Tricks-and-Treating

🎃 Spooky season is here, Missoula! The leaves are turning, the mornings are crisp, and our pups are loving every crunchy step of their walks. But for our furry friends, Halloween can be a little more trick than treat. Between candy bowls, costumes, and a doorbell that won't quit, there's a lot for them to navigate.

Here are our team's best tips, tricks (and treats!) for keeping your pets safe and happy this season. 🐾

🍬 The Candy Bowl Is a No-Pet Zone

The treats are for the trick-or-treaters, not the four-leggers! But Missoula is such a dog friendly town, couldn't hurt to stock up on some Milk Bones or easy to digest dog treats incase there are any the stop by your door (or a kid wants to take one home for their pet!) Keep in mind, a few Halloween favorites can be seriously dangerous for dogs and cats:

• Chocolate – Dark chocolate and baking chocolate are the most toxic, but any amount is worth a call to your vet.

• Xylitol – This sugar substitute hides in sugar-free gum, candy, and some peanut butters. Even small amounts can cause a dangerous drop in blood sugar and liver damage in dogs.

• Raisins and grapes – Those little boxes of raisins handed out as a "healthy" option can cause kidney failure in dogs.

• Wrappers and lollipop sticks – Pups who gobble candy wrapper and all can end up with an upset stomach or even an intestinal blockage.

Our tip: Keep the candy bowl up high, remind kids to stash their haul behind closed doors, and do a quick sweep of the floor after sorting candy.

If you think your pet got into something they shouldn't have, read our Pet Poison Blog for more detailed instructions!

🚪 Trick-or-Treat Night: Ding Dong, Who's There?

For many pets, Halloween night is the most stressful evening of the year (besides the fourth of july). The doorbell rings nonstop, strangers in masks show up on the porch, and the front door keeps swinging open. That's a recipe for barking, anxiety, and the occasional escape artist.

• Set up a quiet room. Give your pet a cozy spot away from the front door with their bed, a favorite toy, and some white noise or calm music. A long-lasting chew or a frozen stuffed Kong works wonders.

• Get the wiggles out early. A long walk or play session in the afternoon means a tired pet by the time the first goblins arrive. Since Halloween is on a Saturday this year, plan a nice long hike in the morning to help them relax all night long.

• Check ID tags and microchips. Make sure your pet's tag is on and readable, and that your microchip contact info is up to date, just in case.

• Bring outdoor pets in. Keep cats indoors and bring dogs in from the yard before dark. Black cats in particular should stay safely inside around Halloween. you never know what kind of magic they'll spark out there on their own...

• Consider sitting outside. Handing out candy from the porch or the driveway means the door stays closed and your pup stays put.

If your dog is the type who loves a party, great! Just keep them leashed or behind a baby gate so a surprise costume doesn't turn into a surprise sprint down the block.

🐾 Let Us Help You Have a Happy Halloween

Our team keeps an eye on the season so you don't have to. We watch for candy and wrappers on the sidewalk the morning after Halloween, and keep notes in Time to Pet about any pets who get anxious around costumes or a busy doorbell.

Heading out of town for a fall getaway, or just want your pup to get a good, tiring walk before the trick-or-treaters arrive? Book a walk, drop-in, or Almost Overnight visit through the Time to Pet app, or contact us to get started.

And don't forget to share your pet's Halloween costume with us! We might just feature it on our page. 🎃🐶🐱

Happy Halloween from all of us at All Around Adventures!

Bonus Section: Here are some homemade treats to keep your pet busy and help them enjoy the holiday too!

🧊 Busy Treat: Frozen "Pumpkin Patch" Stuffed Toy

This is our go-to for keeping pups happily occupied while the doorbell rings. Make it the night before so it's frozen solid by trick-or-treat time.

You'll need:

• 1/2 cup plain canned pumpkin (100% pumpkin, NOT pumpkin pie filling)

• 1/4 cup plain unsweetened Greek yogurt

• 1 tablespoon xylitol-free peanut butter

• A handful of your dog's kibble or small training treats

• A rubber stuffable toy (like a Kong) or a lick mat

How to make it:

1. Mix the pumpkin, yogurt, and peanut butter in a bowl until smooth. Or layer it within the Kong!

2. Stir in a small handful of kibble or treats.

3. Spoon the mixture into the toy (plug the small hole with a dab of peanut butter first) or spread it across a lick mat.

4. Freeze overnight, or for at least 4 hours.

5. Hand it over right before the trick-or-treaters arrive!

Tip: For cats, skip the peanut butter and kibble and spread a thin layer of plain pumpkin mixed with a little of their wet food on a lick mat.

🎃 Halloween Treat: Pumpkin Peanut Butter "Boo" Biscuits

Your pup deserves a treat bag too! These crunchy biscuits are simple, use just a few ingredients, and look adorable cut into pumpkins, ghosts, and bats.

You'll need:

• 2 1/2 cups whole wheat flour (or oat flour)

• 2 eggs

• 1/2 cup plain canned pumpkin (NOT pie filling)

• 2 tablespoons xylitol-free peanut butter

• 1/2 teaspoon cinnamon (optional; skip the nutmeg, which isn't safe for pets)

• Water, a tablespoon at a time as needed

• Halloween cookie cutters

How to make them:

1. Preheat your oven to 350°F and line a baking sheet with parchment paper.

2. Whisk the eggs, pumpkin, and peanut butter together in a large bowl.

3. Stir in the flour and cinnamon. Add water a little at a time until a stiff, slightly dry dough forms.

4. Roll the dough out on a floured surface to about 1/4 inch thick.

5. Cut out your spooky shapes and place them on the baking sheet.

6. Bake for 20–25 minutes, until golden and firm.

7. Turn off the oven and leave the biscuits inside as it cools for extra crunch.

Storage: Keep them in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 2 weeks, or freeze them for up to 3 months.

Make them extra festive: Wrap a few in a small bag tied with orange ribbon and hand them out to the dogs in your neighborhood (just check with their humans about allergies first)!

Always check that every ingredient is safe for your pet, and talk to your vet first if your pet has allergies or a sensitive tummy. Treats should be extras, not a meal!