pet when they become frightened with your veterinarian. Costumes for your dogs may also make them uncomfortable, so if a costume is restricting your dog or they’re showing signs of distress, we encourage you to not force them to wear it. Take the photo and move on, so they can enjoy Halloween too! Masks and any costume that interferes with your pet's ability to see, hear, breathe, move, or open its mouth should be avoided, and you should never leave your pet unattended while they’re dressed up. If your pet likes to dress up, watch out for any loose parts or dangling decorations that could be bitten off and pose a choking hazard. The removal of costume accessories that wind up in your pets' stomachs may require surgery.