Just as we like to get dressed up in a costume for Halloween, it can be very tempting to put our pets in something too. Social media is littered with videos and posts of tiny dogs dressed as pumpkins, serial killers, hot dogs, and more. It may seem completely innocent but putting your pet in an outfit could be detrimental to their health.
According to Everypaw Pet Insurance, searches for ‘DIY dog Halloween costume’ have risen by 467 per cent in the last three months, while searches for ‘pet Halloween costume’ have increased by 555 per cent in that same time.
Dr Anna Foreman, Everypaw’s in-house vet, has now issued an urgent warning for pet owners after several dangerous DIY dog fancy dress costumes have gone viral on TikTok. In one video, which has had more than 2.1 million views, two dogs are attached to each other by a slinky and unable to move independently.
The veterinarian believes that the spring component could even strangle one of the dogs, while the other will be unable to sit down, which is one of its ‘five welfare freedoms’, along with being able to lie down, turn around, stretch, and be able to groom.
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While making costumes for your pet may seem like a fun idea, if you’re desperate to put them in an outfit be sure to buy one from a reputable seller as they are more likely to have been tested and will not contain anything toxic to the animal.
In addition to DIY costumes causing dogs and cats harm, another popular trend is to paint or dye animals’ fur, which the vet also advises against. She told The Mirror: “I personally do not agree with painting, dying or otherwise colouring a pet’s fur. There is no situation where dying a pet’s fur is benefiting the animal themselves – it is purely benefiting us for aesthetic purposes.”
Addressing the potential problems, Dr Anna revealed: “There is a risk of toxicity from inappropriate product use - human hair colourants and paints, including ‘non-toxic’ kids paint, should be avoided as they are toxic if ingested and can harm the skin. Also, if skin is broken, dyes should be avoided as they can lead to infection. Water, shampoo, or dye in a dog’s eyes, or on any of their orifices could be a problem as mucosal junctions tend to be very sensitive.”
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If you do go ahead with painting or dyeing your dog’s fur, the vet recommends looking out for any signs they’re not happy, such as fear, anxiety, or aggression.
She added: “Although a lot of owners see no harm in animals wearing costumes for Halloween, many show signs of distress that owners are not attuned to. The danger of ignoring an animal showing subtle signs of distress is that they may escalate this behaviour very quickly to aggression if they are being ignored.
“When animals become distressed they tend to exhibit the ‘fight’ or ‘flight’ response. If animals become stressed in a costume, there is the risk that they may exhibit the ‘flight’ response and run away, which is particularly dangerous if they are outside.
“Pets may also injure themselves trying to get out of clothing – for example, cats and dogs can get neckwear stuck in their mouth, which can cause jaw and tooth injuries, they can seriously injure a limb or their head if they get a leg stuck in a costume and lose their balance. If an animal gets an outfit stuck over their head they may asphyxiate themselves if it is not a breathable material.”
Another area of concern is that by triggering an animal’s ‘fight or flight’ response, they could become aggressive towards you and others. Advising on what to look out for, Dr Anna explained: “Looking at the ‘ladder of aggression’, they may start by licking their nose or lips, yawning and turning away, but this can turn quickly into growling, snapping and biting. Owners tend not to be attuned to these early signs of distress, which is why many animals have to resort to the later signs to get the message across.”
For anyone desperate to enjoy Halloween with their pooch, Dr Anna recommends: “Take your dog for an autumnal walk – this is guaranteed to be the thing they will enjoy the most, far more than a party or being dressed up.”
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