Sweets and treats that make Halloween fun for humans can cause health problems in dogs. The food listed below should never be given to your dog.

Do not feed your dog the following:

• Chocolate (white chocolate, milk chocolate, baker's chocolate, etc.)
• Caffeine (soda, coffee, tea)
• Alcohol
• Avocado
• Macadamia Nuts (including cookies and treats that contain macadamia nuts)
• Grapes
• Raisons
• Onions (raw, cooked, minced and powder)
• Garlic (raw, cooked, minced and powder)
• Chives
• Mushrooms
• Milk
• Salt
• "Sugar-Free" candy and gum that contain Xylitol (3 Grams can kill a 65-pound dog)
• Toothpaste (may also contain Xylitol)
• Peach and Plum Pits
• Stringy Vegetables (green beans, celery - strings can get trapped in digestive system)
• Cooked meat bones (chicken, turkey)

Learn more about harmful foods for dogs.

ASPCA Poison Control Hotline at 1-888-426-4435 - Available 24x7, $60 dollar service fee.

Dressing up your dog takes practice and patience. Most dogs are not used to wearing pet costumes so please be patient with your dog if he is resistant initially. If you get frustrated, he will get even more stressed. Stay calm and make it a fun and rewarding experience and your dog will learn to enjoy wearing fun apparel as much as we do! Below are a few more tips to find the right costume and fit for your dog.

• Dogs should wear costumes made of lightweight material in warm weather (example: cotton T-shirt, polyester)
• Dog costumes should be heavier in cold weather (examples: fleece, cotton sweatshirt, knit sweater)
• Make sure that your dog can walk, sit and lay down comfortably
• A dog's Halloween Costume should not contain dangling or noise-making pieces that are tempting to chew
• Apparel with reflective stripes or other embellishments are ideal for use when walking at night so that passing cars are sure to see you (of course, this is not as important on Halloween Night if you are walking in populated areas)

Keep an Eye on your Dog's Body Language around Elaborate Halloween Costumes
Some dogs can be nervous or frightened by halloween costumes, eou ven when worn by friends and family members they know and love. Dogs form associations with every sight, sound and smell. If your dog has had a negative experience with something in the past that he's reminded of by a halloween costume, his reaction may be fearful or even aggressive.

Don't worry though! Avoiding potentially threatening situations and preventing a dangerous reaction is very easy. Simply follow the safety tips below if they apply to your situation. Then you can safely share the spooky fun with your dog!

Dogs at a Higher Risk for Fearful or Aggressive Reactions to Halloween Costumes

• History Unknown - Your dog lived with someone else for more than 2-3 months and you do not know the people or the environment he came from (you can generally exclude the first 7-8 weeks of puppy hood unless you know he came from a Puppy Mill or otherwise horrible conditions early in life).
• History of Abuse or Neglect - You know your dog was abused or neglected by his previous owners.
• Often Unsupervised, Possibly Experiencing Cruel "Playground" Antics - Your dog is often left unsupervised outside and there are kids and teenagers walking by regularly who may have teased and taunted him. (This is hard to imagine for those of us who adore dogs but it does happen. It's too bad your dog cannot come in and tell you!)

If your dog meets any of the higher risk factors, please review our dog body language chart so you can better recognize signs that your dog is responding negatively to a costume.

If you see him getting anxious, fearful or dominant, you need to do something immediately. Either attach him to a leash and keep him out of the reach of others, put him in a crate or in a separate room. Dogs can move incredibly fast so you want to act BEFORE he gets to the aggressive stage.

An Ounce of Prevention is Worth a Pound of Cure! For many, late October is wonderful weather for dogs - not too cold, not too hot. However, if you expect extreme weather, please take appropriate safety measures.

• Protect your dog's paws from hot pavement, cold sidewalks and icy steps
• Carry an extra water bottle for your dog, especially in hot weather
• Dogs won't melt in the rain but if you prefer your home to smell like Pumpkin Pie, Cinnamon and Spices instead of "Wet Dog" then a raincoat is highly recommended.