Dressing Your Dog Up For Halloween? Follow These Safety Tips From the ASPCA

Halloween 2013 is just around the corner and for many pet owners that means picking out the perfect outfit for their dog or cat. While your pooch might look amusing or adorable dressed as a superhero or hot dog, there are some safety concerns that should be understood and followed.

Many supporters of the ASPCA wrote in to ask “are Halloween costumes really okay for our furry friends?” and in general the answer is yes, but only if proper safety precautions are followed.

The animal rights and safety group received advice from both vets and behaviorists on the subject of pet Halloween costumes. They agree that it is fine to let them show off a new look, but only in comfortable gear.

Here are three tips that should keep your furry four-legged friend safe and happy on Halloween:

Your pet’s Halloween garb shouldn’t constrict his movement or hearing, or impede his ability to breathe, bark or meow. Be sure to try on costumes well in advance—and if your furry friend seems distressed, try switching to his birthday suit.

Examine your pet’s costume and make sure it doesn’t have any small, dangling or easily chewed-off pieces that he could choke on. Also, ill-fitting outfits can get caught on external objects or your pet, leading to injury.

Make sure your dog or cat has proper identification on underneath that cute costume. If for any reason your pet escapes and becomes lost during Halloween festivities, tags or a microchip can be a lifesaver.

So go ahead and turn your Shi Tzu into a cat for the night, sure he might hate you in the morning, but he or she will get plenty of “ahh cute” comments on October 31.

Do you plan on dressing your dog up for Halloween? What costume have you picked out for your four-legged friend?