Think twice before dressing your pet up in a Halloween costume and definitely don’t let him near the Halloween candy bowl.

With all its thrills and tricks, Halloween can be dangerous for pets.

“This Halloween, experts in Angell Animal Medical Center in Boston, one of the world’s busiest 24/7 emergency and specialty veterinary hospitals, with more than 100,000 animals treated annually, are highlighting potential problems for pets and how owners can keep them safe and happy,” a news release from the MSPCA (Massachusetts Society for the Prevention and Cruelty to Animals) said.

Here are three tips to keep your pets safe.

Don’t let your dog (or cat) drink chocolate

Chocolate It is notoriously bad for dogs and cats.

“Chocolate contains caffeine and theobromine, which are harmful to dogs and cats,” Dr. Kiko Bracker, director of Angell’s Emergencies and critical care team, he said in a statement. “If they eat too much, chocolate can even be deadly.”

Bracker added that Dark chocolate is more dangerous than milk chocolate.but both are a threat.

“He the chocolate is more bittermore dangerous it is, but it’s important to keep all types of chocolate away from your pets this Halloween and if they eat it, call the animal poison control hotline, your veterinarian or an emergency department like ours,” Bracker said. . .

MSCPA-Angel has 24/7 emergency services available at Boston and Waltham.

Make sure your pet’s Halloween costume is loose-fitting

He MSPCA-Angel He stated that costumes can make it difficult for pets to breathe or see.

“Humans may find pets in costumes entertaining, but the vast majority of our animals would prefer to give up dressing up.” bracker he stated in a statement. “However, if you choose to dress up your pet, ask yourself a couple of things before deciding on a costume.

“First of all, is the costume loose enough for them to breathe, regardless of how and where they move? Even if the costume looks like it fits well, it may be loose enough or have fabric that can catch on furniture, which would also hurt your pet.”

Give pets a chance to acclimate to your costume.

He MSPCA He stated that pets can also be afraid of humans in costumes, which can make the animals nervous.

“There are many things that can make our dogs and cats afraid on Halloween, including our own costumes.” Aidan WilkieMSPCA-Angel coordinator dog training in Methuen and Waltham, according to a release.

“If you plan to dress up, we recommend preparing the costumes before wearing them, which will allow dogs and cats to become familiar with the outfits through smell and sight.”

Be careful when opening the door to trick-or-treat

Those masks people wear on Halloween can be scary for a pet, so you’ll want to be careful when opening the door so they don’t escape.

“If they’re experiencing stress or anxiety with all the activity, they may run out when you open the door to greet trick-or-treaters, so it’s also important to make sure pets are microchipped and that the information is accurate and up-to-date. . to date,” wilkie fixed.

This article originally appeared on Wickedlocal.com: Halloween Pet Safety Tips: 4 Ways to Keep Your Dog or Cat Safe